Slaying the Dragon Part 1: Conquering Phone Interviews
Many people see phone interviews as a metaphorical dragon. Let me just put it out there, unscheduled phone interviews are the worst, but rest assured that there are ways in going about killing your phone interview. Recruiters most times do not call at the right time, so it’s important to be prepared for a phone interview. You never know when a recruiter might call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk. Below are some tips to help you kill your unscheduled phone interview:
You should always prepare for a phone conversation with a recruiter beforehand. As long as you’re actively searching for a job, you should have a response for common interview questions, as well as knowing your strengths and weaknesses.
If by chance you are not ready to have a phone conversation with a recruiter, simply ask if you can call back at a more convenient time. Before you hang up the call, remember to take down the recruiter name, phone number and their extension, and the position that you are been interviewed for.
Practice does make perfect. You have to practice on how to talk on the phone. You cannot sound like you are about to take a dump. Call a friend, ask to be interviewed, and record your voice and listen to it. You definitely do not want to sound like you have a hot potato in your mouth. You have to be in control of your voice. And yes, recruiters are able to tell if you are a good fit based on how you sound on the phone.
During the phone interview, be calm, don’t over analyse the questions. Take a moment to respond to a question. Don’t rush your answer, speak slowly and clearly, and if you don’t understand the question ask for clarification. Sound enthusiastic. And yes, it’s probably one of the hardest things to do, but you do want to sound like you’re interested in whatever the recruiter is saying. Positive vibe is very important, even over the phone.
Google is your best friend, if you’re in need of a quick answer for a particular question during an interview, Google it! No, the interviewer will not be aware of your little cheating way; you are just trying to help your eligibility. So Google your way to get to that face-to-face interview.
Lastly, after the Interview, it might seem stupid, but sometimes people do forget to say thank you to the recruiter/interviewer. To you it’s probably not a big deal, but showing that you do appreciate the call sends a positive message that you are an accommodating and polite person.
