To streamline and strengthen the interview process, Human Resources departments and Executive Recruiters are using telephone or Skype interviews as a major component of the screening process. Could you use some telephone interview tips?
Here are my top 8 telephone interview tips to embrace:
1. Practice, practice, and practice
The same principle applies for an in-person interview — the more you rehearse, the more confident and eloquent you will be. Consider answers to the most common questions beforehand. You cannot be too prepared.
2. Find a comfortable and quiet location for the telephone interview
If you are on your phone, ensure that your reception is good. Test it out with someone five minutes before the scheduled interview. Position yourself in a quiet setting; not somewhere where background noise could deflect and distract.
3. Research
Don’t enter any interview without looking into the potential employer history, leadership team, culture, products, and/or service. The more you know about the company, the more confident and convincing you will be in delivering a powerful message. Follow and comment on their blogs the week before and after the interview.
4. Hunt the interviewer
When setting up the interview appointment, ask for the name of the interviewer in order to find that person on LinkedIn and do your homework. You never know, you might have attended the same school or been employed at the same company. In conclusion, the more you know about the interviewer, the better.
5. Dress appropriately
Yes, you may think this is strange for a telephone interview, but dress as if you are attending an in-person interview. This will increase your esteem and confidence, and place you in the right mindset like you mean business.
6. Smile
Again, sounds a little strange? No. Smiling helps generate inflections in your voice and keeps the boring monotone away. People can sense your smile which strengthens the positive thoughts about you at the other end of the line. Chuckle, chortle, grin and laugh!
7. Warm up your voice
There is nothing worse than freezing or being boring and monotone throughout the conversation. In order to avoid that, the 7-minute vocal warm-up app will lead you through several breathing exercises to increase your voice inflections and strength.
8. Keep your documents handy
Ensure your resume, cover letter and job descriptions are at your fingertips. You need them for reference, and make sure to try to highlight some of the hard and soft skills from the job description in your interview.
Finally, show excitement and engagement in the prospective job. Doing so will express genuine interest and ask some questions of the interviewer.
Please visit me on LinkedIn for more tips and information
