A phone interview gives an interviewer a better idea of who the person behind the resume is. Todd Bermont of The Careers College gives his top five dos and don'ts below, so you'll shine over the phone and land that face-to-face interview:
Don't "wing" your phone
interviews. Do prepare as if they were face-to-face interviews.
Prepare
and practice at least three hours for every one-hour phone interview.
Research the company, know their mission statement, and create a message
about how you can help them succeed. Finally, put together a list of
questions you want to ask about the opportunity.
When it comes to job interviewing, we were given two ears and one mouth for a reason. We should be listening twice as much as we are talking. The best interviews are the ones where the interviewer is doing most of the talking. Ask open-ended questions that will help you uncover the interviewer's vision of the ideal candidate, the challenges the company is currently facing, the needs for the position, and the critical factors necessary to succeed on the job. With that information, you can position yourself as the best candidate for the job.
Don't
forget to confirm logistics. Do confirm time, time zone, and so on.
In
many cases, you''ll be interviewing with someone far away. Many a phone
interview was missed because the time zone was not confirmed. Are you
sure that your 9:30 a.m. interview is at 9:30 a.m. your time? Make sure
you confirm not only the time but also the time zone. Secondly, confirm
who will initiate the call and what numbers will be used. Get the
interviewer's land line and cell phone in case connections are missed.
Don't
forget to ask for the order. Do determine your desired outcome and go
for it.
Usually, the goal of a phone interview is to earn a
face-to-face interview. During your phone interview, show the proper
enthusiasm for the job. At the end of the interview, convey your
interest and ask for the next step in the hiring process.
Don't
set yourself up for failure. Do position yourself for success.
That
means, ideally, taking the interview in a secluded and quiet home
office. Try to use a land line if at all possible, because cell phone
connections can be dropped. Remove any clutter from your home office so
you can fully focus on the interview. Dress as if you were in a
face-to-face interview. Smile and keep the proper posture. Even try
taking the call standing up, as you will sound more authoritative and
confident. Over 90 percent of all communication is non-verbal, even over
the phone. Interviewers can sense your subconscious energy.
Finally, believe you are the best person for the job. If you don't believe it, nobody else will. Visualize the success. Have fun, be prepared, and expect success, and you'll have winning phone interviews.
For more information:
Jennifer Cochran
(432) 683-7277
4400 N. Big Spring, Suite 202
Midland, TX
info@energipersonnel.com