We sometimes get invited for a telephone interview or at times we get surprise interviews which is sometimes called a “telephone prescreen�.  These are tricky conversations we have when someone is calling us regarding a position you have applied for or a resume that you have posted on a job board as you will be judged based on your ability to articulate your answers and add value without the body language and facial expressions to assist you.  When you pick up the phone, the interviewer is anxious to hear an upbeat and professional telephone personality.  Below, you will find some helpful tips I’d like to share to assist you in your prescreen interview and a scheduled telephone interview:

• You need to be in an area where you can focus and concentrate without any distractions
• Have your resume, pens, note pad, and glass of water close to where you will be having your telephone interview.
•  Have a list of accomplishments, selected work achievements you are very proud of and of course your resume close by as a cheat sheet.
•  No cellular phone if possible, land line so you don’t have to worry about the battery going dead or losing the connections.
• Check the batteries if you will be using a cordless phone.
• Check you phone for static prior to interview. Static is distracting and will annoy your caller.
• Turn your TV, radio and stereo off so there is no background sound.
• If you have children, ask as friend or another person to look after them outside of your home or away from the area you will be expecting your call to avoid a break in your concentration.
• Dogs should be in an area where they will not be barking and causing a distraction.
• If you have call waiting do not put your interviewer on hold to take another call.
• Delay any visitors or booking for repairs during your scheduled interview.
• Ensure that all house members are aware of your interview and can provide you with a quite and uninterrupted time.
•  Be ready to answer your phone “Hello, this is “your nameâ€� – this is a good way of showing that you are anticipating their call.
•  Listen to the complete question before answering.
• Take down notes if you need to remember anything.
•  Be polite, be concise with your answers, but address the question.
•  In the end, thank the interviewer for inviting you for the telephone interview with them.
• Express confidence, stay calm, and show you can do the job 

Telephone interviews are nerve wracking, I know this as I have been on the other side of the fence too.  When you have posted your resume and started applying for positions, soon you will be getting calls regarding your application or resume, it is important to be prepared when you are answering your phone, whoever it may be, always be ready.   Remember, the success of the telephone interview is in the preparation and the personality you perceive on the phone so make sure you create a positive, professional and upbeat image. Good Luck and enjoy your interview!

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 10th, 2008 at 11:11 am and is filed under Preparing for a phone interview (the do's and dont's). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.