phone interview tips
Phone Interview Tips
Telephonic interviews are used by many companies to select their employees. These can be tricky and tough, but if rightly handled, they can launch a new career option for you.
- Fix the place where you will be attending the phone call. Make sure the place is peaceful and there is no disturbance in the network. Noise and bad reception can be very irritating and disturbing during the interview.
- Preferably, have a table to arrange the things that are required during the interview.
- Have your resume and a glass of water with you. It will be useful if you are questioned about your academic details.
- Switch on/off the fan or the lights as per your requirement.
- Have a pen and notepad in place.
- Remember the time fixed for the interview.
- Deactivate the call waiting system (if your phone has one), before you get the interview call, as this might be disturbing if someone calls you during the interview.
- Also, if you are on another call, a few minutes before interview time, just disconnect it. The interviewer might call you a few minutes before. So it is better to keep your phone free.
- If the interviewer is going to call and the scheduled time has passed, keep waiting; don't give them a call. Wait for a day and then you may call them.
- Don't eat or smoke during the call.
- Don't speak very slowly or too fast. Be loud enough and talk calmly, so that the interviewer can easily understand what you are saying.
- Don't use monosyllables while answering.
- Don't get scared and lie, saying you are not available and ask to call back later. This may be the last chance and the recruiter might not call back again.
- The voice clarity is very important.
- Use the interviewer's title (Mr. or Ms. followed by their last name); don't use their first names, unless you are told so.
- Listen to the interviewer. Don't interrupt him, unless he finishes talking.
- Take a pen and pad as soon as you get the call. You may be asked to come down to the company for an in-person interview. So the contact address and your interviewer's name can be noted properly, instead of you calling them back later for the same.
- Though you are interviewed over the phone, try to create an atmosphere of an in-person interview. This will increase the comfort level between you and the interviewer.
- Have a decent tone during the conversation.
- Listen carefully and always request to repeat the question, if you are unable to understand it. This is better than giving an irrelevant answer, without understanding the question.
- Think and answer. Take your own time. It is just like an in-person interview; don't answer hastily.
- Give short answers and take proper pauses. Using long sentences without a pause will make it difficult for the interviewer to interpret what you are saying.
- Don't refer to any notes while answering. Mind well, the interviewer can easily make out if you are reading out written text.
- Stay prepared for common interview questions like your personal introduction, previous job background, salary expectations, joining date, etc.
- Always remember to thank the interviewer for his call and time.
- In case you are genuinely busy and cannot take the call, explain the situation to the interviewer and ask for another time slot. Do not disconnect the call. If you absolutely can't take it, send an apology message with a valid reason and call back as soon as you are free.