You should have one goal when interviewing on the phone and that is to set-up a face-to-face interview. Period. Once you schedule a face-to-face interview with the interviewer get off the phone as fast as you can! Goal accomplished!
The longer you stay on the phone with the interviewer the chances of you saying something you shouldn’t increases. Once the face-to-face interview is set, get off the phone! There is nothing else good that can come out of this phone interview.
Now, of course, you’re going to get acquainted with the interviewer and confirm your credentials, but as soon as you see an opening to say, “This sounds interesting, when can we get together?” or “This sounds interesting, when can I see your operations?” and start pushing for that all important face-to-face interview the better.
Why am I telling you to push for an in-house, face-to-face, interview so quickly? Well, when you’re interviewing with a HR person or corporate recruiter type, they’re screening you OUT not IN. They don’t want to put you in front of the hiring manager if you’re unqualified for the position, so they’re listening for knockout factors in your phone interview to screen you OUT.
Believe me when I tell you this. I have had clients at our firm screen excellent candidates out of contention that had excellent credentials and references. Why? Because the candidate was rambling and said something they shouldn’t during the phone interview. Don’t ramble on the phone and say something you shouldn’t. This stuff happens more than you think.
If you can, don’t even set-up a phone interview and go straight to the face-to-face, especially if it’s a local opportunity. The reason why I am harping on this is because companies don’t hire people, people do. And people hire people they like. Get it? What is the best way to get people to like you? Face-to-face!
If you’re not a good communicator on the phone or if you have a heavy accent and it is very difficult to understand you, this can kill a phone interview. I can’t stress this enough, push for a face-to-face in house interview as quickly as you can!
If you have absolutely have to do a phone interview, here are some things you must do before your call.
1) Get in a quiet place
2) Sit up straight
3) No kids or dogs in the room
4) Don’t surf the Internet
5) Don’t check your email or text
6) Make sure you have a quality phone and it’s fully charged
7) No TV’s in the room
8) Don’t take the phone call unless you’re ready!
I hope this helps.
Good luck to you!
Mike Palumbo
Business owner, executive recruiter, author, radio talk show host, blogger, motivational speaker and career consultant! My goal is to help you find that dream career you’ve always wanted!
Tags: Phone Interview Tips
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Abhay Shukla
342 days ago
ya good for interview !!!!!!!! Thanks