Phone interviews are a common way to screen candidates for coaching and mentoring roles. They can also be challenging, as you need to convey your skills, personality, and passion without the benefit of face-to-face interaction. How can you ace your phone interview and impress your potential employer or client? Here are some top tips to help you prepare, perform, and follow up.
Before you dial in, do some homework on the organization you are applying to or working with. Find out their mission, vision, values, goals, and culture. Learn about their main products, services, or programs, and how they relate to coaching and mentoring. Identify their strengths, challenges, and opportunities. This will help you tailor your answers, demonstrate your interest, and ask relevant questions.
Doing research on the company before a phone interview is really helpful. It lets me talk about how my skills match what they need and show I'm interested. For example, in a practice phone interview, I talked about the company's recent growth and cool projects. This showed I cared and knew about their current stuff, making a good impression.
It's good to prep for the phone interview by setting expectations and the deliverables. Ensure that these are communicated before the phone call and that both parties are agreeable.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK before applying/interviewing - Explore the organization's website to understand its mission, vision, values, and culture. - Review annual reports and press releases for insights into achievements and challenges. - Follow the company on social media for updates on initiatives and culture. - Read news articles to gauge the company's industry perception and performance. - Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn for insider perspectives. - Evaluate the company's culture through employee testimonials and events. - Identify challenges (market expansion, tech changes) and opportunities (sustainability, digitalization).
A background search on the company is always a good idea. You could also take it a step further and have a chat with any of your connections who may work there. Search their websites, follow them on social media, look for news about the company, projects they are working on, contracts they recently won, products and service offerings and how you as a coach will tie into their business operations and add value. This will help you get a better understanding of the company and enable you tailor your responses in a way that better aligns with their line of business and the things they consider most important.
You only have a few minutes to make a good impression on the phone, so you need to be clear, concise, and confident. Prepare a brief introduction that summarizes who you are, what you do, and why you are interested in the role or project. Highlight your relevant skills, experience, and achievements, and how they match the requirements and expectations. Practice your pitch out loud, and record yourself if possible. Listen for your tone, pace, and clarity, and make adjustments as needed.
It is very helpful to prepare an elevator speech about yourself and your core competencies. It should be short, sharp and on point, so that a person you are talking to can get an idea of who you are and what you are standing for just in 2-3 minutes. Keep it simple, keep it clear, keep it short.
No matter how good you consider yourself to be, practice is always a great idea. Look for a colleague and role play. Use the STAR method to explain your answers. Practice managing time and keeping your responses simple, clear and straight to the point. STAR Method S - What was the Situation? T - What Task did you have to complete? A - Explain the Actions you took R - Explain the Results
The quality of your phone interview depends largely on the environment you choose. Pick a quiet, comfortable, and distraction-free space, where you can speak freely and focus. Use a reliable phone and headset, and test them beforehand. Have a pen and paper, your resume, and any notes ready. Turn off any notifications, alarms, or other sources of noise. Dress professionally, as it will boost your confidence and attitude.
During the phone interview, your goal is to build rapport and trust with the interviewer. To do that, you need to engage with them actively and positively. Smile, as it will reflect in your voice and energy. Use their name, and address them politely and respectfully. Listen attentively, and avoid interrupting or talking over them. Show enthusiasm, curiosity, and appreciation. Use examples, stories, and anecdotes to illustrate your points and showcase your coaching and mentoring skills.
Engaging with the interviewer is key to leaving a positive impression during a phone interview. Follow these tips to make it conversational: - Smile while speaking; it reflects in your voice and conveys enthusiasm. - Use their name politely, and show appreciation for their time and insights. - Avoid interruptions and demonstrate attentive listening throughout the conversation. - Display genuine interest by asking thoughtful questions and expressing enthusiasm about the role or project. - Illustrate with Examples: Use stories or anecdotes to highlight your coaching and mentoring skills, making your points more relatable and impactful.
Phone interviews for coaching positions can be a great opportunity to connect with the interviewer and showcase your qualifications and passion for coaching. To make a good impression, it's important to be prepared and engaged and to ask thoughtful questions about the position and the organization. Be yourself, let your enthusiasm shine through, and show your genuine interest in the opportunity. Remember, the phone interview is a chance to connect with the interviewer and convey your excitement for the role, so be upbeat! With preparation and a positive attitude, you can make a great impression and increase your chances of success.
At the end of the phone interview, you will likely have the opportunity to ask some questions of your own. This is your chance to learn more about the role or project, the organization, and the expectations. It is also a way to demonstrate your interest, knowledge, and professionalism. Ask smart questions that are relevant, specific, and open-ended. Avoid asking about salary, benefits, or other sensitive topics at this stage.
When given the chance to ask questions during the phone interview's conclusion, make the most of it by posing insightful and relevant inquiries, here are some samples: - Can you provide more details about the day-to-day responsibilities of this position? - What are the short-term and long-term goals for someone in this role? - How would you describe the team dynamics and working culture within the company? - What values are most important to the company's culture? - What are the key performance indicators used to measure success in this role? - How does the company support professional development and growth? - What are the next stages of the interview process?
It would be really helpful to prepare some relevant questions in advance to show that you are good informed and interested in the topic and the topic you are talking to. Write 2-3 questions down to have them nearby during the interview.
If you have done your research well, you will have been able to gather a few questions about the company you would like answers to. Ask what it would be like to work with the company. You could also throw back a question they have asked you. It would be interesting to hear their point of view. Remember this is the time during the interview for you to evaluate them as well. I once attended an interview with a comprehensive list of questions written in a notebook. When they asked if I had any questions, I brought out my notebook, and the interviewer was quite surprised!
After the phone interview, don't forget to follow up with the interviewer. Send a thank-you email within 24 hours, expressing your gratitude, interest, and enthusiasm. Reiterate your main qualifications, skills, and value proposition for the role or project. Mention any key points or questions that were discussed, and provide any additional information or documents that were requested. Keep it brief, polite, and positive. This will help you stand out from the crowd and increase your chances of moving forward.
Following up after an interview can help you stand out from other candidates and demonstrate your interest in the position. It also provides an opportunity to reiterate your qualifications and thank the interviewer for their time. Moreover, following up communicates that you are proactive and professional, which can leave a positive impression on the interviewer. It allows you to keep communication lines open, which can be helpful if you are still interested in the position.
Top 8 phone interview tips for Coaching & Mentoring which I do are: 1) Thorough Preparation: Research and understand coaching needs. 2) Highlight Experience: Emphasize coaching and mentoring successes. 3) Effective Communication: Articulate thoughts clearly and concisely. 4) Active Listening: Reflect before responding and demonstrate empathy. 5) Technical Readiness: Ensure reliable phone and internet connections. 6) Use STAR Method: Structure answers using Situation, Task, Action, Result. 7) Understand the Role: Tailor responses to align with organizational needs. 8) Ask Thoughtful Questions: Inquire about coaching programs and organizational culture.