The Telephone Interview: Heard, but not seen

The objective of a Telephone Interview for a candidate is to share enough information with the company to either be asked for a second phone interview or to receive an invitation for an onsite interview. A second objective for you as the candidate is to get your initial questions about the job and the company answered. 

But, participating in an interview over the phone is an entirely different beast than a face-to-face encounter; what you say and how you say it becomes even more important.

With that in mind, here are some quick tips for mastering the phone interview:

Preparation, Preparation, Preparation:

• TIME: You should allow up to 1 hour for a phone interview; don’t be rushed!
• Have a copy of the job description and your resume in front of you for reference, and a pen and pad of paper to make notes on.
• Have five or six carefully worded questions you'll want to ask ready and written down.
• Have some company literature and research you have done with pertinent sections highlighted. It is important to prepare for a phone interview as though it were an in-person one.
• If you will use a Cell Phone, make sure it is fully charged, and don’t be driving where the signal is dropped.

Pay attention:

First things first - shut down your computer and turn off your cell phone, TV, radio, etc.…

Be sure you are in a private room, away from any and all distractions and interruptions such as noisy children, barking dogs, etc.… You shouldn't have anything there to distract your focus.

"Pay complete, total and full attention to the person on the other end of the line as if you were staring them in the eye!"  

Active listening skills are very important. When the interviewer asks you a question, let them complete it first, before you respond. Once they are done, then answer or ask the question. If you interrupt or ask a question in the middle of them speaking, it may impair the flow of the interview and the interviewer's temperament. During the conversation, the tone of your voice should be gentle and slow. The interviewer should not feel that you are dominating them, or the interview itself.

Be Energetic:

Avoid sitting in a hunched position, grasping the phone in a vise-like grip. This will add a note of stress, and your voice will communicate that uneasiness.

"People can read and feel your body language across the miles, so, act as if they were in the room with you so they can feel your energy, presence and attention."

Standing up while you participate in the interview will help you stay focused. Also, it opens your diaphragm to a smoother airflow and imparts a feeling of liveliness. Getting up and moving around introduces an element of action, which instills a relaxed, conversational manner and reduces fatigue.

"It will give you more energy in your voice if you stand." 

Sound upbeat and Smile: When you smile your energy level goes up and this will help translate your enthusiasm for the position. If you had a lousy day and came home to find your spouse and kids arguing, put it out of your mind.

"Smile while you talk so that you sound friendly and enthused."

Genuine enthusiasm is contagious and very important. After all, the interviewer may have had a bad day too. 

Be clear:

Since you're on the phone, you'll need to speak as clearly as possible.

"Pronounce your words clearly and don't trail off at the end of a sentence. You want to make sure you are heard and understood.”

The need to make a good impression on the phone cannot be overemphasized. The telephone screening interview is a make-or-break proposition, your one chance to convince the interviewer that you are worth serious consideration. The interviewer will be listening carefully to determine three factors: your sincere interest in the job, how you verbalize your qualifications and how aggressively you pursue the position. 

Voice reflects personality. A well-modulated, controlled voice communicates authority and heightens the verbal impact you want to make. The quality, pitch, and tempo of your speech convey a certain attitude, energy level and enthusiasm. 

“Pause to give the person on the other end of the line a chance to digest what you are saying and to participate in the conversation."

Silence. If, after you answer a question, there is a moment of silence, the interviewer may be making notes. Don’t feel compelled to continue speaking, but you might follow up with: “Did I answer your question satisfactorily, or would you like me to go into more detail.”

Be prepared:

Since the telephone interview is most commonly a screening, you'll need to go the extra mile to connect with the interviewer. In order to do this, be sure to decide in advance which questions you might ask when prompted by your interviewer.

"Think about what you want the other person to know so you don't spend the entire interview simply answering questions. By only answering questions, you miss opportunities to deliver key points if the other person on the other end of the phone doesn't ask you a question to trigger one of these points."

You should also prepare by having examples to highlight your strengths.

"Be warm and personal by backing it up with examples, stories, and anecdotes that the person on the other end of the phone can relate to and understand."

In Summary:

Only in a face-to-face interview can you totally sell yourself. The purpose of the phone interview is to identify areas of mutual interest that warrant further investigation. In other words, whet their curiosity and give them good reasons for wanting to invite you to the company location. 

"They are trying to screen you out, so don't give them a reason to put you in the 'no' pile.  Stay upbeat, positive and attentive."

Basically, what the interviewer needs to hear and conclude is that you can get the job done. Mentally, they are making the connection between the company's problems and you as a problem solver.

Avoid discussing money: When making a first impression it is best to avoid discussing salary. Salary conversations should be saved for the final steps.

Next Step:

At the end of the interview, ask if they have any additional questions, or there is any other information you could provide. End the conversation on a positive note by thanking the interviewer for the information shared and again let them know that you look forward to visiting their company:

“Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today, and I hope I was able to answer all of your questions. I do want to let you know that based on our conversation and what I have read and learned about the company, I am very interested in the position, and would love to continue our conversation.  What is the next step in the process?”

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