Did you write a next-level cover letter and resume? If so, you may have dialed up a phone interview with your prospective employer. During this stage of the game, you’ll need to be prepared to explain the contents of your resume, answer some questions about yourself and your experience, and describe what you hope to accomplish in your new role (among other topics of conversation).
Here are six ways to nail your phone interview.
1. Treat it like a sit-down interview.
Sure, there’s a little less pressure interviewing over the phone than when in person, but that doesn’t mean you should take your phone interview any less seriously.
Recruiters evaluate a job candidate the same way they would if they were sitting in an office. People who sound prepared and provide thoughtful responses in a clear and articulate way over the phone stand out from the crowd.
Prior to your phone interview, check out the company website to learn more about its mission, products or services, and team members. Interviewers want to know that you are invested in the job opportunity, and your knowledge of the company will demonstrate that you have “done your homework,” thereby giving you an advantage over a candidate who hasn’t.
2. Have your resume ready.
Hiring managers and interviewers want to hear how your previous job experience will prepare you for your future role, so having a complete list of where you’ve worked and what you’ve accomplished will make it easier to do that.
Recruiters will describe the roles and responsibilities of the open job position and then will ask a job candidate to explain what they’ve worked on in the past. They expect you to cite a relevant project or accomplishment.
Use your resume as a point of reference so you can clearly point to a time in your career when you solved a challenge.
3. Get comfortable.
It sounds obvious, but if you’ve got a phone interview on your calendar, make sure you’re available to take the call.
Put yourself in a comfortable, quiet room where you won’t be disturbed. When you answer the phone, say, “Hello, this is…” and then state your name so the interviewer can quickly identify you and pronounce your name with confidence.
If you find yourself caught off guard by the phone call—maybe you forgot or you got stuck in an unforeseen situation—do not ignore the call. According to recruiters, there’s nothing worse than someone who doesn’t pick up the phone because it’s a waste of time and leaves them in the lurch. Does the person want the job or not? It would be better to have someone answer the phone and politely reschedule the call than not answer at all.
Remember, your interviewer wants the call to go well—if they’ve scheduled a phone interview, they already like what they see from you, so they’ll probably be okay with rescheduling a better time to talk. Just don’t let it happen again, though, because a third chance is harder to come by than a second one.
4. Sell yourself.
Some people aren’t comfortable talking about themselves in such high regard, and that can be admirable in certain situations—but not here.
The phone interview is meant to revolve around you, your skill set, and your interest in the position. There are ways you can do that without sounding self-centered.
Recruiters like when candidates can speak about a time when they collaborated or worked well with others to accomplish a goal. Celebrating shared success while highlighting an individual contribution tells them you’re a team player, which is so much better than someone just saying, ‘I’m a team player.’ They want examples.
5. Come with questions.
Asking thoughtful questions lets us know you’re really interested in the position.
It’s always a good sign when job candidates ask questions about their potential team and the company culture because we’re always looking out for people who are the right fit, and that goes both ways.
A job interview is as much about what you’re looking for as it is about what the company is looking for. Try phrasing your questions around your interests or goals and observations you’ve made about the company. Here are a few question-asking tips:
- Point to a post on the company’s social media page and tie it into a question about the position you’re applying for or company culture.
- Ask what the department breakdown looks like. Who’s the head of the department? Who will you be working with most closely? What sort of project management system is employed?
- Ask the hiring manager what they like most working about the company.
- Be honest. If you don’t know an answer, it’s okay to say so, but follow up with an explanation of how you’d find the answer. If a situation or assignment does not sound right for you, acknowledge why. Don’t force-fit yourself into the role because you’ll regret it later.
- Ask what the next steps are so you can expect what to prepare for next.
6. Send a thank you note.
It doesn’t matter if you think you crushed the phone interview or if you think you bombed. Send an email that thanks the interviewer for their time.
Depending on how you feel about the position, you should explain that you’re A) looking forward to the next step of the process, or B) that you wish to excuse yourself from the process, but thanks anyway.
It’s the little things that make a difference. A simple thank you email or note is the best way to go. Just don’t go overboard!
In other words, don’t send extravagant gifts or over-the-top gestures of thanks. Keep it simple and keep it short.
