Five Tips for Better Phone Interviews

It's common for employers to receive numerous applications or resumes for a job opening, and hiring managers often hear from more applicants than they have time to interview. Because of this, employers often use phone interviews to determine which applicants deserve a formal interview. If you want to land an interview and then the job, it's important that you ace your phone interview. Fortunately, once you know what to expect, you'll find that a phone interview doesn't have to be a stressful process.

Most tips for an interview tell you to take some time to prepare before your interview begins, but you may be surprised to find out that this tip applies to phone interviews just as much as it does to in-person interviews. Once you have a set date and time for your phone interview, make sure that you'll be in a quiet atmosphere during the call. You want the interviewer to know that you're serious about the position, and if you're driving down the street or tending to children, it won't seem like this job is your top priority.

Phone interviews are designed to weed out applicants that employers aren't interested in, so it's important that you're aware of your tone of voice during the call. The last thing you want to do is sound unfriendly, distracted, or unprofessional. If you continually interrupt your interviewer or you don't communicate clearly, it's not likely you'll land an in-person interview.

To prepare for phone interviews you need to keep some paperwork within reach. You should have your resume, the job description, and a list of questions for the hiring manager in front of you during the call. These items will help you keep the phone call on track and answer questions easily.

During a phone interview, you want your personality to shine, so make it your goal to create a connection with your interviewer. The easiest way for you to do this is to turn the interview into a conversation. After you answer a few of the interviewer's questions, ask some of your own. Also, try to avoid blank statements. Don't tell the interviewer that you're a hard worker, but instead tell a story that shows the interviewer that you're a hard worker.

Everyone has some red flags that stand out to potential employers. For example, you may have employment gaps or you've frequently job hopped. Don't assume that phone interviews only cover the basics. Know what your red flags are, and be prepared to answer questions about them. When you're answering questions that cover your weaknesses, answer each question in an honest, factual, and nondefensive manner. Then, calmly steer the conversation in another direction.

It's easy to find tips for an interview, but most people don't apply the tips they read to phone interviews. However, you shouldn't take phone interviews lightly. If you prepare yourself and your surroundings before any scheduled phone interviews, it's easy to land the in-person interview that you deserve.

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