How to Get Ready for a Phone Interview

Employers use phone interviews to prescreen job applicants and determine who qualifies for a face-to-face interview. You need to ace the phone interview to move through the rest of the hiring process, so you need to take it seriously. Taking time to prepare for phone interviews as you would in-person interviews makes a difference in whether you pass or fail.

Prepare Your Surroundings

According to an article on IndianaGazette.com, if you anticipate having a phone interview, you need to prepare your family. You do not always know in advance when a phone interview will be. If the employer is extremely busy, he or she might make random calls throughout the day. Even if the phone call catches you off guard, you don’t want it to seem as though it’s a surprise. By preparing your family in advance, you give the impression that you’re a well-organized, professional individual.

Have a signal that lets your family know to turn off the TV. Choose a room for your phone interview and let your family know to leave you alone when you’re in there. Teach family members how to answer the phone in an appropriate manner.

Start a Conversation

It’s harder to impress someone during a phone interview than it is in person, but it is possible. Most interview tips tell you to prepare a few questions to ask at the end of an interview. However, you need to think of phone interviews as a two-way street. After you provide the interviewer with a few answers, ask a few questions of your own. Interviewers who conduct phone interviews are trying to gauge a person’s personality. By turning the interview into a conversation, it’s easier for the interviewer to relate to you.

Do Your Research

Most interview tips advise you to research a company before your job interview. It's important to know the company's background and what the company does. It shows that you've taken the initiative to learn more about the company and that you're truly interested in the position. You need to do the same thing for phone interviews. The more you know about the company and the position, the easier it is to sell yourself to the interviewer and land the face-to-face interview.

Use the Invisibility Factor to Your Advantage

Forbes.com compares phone interviews to open book tests. Because the interviewer can't see you, you can have any information that you need in front of you. In addition to important information about the company, you should also have the resume and cover letter that you used to apply for the job in front of you. This way, you don't make small errors when you provide answers to chronological questions.

Ultimately, phone interviewers weed out people who aren't able to let their personalities shine through. As long as you are prepared, friendly, and confident, there's no reason you can't ace a phone interview.

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