During a phone interview, your voice has the power to sway the person on the other end of the line to give you an in-person interview at a later date. This aspect of a job search serves as a stepping stone to the next part of the process, so make sure you practice your phone skills after you submit your resume and cover letter.
Until you get face time with the people who want to hire you, your voice becomes a vital part of your personal brand. Nonverbal cues and attitude show through in person, but a phone interview shows a recruiter or HR manager different, but also important, parts of your personality. Most jobs require you to have effective communication skills, and talking over the phone is one way to demonstrate these assets. Keep in mind a few things to work on while you prepare for your short chat.
Resonance refers to the quality of sound that reverberates in a deep, full voice. The proper resonance makes you sound clearer during a phone interview. If your voice comes from your throat, your sound may seem muffled or gravely. When your resonance comes from the nose, your voice may seem high-pitched and nasally. Try to adjust your resonance to have most of your vocal sounds come out of your mouth rather than your nose or throat. Work on your resonance by making an "mmmm" sound, then notice if your lips tingle. When you feel the tingling sensation, say the word "my" or "me" and listen to how your voice changes resonance from your usual speech.
Relax your voice, but do not follow the normal advice and take a deep breath. Instead, take short breaths, especially between sentences, to maintain a steady flow of oxygen so that your muscles work properly. Shorter breaths help you achieve a better rhythm with your voice within a phone interview. Practice getting a good flow, coupled with breathing, by moving your arm across your body while you speak. This forces you to concentrate on enunciating your words while getting into a flow movement.
Smiling helps you relax, and your smile comes through on the phone. Lighten the conversation further with a personal anecdote from the start to break the ice, and make this anecdote relevant to the job at hand. Listen to the interviewer and pick up on cues to start answering questions - that way you sound ready to answer when the time is right. You already set the tone by smiling and relaxing, so now you get to follow through by intently listening before you talk.
Short sentences prevent you from getting out of breath while you speak. Long-winded sentences suck the wind out of your voice, thereby reducing its tonal quality, resonance and rhythm. Practice the pace of your answers by making relevant word choices and shortened explanations rather than using lengthy speeches. Your phone interview needs to have quick sound bites, and save longer speeches for the in-person interview.
As with everything you do during a job search, practice makes perfect. Rehearse these techniques for a phone interview regularly after you initiate the process. Keep in mind this type of interview could occur at any time, so be prepared in case a recruiter calls you spontaneously to gauge your personality.
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