My top 3 tips for telephone interviews

What are the top three tips you would provide your client for handling the telephone interview?  Why?

TIP ONE

Be as prepared as you can for telephone interviews and make sure there are no distractions.

• Have a file of jobs that you have applied for readily available, so that you have a copy of the advertisement that you responded to, plus a copy of the cover letter.
• Try to remove all distracting elements, by going to a room, without television, radio and away from the family (for example, ask your children not to disturb you).  Put the employer on hold, if necessary, while finding a quiet location.

Why?  If the telephone rings, the client will be someway prepared, in that whenever they are called, they can retrieve the information quickly and respond appropriately to the specific job.  Without distractions, they will be able to concentrate and focus on the interview, improving their overall performance.

TIP TWO

Demonstrate professionalism during the telephone conversation and substance in your voice.

To ensure that you come across as professional and this is conveyed in your voice:

• Speak articulately and clearly avoiding such things as slang, abbreviations and acronyms not familiar to the employer.
• Avoid short, closed answers, such as ‘yes’ and ‘no’; rather expand your answers, by providing descriptive answers and evidence in how you meet the employer’s requirements.
• Smile, as this will be conveyed on the telephone and a confident personality will shine through the conversation.
• Don’t smoke, chew gum, slurp coffee and drink or eat, while you are on the phone, as this sound will travel and it does not sound professional.

Why?  The employer’s impression of the client is solely based on their voice and professional tone and manner used on the telephone.

TIP THREE

Don’t get off the phone without an interview, if possible.  If you get an interview, pick one of the later slots and avoid a Monday and Friday, if possible.

• Ask when you expect to hear back from them and what happens next
• When scheduling the interviewing get the full name and title and verify the spelling.
• Get the time and location and ask for directions, if required.

Why?  The client will have information that will help them at the interview, with the appropriate name, title for follow up.  They will also have clear guidelines on location of the interview.

By picking the later time slot and avoiding Monday’s and Fridays, the client stands the best chance of standing out from the crowd and Monday’s and Fridays, are poor choices “because people are into, or not yet out of, their weekend”.