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A Job Interview By
Phone
There may be times when you need to do your job interview over
the phone. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a phone
interview is any less formal than an interview that is
conducted in person. This could be one critical mistake you
make that could cost you that job you really want. Many times a
phone interview is your way of securing a meeting that is face
to face. Phone interviews are one way that recruiters often
narrow down their list of potential people to talk to. You want
to pass the phone interview with flying colors so that you make
it to the next round.
There are some specific things that you can do to make sure
that you score high in the phone interview. The first thing
that you need to do is eliminate or minimize the number of
distractions that can occur while you’re on the phone.
This includes even subtle noises such as your dog barking, your
cell phone ringing, or someone in the background who is doing
the dishes. Try to schedule your phone interview in a quiet
place so that you don’t have to fight against distractions. You
need to be as focused as you can be so that you can concentrate
on the answers to the questions that you’re asked.
Make sure that your verbal skills are good. You won’t have the
luxury of looking into your interviewer’s eyes so you need to
rely on other ways to leave a lasting impression. Your voice
should reflect your enthusiasm for the interview but at the
same time you should maintain your professionalism by using
language that is grown up and precise. Avoid using words that a
teen would use such as “cool” or “dude”.
Prepare as much in advance for your phone interview as you can.
You’ll want to have a resume on hand that you can refer to as
well as a notepad so that you can write down information that
is given to you by your interviewer. The one good thing about a
phone interview is that your interviewer will have no idea when
or not you’re using your notes.
You’ll want to follow up on your phone interview in a few days
to see how you did. Send a thank you note so that you can
highlight your selling points as a new employee. Exude as much
confidence as you can so that you’ll be considered for that
second interview that will be done face to face.
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