Preparing For Your Telephone Interview: What To Say...Career Help For Your Career Change Interview Because your telephone interview may be the first contact that the prospective employer has with you so it is important to prepare thoroughly for your phone interview. This article will outline the importance of this type of interview, why they are used and what interview skills you need to concentrate on. Read on down the page and be sure to review the special report: '5 Killer Interview Strategies' Report which is a free download. From an organization's perspective, the telephone interview is a highly effective tool to quickly determine which candidates to interview in person and allows them to reach a number of people quickly, thus enabling the reduction of a long 'short-list' to a final short list of candidates to call in for a face to face interview. From your perspective as a candidate for employment, the phone interview allows you to talk to the organization without the pressure of a face to face meeting and with all your notes, other aids and data at hand. How To Prepare For A Telephone Interview
Do some research to discover all you can about the organization's products, services, history, and culture. Make particular efforts to identify where your skills and experience match their processes and may be of value to them. Your online research must include a visit to the organization's website. Get a feel for what it is like and what you think an outsiders impression will be; you may be asked to comment upon it. Write your own list matching your achievements to the organization's stated requirements. Keep this list in front of you during the interview and refer to it at every opportunity. A telephone interview is similar to other interviews and demands the use of the same interview skills so avoid any temptation to generalize when asked about your accomplishments. Be specific, for example "improved stock turnover by 36%" or "reduced scrap waste by 24%". It helps to have a copy of your CV to hand at all times. Interviewers need to hear about relevant challenges or problems you have experienced in the workplace, the specific actions you took, and the measurable results you achieved. They seek to identify key competencies such as communication skills, analytical skills, teamwork, drive and initiative. Work out and write down some examples of how and when you have demonstrated these key competencies. As with any interview, it is a good idea to compile a list of likely interview questions beforehand. To simulate the telephone interview ask a friend to 'interview' you by phone first. Prepare your answers carefully, matching your words and phrases to the job description and candidate profile. It's best not to write out your answers in full because they never end up sounding natural or spontaneous. Make sure that other family members know you are expecting the phone interview and keep the line clear and away from the the area you are using so will not be disturbed during the phone call. Keep your resume and cover letter, a copy of the job advertisement, and all your notes in front of you. Have a pen and notepad by you and jot down key points throughout the course of the telephone interview. Professional presenters will tell you that it is a good idea to stand during a telephone interview as this makes you sound more confident and helps project a positive and professional image and that smiling creates a friendly and enthusiastic impression. So make an effort. To help you in establishing rapport on the phone, try to match your speaking rate and pitch to that of the interviewer. Interview Tips - do's and dont's:• Don't tell your whole life story - they really want to know what you can do. • Keep to simple language and be easy to understand. No shortcuts or jargon. • Try to make it sound interesting. Let the interviewer enjoy your accomplishments. • Credit the interviewer with having read your CV. (Even if he hasn't) • Be specific; cite facts. Don't fall into the "I've got a lot to offer" trap. Say exactly what you've got to offer. • Quantify your results - numerically, if possible. • Gently dramatize the problem so your results can be important. • Use I, not we. Claiming an accomplishment ain't bragging if you did it. And it's you they might hire! • Use concrete examples. • Tell what you did that is unique. Leave out the methodology unless they ask how you did it • Be relevant to the interviewer’s questions. • Always make a point which favours your cause. • Help the listener conclude. Tell him/her what is relevant about your accomplishment; ‘which means that…’ Yes there's a lot to think about, but these interview tips will stay with you once you've read them through. As with every interview it is important to convey the impression that you are genuinely interested in the organization and eager to make a contribution, so include references to information you discovered during the course of your research. Listen carefully to the interviewer's questions and comments. If you don't understand a question, its OK to ask for clarification. Provide well-developed, balanced, and analytical answers, not just a simple 'yes' or 'no'. More Help For Your Interview You may be asked to explain your reasons for wanting to leave your present job, so make sure you have positive reasons prepared. Under no circumstances should you criticize your previous employers or colleagues. Having researched the organization and analyzed the job description as suggested, you should find it easy to prepare a few thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer when the opportunity arises. At the end of the phone call, emphasize your interest in the job and the organization and reiterate your qualifications. After the telephone interview, write a short thank-you letter, again reiterating that you would welcome the opportunity of a face-to-face interview. Are you bothered about using the phone? Please read this page: Telephone Phobia You are here: Telephone Interview Go back to read about Interview Questions and learn other interview techniques to advance your career. Return to Your Career Change home page. If you need some personal help with your interview you might also want to visit Interview Coaching by Telephone where you can get some practice in and get individual feedback on your performance from me. Be sure to visit our Career Books Shop for extra reading and information. You can also search this site for more about career success, or the whole of the web from here. Now before you go, why not sign up for my monthly Coaching For Success newsletter and be sure to keep yourself up-to-date with latest interview ideas and tips plus new questions I'll answer for you. Interview Preparation | Overcome Nerves | Top Tips | Interview Questions | Best Interview Answers | How To Answer These Questions | An Interview Overview | Interview Perspectives pt. 1 | Interview Perspectives pt. 2 | Presentation Skills | Your Closing Questions  
     
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