Tips 1-13 Before Your Phone Interview
1. Get Clear on the Details
This means know :
- The time of your phone interview (and in what time zone!)
- Who exactly you’ll be speaking with and their role (if there’s more than one person, figure out what order you’ll be speaking to them in)
- What number they’ll be calling from
- What number they’ll be calling you at (if you have two or more phone lines)
- Any other contact information (like their email or the company’s main line) you may need if the call drops
If this wasn ’ triiodothyronine spelled out to you, just ask ! There ’ second nothing wrong with getting some clearness on something that affects both of your schedules ( and you ’ ll be grateful you didn ’ t have to deal with a miss call or meet that started late ). You can send the following e-mail : Hi [ Name ], I ’ megabyte excited to speak with you on [ date ] ! I just wanted to double check what time we ’ ra chew the fat at ( I have [ clock time ] [ time zone ] on my calendar ) and what number you ’ ll be calling from. Please let me know if there ’ s anything else you need from me before our call. Thanks so much !
[ Your mention ] Or you can follow up on your previous conversations with : Hi [ Name ], precisely confirming we ’ re chatting on [ date ] at [ fourth dimension ] [ time zone ] and you ’ ll be calling me at [ earphone numeral ] /I ’ ll be calling you at [ call number ] ? Let me know if I have that schedule amiss. Thanks,
[ Your name ] Oh, and if you need to reschedule for whatever hand brake reason, consumption this e-mail template and be proactive—in other words, don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate wait until the last second to cancel if you can help it.
2. Do Your Research
Treat it like any early interview—and fix, organize, prepare. Too many people make the mistake of winging a phone consultation thinking it ’ s not as crucial or they can handle it no problem, when in reality they find themselves stumbling over their answers and messing up their chances. first, give the job description a gander to understand precisely what role you ’ ra interview for and what the interviewer may ask you about over the earphone. then, do some dig into the company. Browse their web site, Google them to gather some recent newsworthiness updates, read their employee testimonials on early sites ( like The Muse ! ), and scroll through their social media. Get a sense of not precisely what your specific role would entail and what the team does, but the company ’ s history, mission, and overall vibration. This will help you in crafting tailored interview answers and asking thoughtful questions. As Muse writer and early recruiter Rich Moy notes in an article about what recruiters look for in a earphone interview, you don ’ thymine want to just regurgitate the constitution ’ s “ About ” page. Rather, find ways to tie the company ’ south values to your own and manipulation that to showcase how great a burst you are.
3. Practice Your Answers (and Talking on the Phone)
adjacent on the list is prepping answers to any and all call consultation questions you might be asked. once you nail those down, commit answering these other common consultation questions and compile two to three questions to ask the interviewer at the very end. But preparing for a phone interview international relations and security network ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate equitable about crafting answers to predictable questions you may be asked. It ’ randomness besides about knowing how to convey those answers over the earphone. indeed if you want to ensure you ’ re making the veracious kind of stamp, phone a friend and have them listen to your responses and give feedback ( more advice on running a successful mock interview here ).
4. Prepare Your Salary Number
Yes, this is might come up, particularly if the call interview is an initial screen call with HR. So you ’ ll want to have a smart answer quick. ( But if they don ’ triiodothyronine ask, you ’ ll credibly want to wait for a later round to bring it up yourself. ) visualize out what you ’ re deserving by using a wage calculator and reading this article and this one. then exercise how you ’ ll bring that request by reading this article on discussing wage requirements. And check out this article if you find yourself being asked the ( illegal in many places ! ) question, “ What ’ s your current wage ? ”
5. Create a Cheat Sheet
All this information shouldn ’ t fair sit inside your head. One, because it doesn ’ t have to—the beauty of earphone interviews is that you can have notes correct in presence of you without the interviewer having any hint. And two, because we much freeze up when we ’ rhenium aflutter, thus why put yourself in the position of forgetting everything ? Take the research you did, the answers you prepared, and the questions you have and jot them down into a notebook, on a Post-it, or in a one-page document ( we even made a cheat sheet for you ! ). And lodge to bullet points—you surely don ’ metric ton want to be reading your answers off like a handwriting. That ’ ll equitable make you sound inauthentic and honestly make the consultation more nerve-racking.
6. Print Out Other Relevant Documents
In addition to your chess sail, it might help to besides print out a copy of your sketch and embrace letter, vitamin a well as any other information you think you might need to reference ( like your wage inquiry ). As Muse writer Aja Frost points out, the interviewer may bring up points you made in these documents, and you ’ ll want to know what they ’ re talking about.
7. Gather Your Tools
This can consist of :
- A charger
- Headphones
- A notepad and pen/pencil (or a laptop, if that’s how you prefer to take notes—just don’t spend the whole conversation tapping away because that can be distracting)
- A water bottle
- A toy to play with (if it helps you focus—I’m a big fan of the fidget cube)
8. Dress the Part
certain, taking a earphone interview in your pajama sounds appealing—in fact, it ’ second why we love them so much—but dressing the part can merely add to your confidence. So resist the cheer to wear sweatpants and choose for an kit that makes you feel like the kind of person who could rock it in this job. Or at least an outfit that ’ mho comfortable enough and still makes you feel like a master. ( If you ’ re taking the call in the office, you ’ ll confirmation this box off no trouble ! )
9. Find a Quiet, Comfortable, and Convenient Place
At home, this may mean locking yourself in a board that ’ s away from family, roommates, or pets. At solve, this may mean booking yourself a league room or Breather, finding a coffee denounce nearby, or settling for your car or a repose side street. Wherever you decide to go, scope it out a sidereal day or two early for all the necessities—a comfortable seat ( if available ) ; minimal distractions, interruptions, or foundation dealings ; good phone service ; and an wall socket if possible.
10. Cut the Distractions
This goes hand in pass with finding your ideal earphone interview location. Book fourth dimension on your calendar so people know they can ’ t bother you during that time ( and make the consequence secret or give it a fake name so your boss doesn ’ t find out what you ’ re up to ), lock your bedroom doorway thus your roommates or kids don ’ t come waltz in, and muteness any notifications on your telephone or laptop. If you ’ re in a populace place, try facing aside from a window or toward a wall so you aren ’ triiodothyronine distracted by people walking by or things happening around you. And—this is key—use headphones ! They ’ ll minimize surrounding noise and help you to further focus on the conversation—and entirely the conversation. By the way, please do not eat or chew gum during your consultation. If you prefer, set a glass of water next to you for when your mouth starts to get dry.
11. Factor in the Worst-Case Scenarios
Your call dies. Your interview runs over and person ’ s trying to get into your conference room. You get distracted and lose your train of think. You forget everything you ’ ve practiced and have zero things to say. These are unlikely to happen, but knowing what to expect can help you overcome your worst fears and respond proactively should you need to. Having the essentials in place—like a earphone charger and darnel sheet—can bash wonders for your confidence. And if you ’ re worry you ’ ll footrace over, make indisputable your outer space is available and booked an extra 15-30 minutes before and after the scheduled time.
Being afraid of talking on the call is convention, so if that ’ s your biggest worry the best matter you can do is practice—over and complete again until nothing surprises you. And try reading this article on overcoming telephone interview phobia, this one on becoming a “ telephone person ”, and this one on refocus after you get distracted.
12. Set a Friendly (and Professional) Voicemail Message
ideally you ’ ll actually pick up the earphone when the interviewer calls. But in case you can ’ thyroxine for whatever rationality, you ’ ll want to make the best impression you can offline—and this means setting up a master voice mail message. Try something like : “ Hi, you ’ ve reached [ Your list ]. I ’ m regretful I missed your call. Please leave me a detailed message and I ’ ll return your message equally soon as possible. Thanks ! ”
13. Charge Your Phone and Do a Test Run
You decidedly should make certain your call is at full barrage going in—because no one wants a drop birdcall. An hour or thus before your interview is scheduled to start, besides make sure it ’ s working by rights and the signal is all right by calling up a friend or syndicate penis and asking if they can hear you all correct.
Tips 14-19 During Your Phone Interview
14. Start Off Strong
first, the essentials : Be on time and pick up on the second or third band. then, nail your initiation. You can start off with something like, “ Hello, this is [ Your name ] ” or “ Hi [ Name ], this is [ Your name ]. Thanks for calling, it ’ second capital to speak with you. ” Basically, you ’ ll want to say something that ’ ll set the right note off the bat. Saying “ ’ Sup ” or not making it clear it ’ randomness you speaking will immediately make the interviewer question your professionalism and communication skills.
15. Have Impeccable Manners (and Know How to Small Talk)
You don ’ t have to jump straight into business ! At least not if they aren ’ thyroxine. Feel spare to ask them how their day ’ sulfur going, lecture about the weather or your weekend, or try a conversation starter if it seems natural. Participating in humble talk is a civil and easy direction to keep the well vibes rolling and connect with your interviewer—just keep it brief and business allow. besides, if some kind of interruption or background sound occurs, apologize and address it—better to pause than to continue on obliviously while the interviewer is straining on the other end trying to understand what you ’ ra saying. If backdrop randomness is ineluctable, mute yourself when you ’ re not speaking.
16. Lean Into the Pauses
With engineering and not seeing person face-to-face come all sorts of awkward social moments—delayed or overlapping responses being one of them. so don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate be afraid of moments of silence—it ’ s OK to let the conversation breathe a little. When your interviewer asks a wonder, wait a beat or two before answering them to ensure they ’ re finished speak. If you can ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate hear them, politely say, “ I ’ thousand deplorable, could you repeat the question ? ” or “ Just to make certain I understood you, you asked [ question ] ? ” And if they interrupt you, stop talking to let them finish before talk again. If they ’ re doing this, either they ’ rhenium dealing with technical foul difficulties or they want to refocus the conversation. You ’ ll want to transition with them so everything you say is clearly heard and sympathize.
17. Make Sure There’s Excitement in Your Voice
One of the biggest mistakes people make in earphone interviews is not sound energetic and delirious enough. Because the person can ’ t see you, you have to work extra hard to show that you ’ ra enthusiastic about the character and meet with them. To help convey this, use gestures and smile while you talk. Both will automatically inject emotion into your articulation. Hey, get up and walk around if that keeps you full of life. And if something ’ sulfur funny story, laugh ! That ’ south allowed ! Of course, you ’ ll want to balance this out by not sounding talk through one’s hat. Keep an eye on how brassy you ’ ra speaking and try to lower the volume when you find yourself getting besides animated. Practice and getting feedback from peers can help with nailing this down.
18. But Talk Slowly
I once interviewed with person who naturally spoke ace fast. I loved her energy, but because her words came out so rapid-fire a set of our conversation consisted of me asking, “ Could you repeat that ? ” self-awareness is crucial when you ’ re talking on the call. With merely your voice to carry you through, you want to make surely everything you ’ ra state is gain and concise—so catch yourself when you start to ramble or chatter a mile a minute.
19. Listen (and Sound Like You Are)
Don ’ thyroxine be that person who makes the interviewer repeat their questions again and again—that ’ sulfur annoying for everyone involved. Pay attention, practice active listen, and don ’ metric ton multitask ( alias, don ’ thyroxine be working on something else, or even reading over your own notes, while the early person is talking ). This means repeating relevant points ( write them down if you in truth want to remember them ) and using fillers like “ hectometer, ” “ OK, ” “ yes, ” and “ mighty ” to express that you ’ re taking it in.
Tips 20-22 After Your Phone Interview
20. Jot Down Important Points
Take a minute or two after you hang up to jot down any last notes you want to remember. possibly they mentioned a new merchandise they launched that you want to check out, or something about the culture you want to follow up on via e-mail, or a person to reach out to. You won ’ thyroxine repent having those in writing when you go to write your thank you note or walk into the next orotund of interviews.
21. Send a Thank You Note
Do this, and do it soon after your call ! The same day is ideal, but a day after at the latest. There are several boxes you ’ ll want to check :
- Thank them for speaking with you
- Highlight conversation topics that stuck out to you
- Reemphasize your passion for the role and company
- Keep it short and sweet
here ’ s an model : Hi Jen, It was big speak with you over the call today. I very enjoyed learning more about The Muse ’ s mission to help people find companies and careers they love, and particularly love discussing your vision for expanding the consumer intersection. I ’ five hundred absolutely love the opportunity to join your team. I look forward to hearing from you about following steps, but please let me know if there ’ s any other information I can provide in the meanwhile. All the best,
Alyse For an easy-to-use template and more examples, read this article on writing a thank you email after an interview.
22. Follow Up if You Don’t Hear Back
If you don ’ metric ton hear from the lease director in a workweek or sol, preceptor ’ thymine hesitate to follow up to see where they are in the process. They may still be conducting interviews and frankincense have no updates for you, but checking in keeps you top of mind when they go to narrow down candidates. It could look something like this : Hi Jen, I hope all is well ! It was in truth nice speaking with you last week. I merely wanted to follow up and see where you were in the hire process for the sales development congressman function. I ’ m still very interest in and excited about this opportunity, so please let me know if there ’ s anything else you need from me to help in making your decision. Best,
Alyse For more aid on writing this follow-up e-mail, check out this article and this one.
Talking to a Recruiter? Here’s What You Should Know About That Phone Call
If your telephone interview is actually with a recruiter who found you via LinkedIn or another reference, that ’ s amazing ! You ’ ll want to keep several things in mind.
Read more : How to take a screenshot on LG smartphones
First off, this is still an consultation. It shouldn ’ t be a courtly conversation ( nor should most interviews be super conventional ), but you should calm do your research, practice some responses, and prepare your own questions. And you ’ ll want to express enthusiasm for the opportunity and speaking with them—even if you ’ re not actually all that interested in the character ( you can always turn it down later on ). As Muse writer and career coach Jenny Foss points out, you have the upper bridge player because the recruiter is rooting for you to succeed. sol use that to ask for their aid and suggestions in moving on to the adjacent turn and express distinctly your intentions for the role, like your wage demands and ideal determined of responsibilities.
