Tips For Phone Interviews

I have my second interview with a company in Virginia tomorrow that I am hoping to go to work for. It's a phone interview so I have the ability to roll out of bed twenty minutes before hand and not really put much effort into my appearance.

While this seems like a good idea, it probably isn't the best thing that you could do for a phone interview. For anyone taking on a phone interview, here's a few tips to remember.

• Remember, the phone interview is usually used as a screening interview. Usually you get the HR person who is doing the leg work for the busier hiring manager who may not really want to interview you. I'm honestly surprised that my second interview is going to be with the hiring manager.
• Make sure you have everything that you may have sent with the application. A copy of your resume, maybe a work sample. You don't want to have them seeing something that you sent them on purpose thrown back at you because you failed to remember it.
• Do your research on the company and possibly, if you know who you are speaking with, research on the interviewer. It's becoming common practice for companies to root out the people who know the company as opposed to someone who just goes through and applies to a butt load of job. Two hours of solid research now will eliminate ten seconds of awkward silence on the phone.
• Silence isn't always a bad thing, though. It's helpful to pause for a moment and collect your words. Unlike a face to face interview, the interviewer can't see the awkward face you may make at one of their questions. So, stop. Think. Then answer.
  
• Dress up. I know that this may seem like a preposterous idea but think about how good you feel in that suit or that skirt. That same feeling will translate over the phone into a higher level of confidence. I don't think many of us would be comfortable going to an interview in our pajamas in real life, why risk it now?
• Make sure you are alone and will not be bothered. Kick the family out of the house if need be. Also, depending on how strong your cell phone service area is, you may want to consider using a home phone if you have it. The last thing you want is a dropped call.

This is just an overview of the things you may want to consider before you step up to the phone and interview for that perfect job. Remember: be confident, be nice, and don't interrupt the interviewer at any time (short of the walls around your house falling down).

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