ACING A PHONE INTERVIEW: 20 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH TO THE NEXT ROUND

1. This one is obvious but easy to overlook, especially if you’ve got a lot on the go. Note the date and time of your phone interview as well as details on who is calling you and on what number.

Your recruiter will already know a lot about you from your resume and cover letter, and perhaps from your social media presence, too. So find out what you can about them by checking out their professional profile on their company website or LinkedIn.

Look through your initial application for the role, paying attention to information you have provided to your recruiter about your knowledge, skills, experience and interest in the role. As well as being prepared to speak about all these, you should be able to explain any gaps in your resume, and reasons for leaving specific jobs.

Read through the job description, focusing on role responsibilities and requirements. If you’re the perfect fit, great! Think about how you’d demonstrate this to your recruiter. If you don’t tick all the boxes, consider what you’d say to prove you have the potential to grow into the role.

A company website is always a good place to start. You might want to read about their mission, vision and values and what they offer their people, or check out the senior management team. If you know someone employed by the company, drop them an email or give them a call. And you could take a look at reviews and testimonials on Google or Glassdoor.

Yes, this question may well come up at phone interview! Think about how much you are expecting to be paid in this role. Do some groundwork and you’ll have a carefully considered figure to give in response. PayScale, Glassdoor and Hays provide salary information for a variety of roles and work locations.

Rather than tucking away this info in a corner of your brain, it can be a good idea to save it in a single document. You’ll be able to use it to refresh your memory on the day – and refer to it during your phone interview, too. Particularly useful if your mind goes blank, or if you have a number of interviews lined up for different roles.

Here are some classic questions/scenarios to prepare for (there are heaps more). Note that they are likely to vary according to the role you are going for.

• Tell me about yourself.
• How would your co-workers describe you?
• There’s a gap on your resume in 2019. What did you do during that 6-month period?
• Why did you leave that role?
• Describe a time when you have had to deal with a challenging customer.
• One of your team is struggling to achieve their KPIs. What did you do? What was the end result?
• What interests you about this particular role?
• Why would you like to work for this company?

It can be tempting to write out your answers in full, but you’ll risk sounding as if you’re reading from a script at interview. Instead, use bullet points or jot down key points. That way, you’ll have the info at a glance and the flexibility to tailor your responses on the day.

Have a go at saying your answers out loud. You may want to ask a trusted friend or family member to play the role of recruiter and provide you with honest feedback on your performance. Alternatively, record yourself speaking so you can hear where your delivery lacks confidence or fluency.

Again, this one is a no-brainer, but you’ll avoid a last minute panic if your phone is on 100% going into your interview.

A good night’s sleep will ensure you are fresh and ready for your phone interview. (If you’re feeling groggy and have the time, clear your head with a 30-minute walk on the day).

As well as your phone, the following items should come in useful:

• Headphones
• Charger
• Copy of your resume, cover letter and job description
• Copy of your notes
• Paper and pen

Choose a quiet area, e.g. a study nook at home or small meeting room at work, where you are unlikely to be disturbed for the duration of your phone interview. If possible, try to avoid busy areas, such as shopping malls and cafés. Turn off notifications on your phone and any other devices.

It’s a phone interview so there’s nothing to stop you taking the call in your PJs (if you’re at home that is). But you might find that dressing professionally works wonders for your mindset.

Have a final run through your notes and you’re all set.

Let it ring a couple of times, then answer your phone confidently and professionally. Your recruiter may start the interview with small talk, e.g. about the weather. Engage with them and allow yourself to warm to the conversation.

Give your recruiter time to finish their questions or sentences without interrupting. If you have misheard or misunderstood something, ask for clarification. It’s also ok to pause briefly before providing your response.

Aim for a natural pace – not too fast and not too slow – and a clear, confident voice. This is why your practice run is so important! You may find that smiling helps to inject energy and enthusiasm into your responses. Try standing up. Some experts suggest that this can boost your confidence, too.

Keep to the point and provide enough supporting evidence to make your responses relevant and persuasive. If you’re quizzed about previous roles, try to be positive. Avoid stories of interpersonal conflict with past employers and co-workers; focus instead on job moves as opportunities for personal and professional growth, or to gain experience in a different industry sector.

Note any useful information that comes your way during your call. You may be able to refer to it in your phone interview, a follow-up message to your recruiter, or in the next round.

Typically at the end of a phone interview, your recruiter will ask if you have any questions. This is your chance to find out more about the role and the company – and demonstrate your keen interest in both. You may want to ask about something you have read on the company website, or next steps in the hiring process.

Send a brief follow-up email to your recruiter to thank them for their time and confirm your interest in the role. Ideally, you’ll want to do this the same day while the interview is still fresh in their mind and yours. Follow up again a week later if you haven’t heard back about potential next steps.