Telephone interviews - insight
Telephone interviews are an increasingly popular cost and time-effective method of assessment amongst recruiters to get a grasp of your ability to communicate and express your interests, capabilities & personality. They should not be taken lightly and preparation is a must.
Q. What should I expect from a telephone interview and how can I prepare for it?
A. One of the most important things to remember when taking part in a telephone interview is that it has for many companies replaced a face to face interview and should therefore be treated with the same level of preparation as a face to face interview.
If you are given an opportunity to choose a time and date for your interview think carefully about when and where you will be. Don’t choose a time when you are going to have to race about but instead give yourself plenty of time to get settled and where you can be in a nice quiet, uninterrupted space.
Some interviews will be easier to prepare for than others; don’t be afraid when you book your appointment to ask for preparation advice. If this isn’t forthcoming take some time to put down on paper:
- What your strengths, skills and competencies are
- Examples of how you can demonstrate strong examples of these skills
- Brief notes on the company you are having an interview with
- Any questions you would like to ask at the end of the interview
As with any interview, be yourself. Most interviewers are looking for someone who is comfortable talking on the phone. If you relax and stand up you will be able to project your personality and enthusiasm as well as speak more clearly than being hunched over a desk or on the sofa. Take the interview seriously and make time to do your research and you should sail through.
Finally
- Consider dressing as if you would for an interview
- As daft as you might look it will really help to get you in the right mindset
- Sit opposite a mirror – it will help you to feel like you are talking to someone and will help to see your facial expression, which links onto…
- Smile! – You can hear a smile down the phone and it will make you sound much more passionate and more appealable to the interviewer. But equally, if you look in pain, or are scared stiff you will probably sound it too!!
