How To Make Telephonic Interview Successful
posted April 8, 2008 - 1:02pm
A complete step by step guide on telephonic interview, how to get prepare and make it successful one.
The trend of telephonic interviews or you may call it cell phone interview is now fast picking up. Telephonic interviews are generally conducted for preparing a candidate shortlist for a
face-to-face interviews. A telephonic screening round usually precedes an actual face-to-face interview. A telephonic interview is actually conducted to interview people who reside outsides the immediate area (who are relocating or plan to work from home) or when the interviewer is located at a distant place. To pre-screen applicants, a short phone interview is conducted first and then a core group is picked up to interview in person. The candidate should remember that since the interviewer is not seeing him, his voice has to be expressive and convincing.
Pre-Preparation.
The pre-preparation for a telephonic interview is almost similar to a face-to-face interview but with a slight difference.
1. Keep all your documents ready as the telephonic interviewer may call you anytime.
2. Select a quiet, private room with a telephone or cell phone in good working condition. Battery should be preferably fully charged.
3. Prepare brief points that you would speak during the interview.
4. Keep a pen and paper ready near the telephone to jot down the important information that the interviewer provides.
5. Keep a calculator and a calendar ready.
6. Keep the job ad, the resume and the cover letter that you had sent in response to the advertisement.
7. Keep ready the information on the research you have done on the company.
8. Keep a short list of questions about the job ready that you would like to ask the interviewer.
9. Make sure that you do not receive other phone calls if you know when the interview is scheduled.
10. Once you know the name of the interviewer, jot it down.
Tips To Follow.
These are the following simple tips if you follow during the telephonic interview will help you to achieve your goal easily.
1. If the interviewer gives you a surprise call, avoid sounding perturbed.
2. Appear calm and greet the interviewer pleasantly.
3. Smile as you speak, as a smile helps to change your tone, making it sound cheerful to the person at the other end of the line.
4. If a radio or television is playing excuse yourself politely and switch it off immediately.
5. Breathe deeply and relax.
6. Speak slowly, clearly and with purpose.
7. Avoid being loud or too soft.
8. Be assertive and confident.
9. End the interview with appropriate compliments.
10. Be courteous and try not to interrupt the interviewer. If you do interrupt unintentionally, apologize and let the interviewer continue.
11. If you cannot hear the interviewer clearly avoid saying ‘I cannot hear you’ or ‘speak loudly’. Instead, say, ‘I hope you can hear me clearly since you aren’t audible to me.’
12. Support your statements with detailed examples of accomplishments, whenever possible. Since it is easy to get distracted on a phone call, keep the interviewer interested.
13. If you think of a comment or a query while the interviewer is speaking, note it down so that you remember it later.
14. Don’t let anyone else guide you while answering. This will result in confusion and you might end up stammering. It is better to be alone while being interviewed.
15. If the interviewer has already answered a question from your prepared list, strike it out immediately. If you ask the same question, it will appear as if you weren’t attentive to the interviewer’s query.
16. Don’t smoke, chew gum, eat or drink anything when the interview is on.
17. When the interviewer calls, confirm the caller’s name and company.
18. Avoid repeating questions. It gives the caller a feeling that you are trying to steal some time before answering.
19. Avoid mono answer—“yes” and “no”.
20. In case you do need time to think, request for it. Simply keeping silent during a telephone conversation is dead air time – as in radio.
21. Be natural and do not adopt any alien accent or style while speaking.
22. Speak up to the point and avoid using jargons.
23. Address the interviewer using ‘Mr. or Mrs.’ Followed by his last name and if he holds any title as –Dr, make use of it while addressing him.
24. Since the interview will be preliminary in nature, you won’t generally be asked technical questions. The focus will be more on communication skills.
25. If you are asked to quote the expected salary, truthfully say that you do not know enough, about the job to state a figure. Say that you would need a personal interview to understand things better.
26. As the interview comes to a close, you may ask, “When am I likely to hear from you?”
27. Do not hang up till the interviewer has done so first.
28. Promptly send a formal follow – up/ thank you letter, just as you would for a face-to-face interview.
Questions To Expect.
Most of these questions are often asked to find out how communicative you are and how you sound. Therefore maintain a good tone of voice throughout the interview.
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What do you know about our company?
3. What would you like to know about us?
4. Which companies have you worked for earlier? And
Other Such Questions.
Remember that the telephonic interview may take you through to the main interview. So put your best foot forward and earn a place for yourself in the main interview.
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Comments
Great Tips
Kristen Malmed
Online Communications Specialist
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