Phone Interview Tips

Telephone interviews are becoming more popular since they allow an employer a cost-effective and time efficient means to screen out applicants and narrow down their candidate list to a manageable number for in person interviews.

Customer Service Jobs
There is a company in my area that hires customer service representative to handle calls for a major cell phone network. The interview process involves a series of phases, starting with a phone interview. Once you submit your application online, you will usually be called the next day for an unexpected phone interview. I have heard of people being called as late as 8:45 Pm for an unexpected interview!

Depending on the company, your phone interview may expected or unexpected.

If you are applying for positions in which a great deal of time will be spent on the telephone, you should follow these phone interview tips to prepare, just in case... if you are called, you will be poised and ready to handle whatever questions are sent your way.

Alert your family!

As part of your job interview preparation , make sure you alert your family that you may be receiving calls from employers and that they should handle the calls professionally:

• Music or TV should be turned off or turned down before answering the phone.
• Person answering the phone should be pleasant and helpful.
• Have them ask for the name of the company & person calling, & write it on a message pad.
• No yelling for you to come to the phone should ever occur!

Set aside a place that is clear of distractions and noise

This is one of the more important phone interview tips, because it will save you needless chaos and frustration once you are on the telephone with the employer.

Unless you live alone, you probably have a pretty busy and noisy household! Make sure you designate a room where you can be alone to talk without being distracted by activity and noise. This will help you focus on the interview and will allow you to present yourself in a professional manner.

Make sure you have a pencil and writing pad by the telephone, along with a copy of your resume. You will want to be able to take notes as you are interviewing and will want to be able to reference your resume during the interview.

It is a good idea to keep a copy of your job search journal by the telephone so that you can quickly reference what company and position you applied for and when you applied.

Use a landline, whenever possible, as there can be static or clipping of conversations when using a cell phone.

A Few More Phone Interview Tips to Prepare Yourself!

As part of your job interview preparation, review some of the questions you might be asked and prepare a good answer for interview questions.

Be sure to maintain a positive tone and speak concisely, clearly, and with enthusiasm.

If you have a cold or allergies you should take a nasal decongestant that does not make you drowsy so that the sound of your voice is not stuffy or hard to understand.

Don't eat, drink, or chew gum during the interview.

Create a Good Ending

Send a thank you note .

This is one of the most powerful phone interview tips! Send a thank you note to your telephone interviewer on the same day that you interviewed. If you passed the initial screening, this will portray you as one who is willing to put forth more effort than your counterparts. If the employer has not yet made a decision on whether you will get a second interview, sending a thank you note will only help your case.

Happy Job Seeking!