{"id":1186,"date":"2019-04-04T19:44:53","date_gmt":"2019-04-04T14:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/postaresume.co.in\/blog\/?p=1186"},"modified":"2022-01-06T20:01:34","modified_gmt":"2022-01-06T14:31:34","slug":"22-phone-interview-tips-to-help-you-nail-the-call-and-move-to-the-next-round","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.postaresume.co.in\/blog\/interview-tips\/22-phone-interview-tips-to-help-you-nail-the-call-and-move-to-the-next-round","title":{"rendered":"22 Phone Interview Tips to Help You Nail the Call (and Move to the Next Round)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Interview<\/a>
\nThere\u2019s truly nothing more rewarding than getting a response from an application you sent in to your dream job asking you to hop on the phone for an interview. Not only did all your hard work\u2014editing your resume, writing a cover letter, putting together writing samples, and filling out endless forms\u2014pay off, but you\u2019re finally going to meet the person (or people) hiring for your role. Or, uh, well, hear their voice at least.
\nBefore you go from ecstatic to panicked wondering how in the hell you\u2019re going to knock the interviewer\u2019s socks off, we\u2019ve compiled all the phone interview tips you could ever need to get yourself prepared\u2014and guarantee you\u2019ll get to meet the hiring manager in person in the next round.
\nBefore Your Phone Interview<\/strong>
\n1. Get Clear on the Details<\/strong>
\nThis means knowing:
\nThe time of your phone interview (and in what time zone!)
\nWho exactly you\u2019ll be speaking with and their role (if there\u2019s more than one person, figure out what order you\u2019ll be speaking to them in)
\nWhat number they\u2019ll be calling from
\nWhat number they\u2019ll be calling you at (if you have two or more phone lines)
\nAny other contact information (like their email or the company\u2019s main line) you may need if the call drops.
\nIf this wasn\u2019t spelled out to you, just ask! There\u2019s nothing wrong with getting some clarity on something that affects both of your schedules (and you\u2019ll be grateful you didn\u2019t have to deal with a missed call or meeting that started late).
\nYou can send the following email:
\nHi [Name],
\nI\u2019m excited to speak with you on [date]! I just wanted to double check what time we\u2019re chatting at (I have [time] [time zone] on my calendar) and what number you\u2019ll be calling from. Please let me know if there\u2019s anything else you need from me before our call.
\nThanks so much!
\n[Your Name]
\nOr you can follow up on your previous conversations with:
\nHi [Name],
\nJust confirming we\u2019re chatting on [date] at [time] [time zone] and you\u2019ll be calling me at [phone number]\/I\u2019ll be calling you at [phone number]? Let me know if I have that schedule wrong.
\nThanks,
\n[Your Name]
\nOh, and if you need to reschedule for whatever emergency reason, use this email template and be proactive\u2014in other words, don\u2019t wait until the last second to cancel if you can help it.
\n2. Do Your Research<\/strong>
\nTreat it like any other interview\u2014and prepare, prepare, prepare. Too many people make the mistake of winging a phone interview thinking it\u2019s not as important or they can handle it no problem, when in reality they find themselves stumbling over their answers and messing up their chances.
\nFirst, give the job description a gander to understand exactly what role you\u2019re interviewing for and what the interviewer may ask you about over the phone.
\nThen, do some digging into the company. Browse their website, Google them to gather some recent news updates, read their employee testimonials on other sites (like The Muse!), and scroll through their social media. Get a sense of not just what your specific role would entail and what the team does, but the company\u2019s history, mission, and overall vibe. This will help you in crafting tailored interview answers and asking thoughtful questions.
\nAs Muse writer and former recruiter Rich Moy notes in an article about what recruiters look for in a phone interview, you don\u2019t want to just regurgitate the organization\u2019s \u201cAbout\u201d page. Rather, find ways to tie the company\u2019s values to your own and use that to showcase how great a fit you are.
\n3. Practice Your Answers (and Talking on the Phone)<\/strong>
\nNext on the list is prepping answers to any and all phone interview questions you might be asked. Once you nail those down, practice answering these other common interview questions and compile two to three questions to ask the interviewer at the very end.
\nBut preparing for a phone interview isn\u2019t just about crafting answers to predictable questions you may be asked. It\u2019s also about knowing how to convey those answers over the phone. So if you want to ensure you\u2019re making the right kind of impression, phone a friend and have them listen to your responses and give feedback (more advice on running a successful mock interview here).
\n4. Prepare Your Salary Number<\/strong>
\nYes, this is might come up, especially if the phone interview is an initial screening call with HR. So you\u2019ll want to have a smart answer ready. (But if they don\u2019t ask, you\u2019ll probably want to wait for a later round to bring it up yourself.)
\nFigure out what you\u2019re worth by using a salary calculator and reading this article and this one. Then practice how you\u2019ll convey that request by reading this article on discussing salary requirements.
\nAnd check out this article if you find yourself being asked the (illegal in many places!) question, \u201cWhat\u2019s your current salary?\u201d
\n5. Create a Cheat Sheet<\/strong>
\nAll this information shouldn\u2019t just sit inside your head. One, because it doesn\u2019t have to\u2014the beauty of phone interviews is that you can have notes right in front of you without the interviewer having any clue. And two, because we often freeze up when we\u2019re nervous, so why put yourself in the position of forgetting everything?
\nTake the research you did, the answers you prepared, and the questions you have and jot them down into a notebook, on a Post-it, or in a one-page document (we even made a cheat sheet for you!). And stick to bullet points\u2014you certainly don\u2019t want to be reading your answers off like a script. That\u2019ll just make you sound inauthentic and frankly make the interview more stressful.
\n6. Print Out Other Relevant Documents<\/strong>
\nIn addition to your cheat sheet, it might help to also print out a copy of your resume and cover letter, as well as any other information you think you might need to reference (like your salary research). As Muse writer Aja Frost points out, the interviewer may bring up points you made in these documents, and you\u2019ll want to know what they\u2019re talking about.
\n7. Gather Your Tools<\/strong>
\nThis can consist of:
\nA charger
\nHeadphones
\nA notepad and pen\/pencil (or a laptop, if that\u2019s how you prefer to take notes\u2014just don\u2019t spend the whole conversation tapping away because that can be distracting)
\nA water bottle
\nA toy to play with (if it helps you focus\u2014I\u2019m a big fan of the fidget cube)
\n8. Dress the Part<\/strong>
\nSure, taking a phone interview in your pajamas sounds appealing\u2014in fact, it\u2019s why we love them so much\u2014but dressing the part can only add to your confidence. So resist the urge to wear sweatpants and opt for an outfit that makes you feel like the kind of person who could rock it in this job. Or at least an outfit that\u2019s comfortable enough and still makes you feel like a professional. (If you\u2019re taking the call in the office, you\u2019ll check this box off no problem!)
\n9. Find a Quiet, Comfortable, and Convenient Place<\/strong>
\nAt home, this may mean locking yourself in a room that\u2019s away from family, roommates, or pets. At work, this may mean booking yourself a conference room or Breather, finding a coffee shop nearby, or settling for your car or a quiet side street. Wherever you decide to go, scope it out a day or two early for all the necessities\u2014a comfy seat (if available); minimal distractions, interruptions, or foot traffic; good phone service; and an outlet if possible.
\n10. Cut the Distractions<\/strong>
\nThis goes hand in hand with finding your ideal phone interview location. Book time on your calendar so people know they can\u2019t bother you during that time (and make the event private or give it a fake name so your boss doesn\u2019t find out what you\u2019re up to), lock your bedroom door so your roommates or kids don\u2019t come waltzing in, and silence any notifications on your phone or laptop. If you\u2019re in a public place, try facing away from a window or toward a wall so you aren\u2019t distracted by people walking by or things happening around you.
\nAnd\u2014this is key\u2014use headphones! They\u2019ll minimize surrounding noise and help you to further focus on the conversation\u2014and only the conversation.
\nBy the way, please do not eat or chew gum during your interview. If you prefer, set a glass of water next to you for when your mouth starts to get dry.
\n