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When employers want to narrow a pool of job candidates, they use phone interviews to screen applicants. Phone interviews often feel overly casual and detached. Consequently, many job seekers fail to prepare and practice for these critical interviews. While it is highly unlikely that you will get a job from a phone interview, you will not be invited to a face-to-face interview unless you do well on the phone. Just click through the sites below, and in no time you’ll boost your phone performance.
Four-Minute Review
David Snell, an ABC news correspondent and communication coach, offers some great advice on How to Ace a Telephone Interview. Listen to what he has to say and then answer these questions on your lesson guide.
- What is one advantage/disadvantage in a phone interview?
- Why should you stand up?
- How will looking in the mirror help you in your interview?
Four Opinions from Clemson
Clemson University’s Career Center has some interesting suggestions from four experienced career counselors. Each offers a unique perspective and advice for the phone interview. As you scan their suggestions, reflect on what they have to say. On your lesson guide, answer these questions.
- Expert #1: Where should you do your phone interview?
- Expert #2: How could you avoid doing a phone interview?
- Expert #3: What should you say if you are asked about your salary expectations?
- Expert #4: How should you prepare for the interview?
Four Sounds
Even though you shine on paper, within a few seconds of hearing your voice, the interviewer will form a mental picture of you. Your voice speaks volumes about you. So, to get a better idea of how you sound, record your practice answer to one of the questions you expect the interviewer to ask, then listen to yourself. Did you speak too fast or too slow? Is your pitch too high or too low? Is your voice volume too loud or too soft? Do you sound too nasal or too gruff? Read “What Your Voice Says About You” and get some quick fixes to improve your sound. On your guide, record how you feel about your voice and one thing you will do to improve your sound.
Four More Tips
The Interview Gurus offer tips on phone interviews. There are actually 10 tips they put forward and some of them you have come across before. However, look at what they have to say about what you should have on hand before the interview, why you should put a smile on your face, why you should not use your cell phone, and why what you wear matters. As you peruse their suggestions, think about four tips you would offer a friend who was preparing for a phone interview. On your lesson guide, write down the advice you would give a friend about his/her phone interview.
Within 7 to 12 seconds of hearing us speak, people form lasting impressions about us … our capabilities, intelligences, even about how we look.
Susan Berkley, Voice Coach