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How to Ace a Phone Interview Step By Step

Yes! Phone interview, I bet many still think that the traditional way of conducting interview session is the only valid and official way where you have to dress with every sense of formalities, the black crispy suit with neatly pressed trousers, checked tie with Italian shoes to rock,  well that is for guys, imagine the same scenario painted for the ladies too, and not in any attempt to profiling, but then we do know that the ladies can never be caught on the offside when it comes to killing it with nice fashion statement when it comes to interviewing sessions.

Well that’s is the orthodox way of running interview sessions, the world is fast-moving and things are changing from that which we do call or regard as the conventional. We now have phone interviews, it is not a new thing it has very much being with us for a very long time, it is just not as pronounced as the traditional way of running interview sessions where you dress nice and you have to wait before being called, and when called you have to sit behind a big desk with serious-looking people staring at you, scrutinizing your every move while they throw at you missiles of interview questions

Just as I said this is gradually changing, the advent of super-fast phone or computer application has made it easy for recruiting firms to conduct their interviews using the phone.

Adding to this, the realities which was facilitated by the advent of covid-19 outbreak across the globe has shown that phone interviews are not bad and can be adopted to replace the orthodox way of conducting interviews. Also for most of the remote jobs around the interview process are usually done via phone interviews.

These days, phone interviews are unavoidable part of some job interview process, and for some good reasons: they save for both parties involved time and effort.

You can also see the importance of a phone interview from another perspective, a phone interview may only be the first step in your job hunting process, so don’t overlook its importance.

It’s the small glimpse and first impression an employer gets of you. And if you’re not careful, it may be the only glimpse. As companies see more and more applicants vying for the same opportunity, a phone interview is the first step in weeding out the weakest links before inviting the top dogs in for a face-to-face meeting.

Not only are phone interviews more realistic for candidates applying from remote location, or for those across the country they save businesses significant time and serve as a method of quickly cutting down the applicant list.

One of the biggest mistakes people make during a phone interview is sounding bored or disconnected. Because employers won’t get to see your face, nailing down this process is crucial to your future success.

Telephone interviews are often conducted by employers in the initial interview round of the hiring process, this type of interview allows an employer to screen candidates on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and salary expectations pertaining to the position and the company.

Best Tips to Nail A Phone Interview

  1. Do your research in advance.

This is a very important task which you must do before proceeding with a phone interview. You won’t want to look like a fool or seem lost in the middle of the interview so it is imperative that you do this. Find out as much as you can about the company. Not only that, ensure that you do a well thorough research about the role which you are applying for.    Review the organization’s website (if any) to see what they do, where they are, and the latest news they may have posted. Look for a LinkedIn “Company Profile” to see what information they post, as well as other job openings they might have.

  1. Have the documentation you need at your fingertips.

Having easy access to the company and job information will allow you to confidently respond to questions without fumbling regarding which job you are talking about. So have a copy of both the job description and a copy of the resume or application you submitted in front of you before the interview starts. Also have the notes you made during your research questions to ask about the organization. Having questions which are specific to the employer will impress them with your interest and your attention to detail

  1. Take notes.

As the interview begins, ask for the name and job title of the person who is interviewing you, and write it down in your notes. At the end of the interview, ask for, or confirm, the person’s email address (so you can send your thank you). If possible, take notes during and immediately after the call. Focus on giving good answers rather than writing copious notes and you can write most of the notes after the call.

Note the date and time of the call and, if scheduled, whether they were on time. Then: During the call, write the name and job title of the person who called. If they don’t volunteer it, ask, and confirm the correct spelling of their name.

During the call, write down any commitments you make for after the call, like sending a sample of your work or following up with the answer to a question that you couldn’t answer during the call. Do be careful not to put a current or former employer’s confidential information at risk. At the end of the call, be sure to make note of the answers to the questions in below.

Note anything about you that seemed particularly important to them, indicated by the interviewer asking you several follow-on questions about that topic.

Note anything about you that seemed to disappoint them.

These notes will help you write your thank-you note and also help you to prepare for the in-person interview. The positive thing about phone interviews is that they are quicker and more convenient for both you and the interviewer than arranging a preliminary meeting face-to-face. From the employer’s point of view, they provide useful insights into your verbal communication skills. If the job you’re applying for relies as much on your personality or telephone skills as on qualifications and experience, the recruiter will be particularly interested in how you come across. However, phone interviews can be difficult because neither party can see the other, so the usual visual clues are absent.

  1. Control your environment– it is very important that you have a firm control over your environment. In doing this, ensure that you keep the noise down to the barest minimum. You do not receive a phone interview beside a radio set or with the Television on. If you have kids ensure that they are not running around the house screaming or doing anything to distract you.
  2. Don’t Multi-task– avoid the urge to do other things like watching the TV, checking emails, cooking, or doing any other thing that might distract you in the process. Keep it professional, eliminate all other sources of distraction, sit in an upright position and be calm while you answer the interview questions
  3. Send a Thank You Message after the call

By Marcus Amudipe

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  1. graliontorile

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    Reply

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