How to Prepare for a Phone Interview
February 9, 2009 | In: Career
Headhunting is not exactly a walk in the park. Due to lack of resources in interviewing the hundreds if not thousands of job applicants, many companies resort to screening these hopeful individuals through less time-consuming methods – such as phone interviews.
The disadvantage of this for the interviewees is that their merits will be judged merely by their answers. So what does one do when he is to be interviewed via the telephone?
Here are some tips:
1. Prepare. Research about the company. Know its history, the products and services it offers. Make sure that you also know the position you are applying for.
2. Practice. Job interview questions are more-or-less standard. If you have been interviewed before, then you have an idea what they are going to ask. If you haven’t, then ask people you know who have. List the questions down and prepare your answers. Write notes down if necessary. They won’t see you anyway.
3. If you know when the call is going to be made, prepare the environment. Make it more condusive to a job interview. Ask your housemates to be quiet at that specific time. Clean your surroundings so you can focus on the interview and not the clutter around you.
4. You don’t have to dress the part, but at least shower and wear something clean and respectable. Having the interview in your pajamas won’t get you in the right mood.
5. Be polite. Greet the interviewer pleasantly. Do not be too familiar. Be formal yet amiable. Proceed as if it’s any normal interview.
6. Keep a glass of water handy, in case you might need to hydrate.
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