Tips For Topping Telephone Interview
  • Conduct Company Research

    Research should always be your first step before an interview. Gathering background information on employers is crucial to successful interview preparation.
    An employer will expect you to know something about the company, and expect you to know why you will fit in well there. You need to be prepared to answer the questions, "What do you know about our company"? and "Why do you want to work here?"
    Knowing as much as possible about the company's past performance and future plans can also...

    Research should always be your first step before an interview. Gathering background information on employers is crucial to successful interview preparation.
    An employer will expect you to know something about the company, and expect you to know why you will fit in well there. You need to be prepared to answer the questions, "What do you know about our company"? and "Why do you want to work here?"
    Knowing as much as possible about the company's past performance and future plans can also help you better explain how you can add value to the company.
    Before the interview, review the company's website, particularly their “About Us” section. Also check out their LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and other social pages to see what information the company is sharing.
    The more information you have, the more comfortable you’ll feel while you’re talking to your interviewer.

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  • Use Your Connections to Get the Inside Scoop

    If you know someone who works at the organization or who can put you in touch with a current or former employee, you’ll be able to gather information that can give you an advantage over the other applicants.
    Check LinkedIn to see if you have contacts at the company you can use to get insider information. If your college has an alumni network tap that, as well. Ask your connections about the interview process they went through when they were hired, ask what they like and don’t like about...

    If you know someone who works at the organization or who can put you in touch with a current or former employee, you’ll be able to gather information that can give you an advantage over the other applicants.
    Check LinkedIn to see if you have contacts at the company you can use to get insider information. If your college has an alumni network tap that, as well. Ask your connections about the interview process they went through when they were hired, ask what they like and don’t like about working for the organization.
    Learn as much as you possibly can about the company and the job for which you’re applying. It will help you know what to ask, as well as giving you insight into the role.

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  • Practice Interviewing

    Talking on the phone isn't as easy as it seems. Hence practice can be helpful. Not only will this help you rehearse answers to common phone interview questions, but it will also help you realize if you have a lot of verbal ticks, if your pronounciations are clear, or speak either too fast or too slow.
    For practice, have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview and record it so you can see how you sound over the phone. Once you have a recording, you'll be able to hear your "ums" an...

    Talking on the phone isn't as easy as it seems. Hence practice can be helpful. Not only will this help you rehearse answers to common phone interview questions, but it will also help you realize if you have a lot of verbal ticks, if your pronounciations are clear, or speak either too fast or too slow.
    For practice, have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview and record it so you can see how you sound over the phone. Once you have a recording, you'll be able to hear your "ums" and "uhs" and "okays" and then practice reducing them from your conversational speech. Listening to the recording will also help you pinpoint answers that you can improve.

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  • Get Ready for the Call

    • Before the call, confirm all the details including the date, time and who you will be talking to. Be sure you know whether the interviewer is calling you or if you need to make the call.
    • Use a quiet, comfortable, and private space with no distractions so you can focus on the interview.
    • Keep your resume in clear view, on the top of your desk, or tape it to the wall near the phone, so it's at your fingertips when you need to answer questions.
    • Have a pen and paper han...

    • Before the call, confirm all the details including the date, time and who you will be talking to. Be sure you know whether the interviewer is calling you or if you need to make the call.
    • Use a quiet, comfortable, and private space with no distractions so you can focus on the interview.
    • Keep your resume in clear view, on the top of your desk, or tape it to the wall near the phone, so it's at your fingertips when you need to answer questions.
    • Have a pen and paper handy for note taking.
    • Turn call-waiting off, so your call isn't interrupted.
    • Clear the room — evict the kids and the pets. Turn off the stereo and the TV.
    • Close the door
    • If you are using a Handhpone for the interview, make sure you charge it fully before the interview. If you have a landline, use that instead of your cell phone. That way, you'll eliminate the possibility of poor reception or dropped calls.

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  • Do’s and Don’ts During the Phone Interview

    Do use the person's title (Mr. or Ms. and their name.) Only use their first name if they ask you to.
    Do keep a glass of water handy. There isn't much worse than having a tickle in your throat or a cough starting when you need to talk on the phone. Have a glass of water ready so you can take a quick sip if your mouth gets dry or there's a catch in your throat.
    Do smile. Eventhough the interviewer cannot see you smiling, Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will chan...

    Do use the person's title (Mr. or Ms. and their name.) Only use their first name if they ask you to.
    Do keep a glass of water handy. There isn't much worse than having a tickle in your throat or a cough starting when you need to talk on the phone. Have a glass of water ready so you can take a quick sip if your mouth gets dry or there's a catch in your throat.
    Do smile. Eventhough the interviewer cannot see you smiling, Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice. It can also be helpful to stand during the interview, since this typically gives your voice more energy and enthusiasm.
    Don’t chew gum or eat during the interview.
    Do focus and listen. It's important to focus on the interview and that can be harder on the phone than in-person. Be sure to listen to the question, ask for clarification if you're not sure what the interviewer is asking, and speak slowly, carefully, and clearly when you respond. It's fine to take a few seconds to compose your thoughts before you answer.
    Don't interrupt the interviewer.
    Do take your time to answer a question— it's perfectly acceptable to take a moment or two to collect your thoughts.
    Do take notes. It's hard to remember what you discussed after the call. So take brief notes during the interview.
    Do have questions to ask the interviewer ready. Be prepared to respond when the interview asks whether you have any questions for him or her.
    Do remember to thank the interviewer at the end of the interview. Your goal is to set up a face-to-face interview. After you thank the interviewer, ask if it would be possible to meet in person.

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