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How To Master Telephone Interviews |
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Don't be afraid to pick up the phone! The telephone interview is by far
becoming more and more popular. Many job hunters still get that adrenalin rush
even with the phone interviews. But following the tips and advice in this
article will help you master the phone interview and get you to the next step -
the face to face interview.
Often, the first step in the hiring process is the telephone interview.
Companies and the recruiters they employ use the telephone interview to develop
a pool of candidates to look at closer, and to pare down the number of
applicants for a job opening. The advantages to the Company are:
-
the cost is less.
- the list of questions can be standardized.
- the
interview can be delegated to a lower level (cheaper) employee.
- it can be done
quickly.
The aims on both sides of the telephone are limited. The
caller wants a selection of qualified candidates, and the process screens out
many candidates. If the call is a straightforward screening call, the caller
will likely ask about your experience, availability and salary requirements.
Your strategy is to provide facts that support your resume, with some context
about your performance. Try using numbers and facts to be effective, however,
you don't want to volunteer anything that could disqualify you . Make every
effort to sound professional but not personal, as this call is not to establish
rapport.
Since you are unlikely to win the job from a telephone interview, your goal is
to secure an in-person interview with the person who has the authority to hire.
Approach the call with that attitude. Managing the Telephone Interview
Try to reschedule surprise interviews. Say that you have a conflict and suggest
a time you can call back. When you call back, be prepared for the call just as
you would for a full-dress interview. Have ready
-
pen and paper, a calculator
- the job ad and the resume and cover letter which
you sent in response to the ad.
- a list of your accomplishments which relate
to the job you are discussing.
- research you have done on the Company.
- a
short list of questions about the job.
- your calendar.
The Techniques of a Pro
-
Smile - it comes through in your voice.
- Speak directly into the phone.
- Don't
smoke, chew gum, eat or drink anything. It all telegraphs to your listener.
- Stand
up. Your voice sounds stronger.
- Avoid ah, er, hum. This habit is especially
noticeable on the telephone. This takes practice. So practice.
For a winning performance
-
Confirm the caller's name and Company. Get the caller's telephone number.
- Be
aware that the caller can't see you - can't see your hand gestures, can't see
you taking notes.
- Pace the call. Let the caller do most of the talking,
without interruptions.
- Do use the technique of repeating or re-phrasing
questions. It tells the caller that you listened carefully, and gives you time
to think about your answer.
- Avoid the simple yes or no; add selling points
at every opportunity.
- If you need time to think, say so - as in radio,
silence during a telephone conversation is dead air time.
- Compensation issues
come at the end of the interviewing cycle, never at the telephone stage. You
can truthfully say you don't know enough about the job to state a salary
figure. And, of course, you would need a personal interview to really talk with
the Company. Which is another way to go for the personal interview. Re-affirm
your qualifications, express your interest in the job and the Company. Say you
would appreciate the opportunity to talk about the job further - in person.
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About The Author
Dahlia Astifo is the job and career expert at
http://www.ArabiaHotJobs.com. Dahlia has over 10 years experience in
staffing and human resources. She has worked both as a recruiter and career
counselor. Ms. Dahlia has been the Managing Editor at
http://www.ArabiaHotJobs.com for the past 5 years and her articles have
helped thousands of job seekers and hundreds of recruiters.
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