A Step By Step Guide to Nailing a Phone Interview
A HUGE part of RX Ashlee and being a career coach is helping people improve their interview skills. After all, you could be the most perfect candidate in the world, but not having the right words to say during an interview could still hurt your chances of standing out in a busy marketplace.
Understandably, A LOT of people experience anxiety about the interview process.
Before we dive into discussing how to nail a phone interview, I wanted to link you to several blogs that I’ve written about interview prep in general:
How to Know When You Need Professional Help with Interview Prep
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Learning the Art of the Humble Brag
And don’t forget to check out my Stand Out and Nail Your Interview course
Phone interviews are typically the first phase of many job opportunities. A lot of people fall into the trap of thinking that phone interviews are more casual and that they should spend more time preparing for an in-person interview.
If that sounds like you, it’s time to change your thinking about the weight of the phone interview.
Think of phone interviews as a screening mechanism. By getting a feel for you phone the phone, employers are minimizing the potential time you would both “waste” on an in-person interview if you aren’t the right fit.
In fact, this a phone interview an excellent way for you to learn about the role before you ever go on site, take time off from work, or leave your house.
And the phone interview is a time where you get to make your very first impression outside of what they’ve seen on your CV or what is in your job application. Make sure that you’re setting yourself up for an anxiety-free and successful experience by prepping beforehand!
HOW TO NAIL YOUR PHONE INTERVIEW
Print out your resume/CV/cover letter to use as a reference. Make sure to review it in detail before the interview so you can mention your skills and experience throughout the conversation
Print out notes you can refer to throughout the interview. Writing our answers to common questions like “how did you overcome a difficult situation at work?” can save you from struggling to pull a story out of thin air. Practice beforehand and have a log of talking points that you can easily discuss. No matter what, during you call do not read any answers. It is evident when people are reading over a call and this should be avoided at all costs.
Find a quiet place to take the call. Avoid a busy coffee shop and make sure to have your office locked - you don't want kids or dogs to run into your room in the middle of a call. Sometimes, sitting in your car outside of your home may be the best place to take an interview call.
Make sure your wifi and the login works ahead of time. Some companies like to host calls through online systems. If this is the case, test out the link, your internet access, and your log-in information ahead of time.
Research the company and the role to ask specific questions about the role. The majority of job descriptions are incredibly vague. Take the time to do your research and have specific questions ready for them. Their answers will also learn more about the role, so it’s a win/win. Use the phone interview to find out as much information as possible about the role before you take PTO or take time away from your family to go for an onsite interview.
Pretend like it is an in-person interview and get dressed for the occasion. While being in your PJs may be a fantastic part of working from home or doing a phone interview, getting dressed up will help you feel the part. You may end up answering more confidently and professionally if you’re dressed up like you’re going to meet them in person.
Be 3-5 minutes early on the call to ensure you have the right number. When you’re prepping for a phone interview, it’s just as important to be a bit early as it is if you were stepping into their office. Calling a few minutes ahead of time will give you the chance to check that you have the right number. If you don’t, you’ll have the time to get routed to the right person without being late.
Ask for a follow up or what the next steps are. No matter if you’re in a phone interview or an in-person interview, always ask for a follow up! This potential employer should have a vague idea for the timeline and next steps that you should expect. At the very least, get a contact for someone you can personally follow up with a few days after the interview. (This is a good practice in general!)
Want to learn more about how you can nail your interviews and land your dream job? Check out my Stand Out and Nail Your Interview course or join my Career By Design membership to gain expert guidance and a network of professionals that will help you thrive.
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