Phone Interview

Phone

An employer may opt to conduct telephone interviews when a candidate lives too far away to come in for an interview or when the caller is seeking a person with exceptionally good telephone skills.

As with a personal interview, an employer may make an appointment with you for a telephone interview and give you some idea of how long the conversation will last. A half hour to an hour is not uncommon; some are even longer. Have a glass of water close at hand in case you need it, but don’t snack, chew gum, or smoke.

Aside from the fact that you can’t see the person to whom you are speaking and react to his or her body language, a telephone interview won’t vary all that much from a person to person interview. Your telephone voice and manners should project confidence as well as competence. Good grammar is essential, of course, but avoid stilted or too-formal language. Keep a copy of your resume, references, and transcript close to the phone so you can quickly refer to these documents as needed. The employer is probably taking notes as you talk, so even though you need to offer supporting details, don’t wander off the subject or “over answer” a question.

You should be taking quick notes as well, being careful not to impede the flow of the conversation.

Telephone interviews may involve talking to two or more people over a speaker phone, so attentive listening skills are particularly important. Write down the recruiter’s name or names so you don’t forget who you’re talking to. If you have trouble sorting out the voices or the questions, ask for clarification in a patient and good-humored manner?they don’t expect that telepathy is one of your job skills.

When the employer ends the call, thank him or her for the interview, express your interest in having a personal interview, and ask if you should send additional information. The interviewer will probably explain the next step in the application process; if not, you should ask. Before you hang up, be sure you have the correct spelling of the caller’s name, and his or her job title, address, phone number, and if appropriate, e-mail address. A follow-up letter can thank the caller for the
interview and clarify or refer to topics that were discussed.

If, after talking to the employer, you can see that the job is not what you are looking for, politely explain that the position is not right for you and end the conversation with thanks for his or her time.

Don’t be surprised if you receive unsolicited calls from employers. Listen carefully and ask enough questions to learn about the job. The option to pursue or decline an interview is entirely yours and you should resist any pressure to schedule a personal interview for a job you know you don’t want.