Tips for a better phone interview
A phone interview is the first step of most hiring processes, and many potential candidates will receive an initial call from recruiters before in-person interviews.
For employers, a phone screen is a fast and effective way to choose candidates. But for job applicants, the phone and the face-to-face interviews are different, and there are many things that candidates should pay attention to when answering a recruiter’s phone call. So how should you to prepare yourself and do well in a phone interview?
First, choose the time and the place carefully.
During a phone interview, set yourself up in a quiet environment and make sure you will not be interrupted. This will help you to be completely engaged in the conversation and will ensure that your performance will not be downgraded by distraction. Home or an empty conference room would be great choices for phone interviews but don’t choose places such as a noisy coffee shop or a car park.
Second, use facial expressions and body language.
Different from face-to-face interviews, one of the big disadvantages of phone interviews is that candidates cannot convey messages using facial expressions or body language. This will to some extent affect the performance of interviewees. But we suggest that candidates use body language and facial expressions even during a phone interview. Although these cannot be seen directly by recruiters, body language and facial expressions can help you to make convincing and appealing answers, be concentrated on the conversation and talk to recruiters with confidence.
Lastly, give logical answers and be a skillful listener.
In a phone interview, the information exchange between candidates and interviewers can be affected. We suggest, therefore, that you should listen carefully to each question and try to feel the conversational pace of your interviewers. Make ordered and to-the-point answers instead of a long monologue, and stop at the right time to allow your recruiters to give feedback.
