Perfect Placements telephone interview article
Interview tips
10 Telephone Interview Mistakes to Avoid
Telephone interviews have become an increasingly popular method of screening candidates before final selection, especially where time and distance are issues.
If faced with the prospect of being interviewed for a job by phone, you must get it right the first time. Here are ten mistakes candidates make during a phone interview.
1. Not being prepared
Make sure you find out who will be interviewing you and how long the interview will last. A little research into the company and the people will make for a more relaxed interview experience.
2. Not rising to the occasion
Try standing during the interview and dress well; you may feel and sound more confident and animated.
3. Not verbalising
You may be used to droning on to your friends over the phone, but this won’t wash in an interview – make sure your responses are clear, concise, and brief and that you make yourself audible at all times.
4. Not being confident
You may not be sitting across the table from your prospective employers, but always remember that you’re the right person for the job, so sell yourself as such.
5. Not using a landline
You must find a quiet room with a reliable landline. Lock the door if necessary and turn off your mobile.
6. Not listening to the interviewer
It may be harder to pick up subtle nuances over the phone, so you need to pay extra attention to what’s being asked of you and attempt to decipher and reciprocate the mood set by the interviewer.
7. Not knowing when to keep quiet
Remember, if you ramble on for too long, the interviewer will become easily distracted by their computer screen or what’s going on out the window, so try to keep your answers to under one minute.
8. Not having notes to hand
Phone interviews give you a unique opportunity to have your CV, job spec, company research, and personal notes in front of you, so have them to hand and use them while you can.
9. Not preparing your responses
As with any interview, you’re likely to be dealt with difficult questions, such as “tell me about yourself” and “what do you feel you can bring to this company” – so prepare and have your answers ready in advance.
10. Not asking what happens next
Many interviewees hang up at the end of a phone interview without knowing where they stand. It is better to sign off by telling your interviewer that you are very interested in the position and by asking, what is the next stage?