How to Ace Your Phone Interview

By Kristie McCaffery, PRC

Manager of Recruitment

Searching and applying for jobs has changed a lot over the years. Gone are the days that you need to search for advertisements in your local newspaper or mail your resume via “snail mail” in hopes that it got into the hands of the hiring manager and not lost along the way. It has become so much easier and faster to apply to multiple positions with simply the click of a button. Heck, as a job seeker, you can even apply to jobs on our phones while waiting in a long line at a grocery store.

However, because it is so easy, employees are now getting exponentially more resumes to review for each job opening. With the number of resumes they are reviewing, a good resume is no longer enough to land an in-person interview. Making a great first impression on a phone interview is vital to ensuring you get the opportunity to meet with the hiring manager.

So what do you need to know in order to ace your phone interview? 

Follow this Step-by-Step Guide for Your Next Phone Interview

The first thing you need to do is to make sure you’re prepared.  You should prepare for a phone interview just as you would for an in-person interview. Make sure to do your research on the company.   Know what the company does, their mission, culture, any recent headlines on social media or in the news, management, and their company’s history.  Review their company website and social media accounts.

You also want to make sure that you review the job description and prepare stories and examples from previous experiences to demonstrate that you are perfect for the job.

Once you are fully prepared for an interview, there are some DOs and DONT’s that you should follow:

DO

1. Practice a mock interview with a friend or record yourself.
2. Make sure you are in a quiet place with no distractions.
3. Grab a pen/pencil and a piece of paper to take notes
4. Have your resume on hand and any other notes you prepared.
5. Make sure to actively listen and have questions prepared. Remember, you also want to make sure this company is a fit for you! The questions you ask can be just as important as the questions you answer.
6. Follow up with an email after your call.
7. Always answer your phone professionally and make sure your voicemail is professional. Most phone interviews are scheduled, but there are often times where you could receive a surprise phone call from a prospective employee.

DON’T

1. Eat or chew gum.
2. Multitask.
3. Ask about compensation or benefits during a phone interview.
4. Talk poorly about your current employer.
5. Interrupt the interviewer. Write down your questions and wait for an appropriate time to ask them.

As your phone screen comes to an end, make sure to end on a positive note.  Thank the interviewer for their time. Ask about how soon you can expect to hear about possible next steps.  Reiterate your interest in the job and why you think you are the best candidate for the role.

Remember each phone interview is a chance to interact with a potential employer and gain experience in interviewing.  Make the most of it, follow these guidelines and you’ll be sure to land a job that’s right for you!