Finally Got a Call About That Job Interview but It's on the Telephone? Follow These Telephone Interview Tips to Come Across as a Thorough Professional (2020)

Many companies today conduct phone interviews as the preliminary step of identifying potential candidates for the job profile. This will help them to narrow down the number of potential candidates from a pool of applicants. It saves time and effort of both the company and the candidate.

Company reduces its expenses on interview by conducting a telephonic round as it does not require any office amenities that a company may have to provide if the interview is conducted face to face. The candidate is also benefited as he/she will be able to attend the interview at comfort of his/her home.

The recruitment process has become wider and is not region centric anymore, and this provides great career opportunity for the candidates. It is expensive for the company to have the out of town candidate travel to the interview location, this is one of the main reasons for the telephonic interview to be implemented.

Interviewer tries to judge the candidate whether he/she is fit for the organisational role and needs. If proven fit from the telephonic round, then the candidates will be called to the company location for face-to-face interview round.

Being prepared for an interview is very important especially in telephonic interview as it is difficult to build rapport here and the best chance you have to do so is by knowing what to say. Research about the company and job description beforehand, and have the answer ready for what you can bring to the role with your skills.

Choose a place that is free of noise so that concentration can solely be on the interview. Telephonic interviews are usually scheduled so there is enough time to prepare for it. Isolate yourself during the interview to ensure you are not disturbed and there is no noise whatsoever hindering the call.

In many cases, this could be something that gives you an edge over other candidates. Researching about the company is quite beneficial because you will be able to answer the questions more confidently and it shows the interviewer that you are serious about the job. It will also help understand the company’s objectives, values and culture.

Interviews are quite stressful already, so eliminate all possibilities that can cause more stress during the interview. Mostly, keep all the documents ready in order you might need them. This will save a lot of time and as it is telephonic round, it will avoid being panicked in the middle of the interview round.

Speak clearly with proper voice tone and enunciate your words, do not be too loud or too low. Choose a quiet place where the network is good so that there is no disturbance. The interviewer should be able to understand you clearly without having to ask you to repeat. Drink enough water before the interview and do not eat or drink anything during the interview. Ensure your mouth piece is at optimal distance, this can be checked by having a mock call with a friend.

When distracted, a person tends to forget what he/she was about to say and this could be very bad for the interview. Avoid distractions like music or television or anything that might take the concentration away. Isolate yourself for at least an hour so that your concentration is not diverted to anything else. Turn off the call waiting feature and all other electronics that might distract you.

Make a list of everything you need to clarify before and during the interview. Do not disturb or interrupt the interviewer when he/she is speaking. At the end of the interview, the interviewer will give you an opportunity to clarify these. The list therefore will ensure all the queries are answered.

At the end of the conversation, show your enthusiasm and interest towards the job and end the call on a positive note. Start by thanking the interviewer for his/her time, opportunity and state that you look forward to hearing from them. This will show your politeness and interest towards the job.