| Telephone interviews are usually used as the | | | | |
| first stage in the screening process. | | | | This might mean asking to be called outside |
| | | | of office hours.Don't do it at work. |
| | | | |
| | | | You'll be too nervous to do yourself |
| Although people sometimes get nervous about | | | | justice. And what would happen if your boss |
| them, they're actually a chance for you to | | | | walked in? |
| make a great first impression. | | | | |
| | | | Dress as you would for a face-to-face |
| | | | interview. |
| | | | |
| Being offered a phone interview is a really | | | | Sit upright in your chair and hold the phone |
| good sign. It means the company is seriously | | | | as you would at work. All of this helps you |
| considering you for the job. It also saves | | | | present a professional image. If you're at |
| you the time and expense of travelling to a | | | | home, in your jeans and lounging on the sofa, |
| face-to-face screening interview. | | | | you could come across as being too laid |
| | | | back.Really listen. |
| | | | |
| | | | You can't see the interviewer, so you'll |
| Telephone interviews are normally quite | | | | need to concentrate on their tone of voice |
| basic, without too many trick | | | | and what they're saying. You won't get the |
| questions.Typically, a company will want to | | | | visual clues that tell you what they thought |
| get to know you a little - get a feel for the | | | | of your answer, so you'll need to put in the |
| personality behind the CV. They'll probably | | | | effort to listen to their response. You might |
| ask you a few questions about your CV, work | | | | be surprised how much information a "pregnant |
| experience, skills, background and why you | | | | pause" can give you.Think about your body |
| want the job. It's easy to prepare for this | | | | language. |
| type of question, before they call you. | | | | |
| | | | Try to imagine the other person sat on their |
| | | | end of the phone and move your body as though |
| | | | you were looking at them in a normal |
| It's really important to take a telephone | | | | conversation. If you would normally smile, |
| interview seriously. It's more than just a | | | | then smile. This will help you avoid sounding |
| chat: the interviewer will be deciding | | | | "wooden" on the phone. |
| whether to invite you to a face-to-face | | | | |
| interview. You should treat it as seriously | | | | In summary: as long as you take it seriously |
| as any other type of job interview. | | | | and prepare well, you should breeze through |
| | | | the telephone job interview and make it to |
| | | | the next round of recruitment. Good |
| | | | luck!Clare Jaques is Director of |
| To prepare for a phone interview, it's | | | | InterviewStuff.comClare is an international |
| critical to:Set the call up for a time when | | | | consultant, trainer and coach, specialising |
| you're able to relax and not be disturbed. | | | | in business communication skills. |