by Peggy Curchack and Kelly Cleary
(courtesy of samantha celera via Flickr)
Tis the season for many employers to conduct phone interviews for internships and full-time jobs. Phone interviews, and even video interviews (through Skype and more formal videoconferencing equipment), are becoming increasingly popular with employers since they are a great way to conduct first rounds while saving time and money.
So, how do you prepare? In many ways, particularly related to the content of the conversation, you should prepare exactly the same way you would for an in person interview. That said, a phone interview does call for some special considerations.
First, make sure you have a reliable phone line secured. A land line is ideal but those aren’t always easy to come by since most students have gone completely mobile. If you can’t find a landline, make sure your cell is fully charged and you will be taking the call in a physical space that is quiet and well supported by your mobile network (areas where the be-speckled Verizon guy and his entourage or Luke Wilson and his AT&T postcards hang out.)
Before you receive the call, prepare your space. Turn off the radio, TV, email notification beep, or tea pot. If you have roommates and you’ll be taking the call at home, let them know that you have a scheduled phone interview so that they don’t interrupt you while you’re talking to the employer. Phone interviews are interesting because on the one hand, since employers can’t see you, you can do things like have your resume in front of you, or have a list of things you want to be sure to say about yourself, and the organization. On the other hand, since you can’t see them it makes it harder to gauge their reactions. In general, be sure to keep your answers to the point, and don’t go on and on (that’s good advice for fact-to-face interviews too, but especially important on the phone).
Also, smile. Yes, literally, smile. One can “hear” it over the phone. Since for many people it’s harder to project enthusiasm, poise — your personality — when you have no visual clues to support you, it becomes important to compensate for the lack of visuals. One way to do that is with one’s voice. We’ve all had the experience of talking to customer service people – I’m sure you can tell when you talk to someone if they are just going through the motions, or are really engaged.
PRACTICE – The CDC offers mock phone interviews and also has some great handouts and tips on the phone interview process. It is easy to set up a mock phone interview (email, call or stop by) or come in any time to get the handout full of tips.
This recent article from Time offers some thoughts on video interviews from the recruiter perspective:
“How Skype Is Changing the Job Interview” http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1930838,00.html
The article also includes a video on How to Ace a Job Interview on Skype
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