How to Stand Out on a Phone Interview

How to Stand Out on a Phone Interview HOW TO STAND  OUT  ON A  PHONE INTERVIEW   Although it may seem that video  interview  technology  is  all the rage, knowing how to handle yourself on a good old-fashioned  interview  phone call is still important.  Phone interviews and  phone  networking are on the rise, so it’s vital to develop a professional phone behavior.     Phones  are  still the primary technology  used  for  interviews  and are used  by hiring companies  to  recruit, screen, and interview. The  main  reason for the increasing use of phones and video technology  is  to save  on  costs.  As  travel costs  increase,  there is pressure on  budgets  to  be more efficient and effective during the hiring process.  This means  you need  to be as amazing on the phone as you are face-to-face.     PHONE ETIQUETTE   One thing that can really derail the focus of a phone call is  background noise.  It’s distracting and  frustrating for those on the other end. Some examples are babies crying, dogs barking,  a coffee shop barista calling out names,  or the garbage truck rumbling  by. We’ve all been  on conference calls  when a remote attendee forgets to mute  their line  and they scream at their children while  the people on  call  are  laughing  or,  at the very least,  annoyed.     Missteps on  a remote  interview could prove fatal to your job search.  Your  child or dog bursting into the room creating a moment of levity is ok once you are hiredâ€"we all make phone mistakesâ€"but not while you are in job search mode.  It’s up to you to prepare for a great interview.   This  phone  call needs to  represent  you on  your best day.  Resist the urge to say, “Its only a phone screen. Its just a phone meeting. Danger, danger, danger!  You  are attempting to sell  yourself  at  every moment  you are in front of them  as the best candidate for the company  doing the hiring.  Regardless of  whether the  individual on the other end is a recruiter, an HR person, an assistant, the hiring manager, or someone youre networking with, you need to create a lasting and professional impression  through this  phone call.  Treat every communication touchpoint as an interview. Nothing less.     ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES     There are advantages and disadvantages to phone call interviews. One disadvantage of a phone interview is that you might  tend to  ramble. Actually, you will ramble. This is normal because you are likely nervous, and you have no nonverbal clues to indicate how youre doing.     Another disadvantage is that it can sometimes be hard to understand questions if English is a second language for you or the other person, if they talk quickly, or if the question is just unclear. The primary disadvantage is that you can’t rely their non-verbal body language, so you dont know if theyre smiling, rolling their eyes, or making eye contact. To compensate for the disadvantages, make sure you use your advantages.     The biggest advantage you  have  on the phone is you get to cheat! You  can, and should have, multiple sheets of paper in front of you. It’s best not to navigate files on your  computer  while talking on the phone. The interviewer might hear clicks and you can  get  distracted. Use your old school hard copies.     Here are the materials you want to have around you while you are on the phone:   Your  résumé   The job description that they issued (with your notes and questions)   Printouts of some key pages about their company (About, Division, People, Values)   Short notes of your answers to key  interview questions   Top questions you want to ask them     Paper and pen to take notes on their questions, comments, and insights  (these will be critical later for  your  thank you e-mail and future interviews)   Keep your key documents handy and clearly marked. As a result of this ‘cheating,’ you should be able to have great answers and express your interest in the position.     ROLE REVERSAL     Put yourself in the shoes of the  interviewer  for a moment. Company  executives  and recruiters are extremely busy. If they  requested a  phone call  with you, they  are most likely  squeezing it in the middle of many  other things. They  might be  calling multiple candidates in the span of a couple of hours, days or weeks, and theyre responsible for  assessing  you. Theyre trying to choose the best candidate for the position  without any visual cues  and trying to remember who said what.     Now, pretend you are  face-to-face with the  interviewer and  remember to  use  the same  in-person  rules as you would on the phone. Some of the common characteristics of phone interviews and  face-to-face interviews are  the  need  to:     Understand them and  ensure they understand you clearly. If needed, ask them to repeat or clarify the question.     Answer their questions concisely  â€" follow the “law of threes” and stop after a maximum of three short points.     Be prepared  with questions to ask.     Be personable and energetic. Tips include standing up for the call, using your hands, and projecting through the phone with a good headset.     Getting asked to  participate in  a phone interview is a  great step in your job search path; be sure you are prepared and ready to rock your next phone call!     Join Dana  Manciagli’s  Job Search Master Class ®  now  and get the most comprehensive  online  job search system available!