Telephonic interviews can be as nerve-wracking as face-to-face interviews, just not sitting across the interviewer doesn’t make it any easier. Candidates often feel at ease because they don’t have to worry about their body language during a telephonic interview. However, lack of visual cues makes it all the more difficult for them to properly answer the interviewer’s questions. Just because the interview is being conducted on the phone doesn’t mean the candidate is free to do anything they wish.
A telephonic interview is the employer’s tool to judge whether or not a candidate is serious about the job and worth calling for the next round of interview. Therefore, the candidate has to put in a lot of extra efforts to come across as the perfect candidate. Knowing exactly what is expected out of them can help job candidates perform better during telephonic interviews.
Outlined below are top things employers expect job candidates to know during telephonic interviews and how to prepare for them:
The first thing employers want candidates to understand is how phone interviews are conducted. It will help candidates understand how they should prepare for the same. Next, research about the company and the job profile thoroughly as it will help candidates answer better. Preparing answers for important interview questions before hand will also help. Usually, the interview questions asked over the phone are focused on judging candidate’s competencies and skills.
So, it is advisable that the candidates quote as many real-life examples as possible to demonstrate their competencies and skills. However, phone interviews are supposed to be short in duration, so keeping answers simple and short is necessary. Last but not the least, candidates must pick a time when they know they will be able to attend the interviewer’s call without any problems.
The most important thing interviewers want is for their candidates to pay attention to the location, they choose for the phone interview. Candidates must make surethat they are alone and the place is free of any background noise and distractions.
If at home, it is wise to inform the housemates about what’s going on in advance so that they can leave the room and maintain peace while the interview is happening.Most importantly, ensure that the mobile phone is charged, the bill is paid and there are no network issues or anything which may cause hindrance to the interview.
See: 4 Tips for Long-Distance Interviewing
Most candidates prefer giving telephonic interviews when at home to eliminate the risk of getting heard by somebody at the office. However, being at home and dressed comfortably has a direct effect on how professional a candidate sounds over the phone.
Candidates should try dressing up professionally as they would for a face-to-face interview. Those dressed professionally are more likely to sound like true professionals. Avoid indulging in activities such as cooking, washing or cleaning while on the call. The candidates must listen to the interviewer attentively as lack of attention is a clear sign of unprofessionalism.
Additionally, candidates often accidentally use slangs during a telephone interview without even realizing it, as they are so used to of using the phone to talk to their friends. This is one of the biggest turn-offs for the employer. Hence, paying close attention to what they speak and how they speak during the telephonic interview is crucial.
Interviewers refer to what the candidates have written in their CV while asking questions. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for the candidates to have the CV copy readily available before the phone interview starts. It is also advisable to have the copy of notes and job descriptions handy so that candidates can refer to them while giving answers.
Unlike face-to-face interviews, telephonic interviews are supposed to be for shorter duration. Therefore, it is important to listen to the interviewer carefully to avoid asking him/her to repeat the question. One way to ensure the conversation flows smoothly is to make notes of what the interviewer is saying. Writing down the questions will helps candidates to understand and answer the questions quickly.
During a telephonic interviewer, what the candidate says and how it is said are both equally important. Staying calm, taking deep breaths and taking time before providing answers to the interviewer is completely acceptable. After all, a well-thought answer is better than a flustered one that doesn’t address the question properly.
Author credit:
Megha Raizada is a professional writer working with premium job portal Naukrigulf.com. She has a keen interest in the global job market, and also loves to keep a track of everything interesting happening around the globe. You can reach her on Twitter and Google+.
Also read: Assessing Candidate’s EQ Through Interviews. How Do You Do It?
