15 Best Phone Interview Tips and Techniques

Phone interview tips to successfully manage the telephone interview. Make a great impression on the employer and secure the face-to-face job interview.

Use these practical phone interview techniques to ensure you are ready and confident when the call comes!

15 Tips for Phone Interview Success

1. Find the best place to take the call

Make sure you have a quiet place to take the interview call where you will not be disturbed.

• It should be comfortable to sit or stand and have a table where you
  can lay out your portfolio and papers.
• You need to be able to easily go
  through your documents and preparation, take notes and concentrate.
• Avoid a cluttered area where you can't find anything.

• If you are at work make sure you can talk freely.
  
• Avoid taking the call where there is too much background noise

2. Get rid of all distractions

If you have a scheduled time for your telephone interview make sure all distractions are dealt with beforehand.

• Turn off the TV and your computer.
• Let the rest of the household know that you need a quiet period and not to interrupt you.
• If you receive the call unexpectedly, ask the interviewer for a moment to organize yourself and get rid of all distractions.

3. Try to reschedule if the phone interview comes at an awkward time

If an interview call catches you at a really difficult moment it is in your best interests to try and reschedule it.

• Tell the interviewer you are unable to give the call the attention it deserves and suggest a couple of possible times that you can call back.
• You will not come across as disinterested but rather as a candidate who wants to maximize this opportunity.

4. Have all the necessary information ready

This is one of the most important phone interview tips. When you take the call, have in front of you:

• pen and paper
  
• your portfolio or folder of information ( 7. Communication tips for phone interviews
  
  • Make sure your posture allows for good breathing and voice projection techniques.
  • Experts suggest that standing up during the phone interview makes the candidate sound more confident.
  • However you should do what feels most comfortable and natural, keeping in mind you will want to refer to your notes and perhaps make notes too.
  • If you do the interview sitting down make sure your posture is upright and attentive and not slumped down in your chair.
    
  • Speak directly into the phone.
  • Walking around while talking can cause breathlessness and takes away from the authority of your voice.
    
  
  
  
  
  

  8. Dress for the part

  This may sound like one of the strangest phone interview tips!

  • Even
    though the interviewer can't see you, dressing smartly to take the
    scheduled call makes you feel professional and prepared.
  • You will
    automatically act and sound more serious and business-like during the
    telephone interview if you are properly dressed.
  • You don't have to put on a suit, just change your
    bathrobe!

  9. How to address the interviewer
  

  Use the interviewer's title and last name, Mrs Smith, unless they specifically ask you to call them by their first name.

  • Be aware of your voice and tone.
  • No smoking, chewing gum, eating or slurping coffee.
  • However keep a glass of water handy so you can just wet your mouth and throat if they become dry.
  • If you smile while you talk it will project a positive tone to the listener.
  • Sound energetic and interested.

  Avoid "ers and ums", these are particularly noticeable on the phone. You can reduce this by having key words ready for your interview answers.

  10. Check your rate of talking
  

  • Speak slowly and clearly.
  • Phone interview tips always highlight that candidates fail when they dominate the conversation.
  • Avoid
    interrupting the interviewer, make sure they have finished speaking
    before you start your response by waiting a few seconds before you
    answer.
  • Allow yourself time to collect and organize your thoughts before answering.
  • Use the technique of rephrasing or repeating questions to give yourself time to think about your answer.
  
  

  11. Don't feel you have to fill the silences

  This is a common error made by candidates on the phone.

  • Because they cannot see what the interviewer is doing during the silence they feel compelled to fill it with babble!
  • If you have completed your answer and the interviewer is quiet it is probably because they are making notes or sorting through their questions. Allow time for this.

  12. Avoid yes and no answers

  Always try to include more information that highlights your suitability for the position.

  • Answer with sufficient information to show that you are a suitable job candidate.
  • Use these phone interview follow up email will help you with your follow up.
    
    
    
    
    
    

    
    

    PHONE INTERVIEWS
    

    
    

    Essential Phone Interview Questions
    

    
    

    
    

    
    
    

    
    

    PHONE INTERVIEWS

    
    

    Best Phone Interview Guide
    

    
    

    
    

    
    
    

    
    

    PHONE INTERVIEWS

    
    

    Phone Interview Thank You

    
    

    
    

    
    
    
    

    Make sure you get the phone interview right.
    

    Skype Interview Tips

    
    

    Phone Interviews > Phone Interview Tips
    

    
    

    To Top of Page