When the phone rings, answer it as soon as possible, no later than the third ring. Say hello and state your full name clearly. For example: “Hello, this is Jay Gatsby. "
For example: “Hi, Daisy! Thank you for taking the time to talk with me today. I’m excited to discuss the opportunity to work with your company. "
When you use the interviewer’s name, call them by their last name with Mr. or Ms. , or whatever title they used when they first introduced themselves. You can also address them as sir or ma’am. Only address the interviewer by their first name if they specifically ask you to do so. If the interviewer compliments you or makes any positive comments about you, be sure to tell them “thank you. "
If the interviewer asks a multi-part question, outline the question by jotting down a word or two to help remind yourself of each part. You’ll impress the interviewer when you respond in an organized way, listing the parts of their question back to them.
Allow a few seconds of silence before you start speaking. This not only allows you to make sure that the interviewer is done speaking, but also gives you a chance to collect your thoughts before you speak. If you do happen to miss part of a question, or if you don’t understand what the interviewer is asking, get clarification before you launch into your answer.
Make this something you work on during your practice phone interviews, if you have trouble enunciating or tend to mumble. When you’re talking, make sure you’re sitting up straight rather than laying down or leaning, and keep your hands off your face. It may be easier if you wear a headset or put the call on speaker so you don’t have to hold the phone up to your face.
For example, the interviewer may ask you a question that reminds you of a news article you read about a new product the company is unveiling. When you’ve finished answering the question, you might ask “That reminds me of the article I read in Tech Daily about your Widget! How do you see the Widget impacting daily communication?”
Try to be as specific as possible. If there was something they said to you that really stood out, you might mention that. If they gave you a definite time frame for when you could expect to hear back from them, mention it specifically.
Laying down also may reduce the call quality, or result in a lot of rustling and background noise when you shift position. If you sit up straight, your voice will project authority and confidence, which your interviewer will be able to hear.
You don’t necessarily have to go all the way and dress like you would if you were going to an in-person interview, but at least dress neatly and professionally before your phone interview. Think in terms of getting ready for the phone interview the way you would get ready to go to work if you were hired by the company.
In keeping with the idea of treating a phone interview like an in-person interview, you don’t want to do anything that you wouldn’t do if you were meeting in your interviewer’s office – that includes things like eating, drinking, or chewing gum. Keep a glass of water on hand in case your throat gets dry. Turn your head away from the phone to drink, and avoid ice cubes that could clink and be heard over the phone.
Look up news items and go to the company’s website to read press releases and find out what new products or services the company has coming out soon. Make notes about things you might want to ask your interviewer about. You also want to get a handle on the activities of the company’s key competitors. Read about the overall industry as well, so you understand the strengths of the market.
For example, you’re probably going to be asked to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Your answers to these questions should be organized and concise, and should relate to a work-related trait, not a personal one.
When you talk on the phone, you lack visual cues that can tell you when a person has stopped talking, or when it’s time for you to respond. Practicing phone conversations can help you adjust so the conversation runs more smoothly. If you don’t have any real reasons to use the phone, ask a friend or family member if they’d be willing to practice with you. Arrange for them to call at a specific time, and treat it just like an interview.
If your home is a noisy place with kids or roommates coming in and out, find somewhere else with relative privacy. Many libraries have conference rooms or study rooms with closed doors that you can reserve – just make sure you have your room lined up well in advance.
Other devices also may interfere with your signal and affect the quality of your reception if you’re using a mobile phone. Turn off any Wi-Fi devices in the area where you’ll be taking the call, or move them to another room for the duration of the call.
Spread things out so that you can access them easily without having to do a lot of shuffling or moving around. The interviewer will be able to hear you over the phone, and you may end up sounding more scattered and disorganized than you actually are.
In addition to taking a few deep breaths, you also might want to try a few vocal preparation exercises, just as singers or actors do before going on stage. This will help keep your voice from cracking or shaking, and give you more command over your voice.
