Phone
interviews are very common in the environmental field. Often, this is
because candidates are not local and in some cases, if there are a lot
of applicants, phone interviews are used to narrow down the field of
candidates. Most of my career opportunities have involved a phone
interview – I’ve probably done 50 or more phone interviews, and I’ve
held hundreds of them. So what makes for a great phone interview? Here are my tips to help you navigate through this process:
Minimize Distractions
Print it Out
Use Technology to Your Advantage
Take Your Time
Dress the Part
Smile
Minimize Distractions. Selecting a place to make the call is critical. I
once did a phone interview in a borrowed rental car at the Deepwater
Horizon Oil Spill – that was a challenge! If you have distractions
during the call, best to mention them to the interviewer(s). In the
interview I mentioned, the interviewer was very understanding. Had I not
mentioned my situation, there would likely have been some awkward
moments that went unexplained -- phone interviews mean that sound is
important! Try to use a land line to minimize drops and static. Avoid
anywhere there are pets, people, or other things that can distract you
(or bark in the background). Turn off call waiting and if your computer
is nearby, silence sounds, such as email notifications and other
“dings.” Personally, I prefer
using either a headset or Skype, so that I can mute the call at will.
And do keep a glass of water nearby, in case you need it (but no eating,
chewing gum, or pacing)!
Print it Out.
Whenever I have a phone interview, I set up a card table (do people
still have those?) next to my computer desk. On this table, I arrange my
papers for the interview. I print out the resume submitted, position
announcement, any documents I submitted in the application process
(cover letter, special qualifications statement, transcript, etc.), and
my list of training/courses completed. I
also write down a variety of standard interview questions and any that I
can think of from the job announcement and write short bullets under
each as a reminder of how I intend to answer them. I spread all of these
out on the table in a logical way, usually covering most of the table’s
surface. That way, I can look at them without rustling papers – that
would not be something the interviewer(s) should be hearing. It also
eliminates forgetting your answer when you’re really nervous!
Use Technology to Your Advantage. One advantage of a phone interview is that you can do it in front of (or nearby, in my example) a computer. Open
just a few windows on your computer – one being the company or agency’s
website, Google or a search engine page, and any other relevant pages.
Not too many, though! Close email windows and shut down any program that
is running that might be distracting. This way, you can do quick
searches online if you need to! Of course, if you do this, you need to
have a mute function available, so no one hears you typing!
Take Your Time. One
of the biggest mistakes in a phone interview is rushing. Take time to
respond to a question – don’t rush to fill in every pause. Since you
cannot read body language or get other non-verbal cues, sometimes asking
a question will help you better understand what they are asking you and
it buys you a little time, if you’re struggling to think of your best
answer. Make sure your answers are direct and clearly spoken. Always try
to give concrete examples of things that you’ve done – don’t answer
with “yes” and “no” and leave it at that. Don’t
(!) drone on and on – answer the question directly, and then use a
verbal cue to signal when you’ve finished your answer, so the
interviewer(s) know you’re done. That verbal cue can be a summary
sentence, or just using tone to indicate that you are at the end of your
answer. Practice doing this, if it doesn’t come naturally to you.
Ending an answer well is the sign of a great (and confident)
interviewee!
Dress the Part.
I know this sounds a bit over-the-top, but years ago I received this
advice. I tried it…and it worked! There was definitely a difference
between doing a phone interview in fuzzy slippers and a nice outfit.
Somehow, it put me in the right frame of mind for the interview, and it
will do the same for you. Maybe a 3 piece suit is not necessary, but
sweatpants are out!
Smile. Like
dressing the part, smiling when you talk is important. Most of us know
when someone we’re talking to on the phone is smiling – you can hear it
in their voice. Likewise, interviewer(s) know that you are comfortable
talking to them if they “hear” you smile. Remember that it’s difficult
to see the human side of you on the phone, so consider how you will
convey your personality, values, and work ethic to the interviewer(s).
You may want to call someone you trust and do a “mock interview” on the
phone. They can point out any habits that are distracting and help you
put your best foot (or voice) forward!
Over
the years, I’ve come to think that a phone interview can actually be
easier than an in-person one, IF you are well prepared for it. While the
challenge is always the lack of eye contact and body language with the
interviewer(s), the plus is that you can have all of the information you
need at your fingertips!
Happy interviewing!
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