The Telephone Interview – 10 Tips For Making a Good Impression » Blog | Great Resumes Fast

They liked the cover letter, they were impressed by your resume, but before you get that oh-so-coveted face-to-face meeting, you’ve still one more test to pass: the telephone interview. So making a good impression is paramount.

Telephone interviews present their own unique challenges; people act differently on the phone, your posture, facial expressions, clothing, etc. cannot be seen by the party on the other line so the tendency is to relax-become more informal. Sometimes, people are more difficult to understand over the telephone; so dialect, accent, local vernacular can work against you. Then there are outside factors like traffic noise, the clicking of a keyboard, and other voices. All of these elements can work against you when you’re interviewing over the phone. So before you begin, take note of these 10 tips for making a great impression:

1. In the days before the interview, formulate questions and make a list. Then, during the interview, keep them in front of you. As you address each one, tick it off your list. Add new questions as they occur.

2. Gather your resume and other documents so that you can refer to them during the interview. Highlighting key information and dates may also help-we know you’ve seen your own resume 100 times, but nerves can make even the best of us become flustered. So make it as easy for yourself as you can.

3. Go to the toilet before the interview begins. The call of nature is the last thing you want to be thinking about during this crucial conversation.

4. Hold the interview in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed; preferably one with a table at which you can sit and take notes. Background noises and interruptions can be both distracting and leave a bad impression with the interviewer. Never hold a telephone interview outside where wind and traffic noise can interfere; and avoid holding it during working hours unless you can ensure quiet and uninterrupted time.

5. Take notes. Note-taking serves two purposes; it keeps you on track with the conversation and provides information which will help you strengthen your face-to-face interview. Take the notes by hand; don’t be tempted to use the keyboard-the sound of keys clacking can be distracting.

6. Listen carefully and speak clearly. Keep your responses concise, don’t ramble, and avoid using local vernacular or slang. Say something once; avoid repeating yourself. Don’t interrupt the interviewer and don’t feel rushed to fill pauses with sound. If you need a moment to think out your response, say so and then be quiet. Avoid making “thinking” noises.

7. Smile when you speak. Even though they can’t see you, the interviewer will perceive you in a better light if you are smiling while you talk.

8. Maintain a professional attitude. It is easy to slip into casual conversation mode when you’re on the telephone, but don’t be tempted. A telephone interview should be held with the same level of professionalism as a face-to-face interview. This is not a friendly chat; this is an audition.

9. Stay aware of the time; don’t let this be the telephone interview that never ends. When you’re done, establish what will happen next and thank your interviewer by name.

10. If you forget something, don’t phone back. It may be tempting, but it’s usually not a good idea. The best thing to do is to make a note of what you’ve forgotten so that you can address it if/when you get that face-to-face interview or in the follow-up thank you note that you send to the interviewer (always send a thank you note within the next 24 hours after your telephone interview).

A telephone interview is the last stepping stone between you and that coveted face-to-face where we know you will shine. By using these 10 tips, you are armed and ready to make a great impression.

One of the nation’s leading authorities on executive resume writing, personal branding, and job searching, Michelle Dumas is the founder of Distinctive Career Services LLC. Since 1996, Michelle has empowered thousands of executives worldwide with powerful branded resumes, executive portfolios, and job search campaigns that get results and win top-tier 6- and 7-figure jobs fast. Visit http://www.100kcareermaketing.com for free information and resources.

via greatresumesfast.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Phone Interview Questions – How to Prepare Yourself in Advance | EmploymentDigest.net

Whenever you are applying for a new job, you may find that you are required to go through a quick interview process over the phone and this is becoming more and more common. It helps if you understand the phone interview questions that you are going to be asked during this process, but it is not always possible for you to know all of those questions in advance. Understanding some of the more common phone interview questions, however, could assist you in being able to answer them intelligently and in a way that will help you land a job.

Some of the most basic phone interview questions that you’re going to hear, especially at the beginning of the interview are going to be about your job history, as well as your general history. Of all of the phone interview tips that I could give you, one of them that I recommend the most is to make sure that you carefully review your application before you have the interview. This will help you to be able to answer any of these phone interview questions intelligently, but most importantly, you will be able to answer them without hesitation. This is something that many people who are running these interviews are going to watch for.

Other common interview questions you may be asked over the phone will include those that are related towards the job that you are applying for. Some of these may tend to throw you a little bit, but as long as you follow a few simple phone interview tips, you will find that it is relatively easy to overcome these questions. For example, you may be asked why it is that you want to work for the company, or what it is that you can give to the company. You can ace these phone interview questions if you do a little bit of research about the company history in advance, and learn where they stand at this time. Explain to them that you want to be part of a company like theirs, and that you feel that your qualifications are going to be able to add something positive to the company that will help to move it forward in the future.

Many of the other phone interview questions that you will be required to answer will be more personalized. You may find that you are answering questions about how you handle stress, or how you view work in general. Always make sure that you are prepared to answer these questions positively, and in such a way that will show that you will be able to take whatever it is that they throw at you in stride.

For a more detailed and thorough guide on phone interview questions and how to get through the interview process successfully, visit our website at: http://thejobhunterguide.com and download your  copy of “The Job Hunters’ Ultimate Guide”.

via employmentdigest.net

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

10 Tips for Mastering the Phone Interview

Phone interviews are becoming more and more common as companies gain greater access to candidates and as more recruiters and hiring managers work from virtual offices. On the positive side, with a phone interview you don’t have to worry about having your suit pressed, and you can have your notes right in front of you. On the flip side, it’s much more difficult to establish rapport and get a read on the hiring manager during a phone conversation.

Here are 10 tips to get the most out of your phone interviews.

1. Schedule the meeting during a time when you won’t be distracted.
   A phone interview should be scheduled like any other interview. At the designated appointment time, be sure the dog is in the backyard and someone else is watching the kids. Don’t add additional hassle to an already stressful situation. If a recruiter or hiring manager calls you without advance notice and wants to interview you on the spot, use caution. If the interview conditions are not optimal at the time of the call, it’s best to tell the interviewer that you are very interested in the position, but need to schedule another time to have a conversation. That time can be as soon as 10 minutes later if that works for you — just make sure that you can take the call without being distracted.
2. Conduct interviews from a land line.
   Cell phones are a boon to modern communication, but the quality is still not the same as that of a land line. The last thing you want to do is frustrate the recruiter or hiring manager with a bad connection. Using a cell phone means you have a greater chance of getting distracted by multitasking when your attention should be completely focused on the interview. A land line forces you to stay in a relatively stationary locale. Plan your interview from a reliable phone line.
3. Create an office space.
   Dedicate an area as your office. This area could be as simple as a card table with a phone and your documents. Conduct your interviews from that "office." Being seated at a desk or table allows you to create an environment similar to an in-person interview.
4. Put a mirror in front of you.
   This helps you focus, and it anchors your conversation to the visual representation of a person. Monitoring your facial expressions helps you see if you are communicating your enthusiasm to the recruiter.
5. Have a glass of water nearby.
   If your throat is dry or you get a tickle, you can take care of it before it turns into a cough and disrupts the flow of the interview.
6. Have your notes in front of you.
   A phone interview is like an open-book test: You can have your research about the company and answers to potential interview questions right in front of you. Try organizing your key information on colored index cards by category so you’re not fumbling through papers in the middle of the interview.
7. Vary your voice.
   Since the other person can't see you, it’s critical that you vary the tone and cadence of your voice to communicate interest and develop rapport.
8. Use pauses effectively.
   Pauses in an interview situation are always difficult, and they can be especially awkward during a phone interview since you can’t judge what the interviewer is thinking by his body language. Rather than wondering what the person on the other end of the line is doing (or even if she's still there), use the silence to ask a question. For example, if the interviewer has just asked you about your strengths and your response is met with silence, make that an opportunity to ask a question like, "What are the key strengths of your ideal candidate?" This tactic both takes care of the silence and allows you to learn more about the position.
9. Don't multitask.
   We have grown so accustomed to multitasking; however, as mentioned in tip #2, it can be counterproductive during a phone interview. Don’t check your e-mail or stick a casserole in the oven while you are engaged in a phone interview. Act the same way you would for an in-office interview, and maintain your focus.
10. Practice.
    Record some of your answers to prospective interview questions. Play them back and critique yourself. Are you easy to understand? Are you talking too fast? Is your presentation riddled with long pauses and "ums?" Do you communicate interest and enthusiasm? If necessary, rework your answers and your overall presentation.

Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers, has more than 10 years of experience in career management, recruiting, executive coaching and organizational development. She is a triple-certified resume writer and frequent contributor to numerous career-related publications.

via theladders.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal