Ace a Telephone Interviews

Most companies are now likely to contact first via the telephone before inviting you over for a face to face interview.

Ways to ace telephonic interviews

They might catch you unaware, they may contact all of a sudden regarding a CV you have submitted

You could just make marketing or networking call and they might screen it if they pick an interest in you

They might even set up a time with you for the telephone interview

It advisable that you prepare, because it is likely that will you go through many telephone interview during your job search. Whichever way, just make sure that you are very well so as to create an opportunity for a face to face interview because the way you handle the telephone interview determines whether you will be shortlisted or not.

You also have to be sure that your employer listens and hear only you during a telephone interview. If you get the call unexpectedly, and the place is quite noisy, do not panic, you can politely ask him to give a minute while you close the door, during this period you could calm yourself , take control of yourself and the current situation and maybe get some document that might be needed ready right in front of you. Put a smile on your face throughout the conversation, because this conveys a positive and up-beat tone in your voice.

In a case whereby the call come unexpectedly or when you are busy or have an important appointment you are very free to say so politely and reschedule another time. If you know the interviewer’s name, remember to always use their surname unless he/she say otherwise.

Always let the interviewer lead the way through the conversation, he/she should be the one that ask the most question but it ok to be the one to hold up at end, but this could be important if there no opportunity to market yourself to the interviewer. Below is a list to give a hint about the job opening and the kind of person they are looking to hire.

Get to know the most important three responsibility of this position.

The biggest challenge this department is currently facing, and how you can contribute as part of the team towards overcoming these challenges.

What is my first project (s) on getting this job and which one will I be a key participant in carrying out during the first six months?

Who are those that have been a success and unsuccessful in this job and how did they do it? After you have figured out exactly what they are looking for and identifying their challenges and how the skills you possess can relief them of these problems, deciding how to market yourself and make them feel like you are the messiah in next. Let them know what and what training you have done, what related qualification you have, your experiences from previous employment that could be useful of them and so on.

Let the interviewer know that you are paying attention to his/her every word by adding some occasional interjections that should not interrupt him/her. For example that is interesting, yes yes, okay and so on

Be sure to take note during the interview, should in case there was an interruption, you will be able to remind him/her where you stopped, this gives them the idea that you are a good listener and organized person, the note might also be useful for a face to face interview.

With the information you gathered on the company website, you may know some things about the company. If the interviewer made mention of corporation, admire the company‘s achievements do not criticize and if any chance comment about them, and agree with the interviewer when it seems, reasonable-people like to hire people like themselves.