Be Certain of the Details
One aspect of phone interviews that can make them trickier than in-person ones is that they are reliant on you remembering you have them without having a specific place to go. Whenever you have a phone interview set-up, ALWAYS make sure you confirm the details: When the call will take place, what position the call is for, the name of the person you will be speaking with, and what you should have with you to reference while on the call. Its also a good idea to get the number that the company will be reaching out to you from. Many people ignore calls from numbers they don’t recognize, so be sure to get their number in your phone if you can.
Make a Cheat Sheet
One BIG plus to having a phone interview is that you can make a cheat sheet! The interviewer can’t see you during the interview, so you can have anything on hand you need to make the interview easier for you. You’ll want your resume of course, but you could also have the job description, a note pad, and some company info at the ready as well. Take advantage of every opportunity you can, phone interviews are typically the only ones that allow you to have a safety net like this.
Pack a Charger
The last thing you want to have happen while you’re on your interview call is for your phone to die. You may be thinking that you’d be good with the battery life you have left, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Phone interviews last about as long as a standard face-to-face one, but because the nature of phone interviews is a little more informal, there is often more small talk so they can run longer than expected. Always have a charger on standby to avoid any battery related panic attacks. It’s also a good idea to bring a pair of headphones so you can hear well if you end up taking your call in a public place like a cafe or coffee shop.
Limit Distractions
Just like with a face-to-face interview, you want to give the recruiter your full attention and focus. On a phone call, however, it’s very easy to get distracted by things going on around you. It’s often best to have take your phone interview at home, but away from distractions like tablets, TV, and anything else that will take your attention away from the call.
Check Your Signal
Just as important as making sure you’re battery is charged is making sure your cell signal is strong. Dropped calls can be a big road block to get around during your interview. They essentially end the interview and then you start thinking “should I call them back?.. Or maybe they’re gonna call ME back?”. Always make sure wherever you are taking your call either has good cell service or has access to a land line phone to ensure you don’t get cut off mid-interview by a dropped call.
Bonus: Set a Friendly Voicemail
One thing many people don’t consider when they schedule a phone interview is what happens if they miss the call. Some may brush this off, but it’s important to remember that if you miss the call it will likely be sent to your voicemail. At this point some of you may be sweating trying to remember what your outgoing message says, or if you ever even set one up. It’s a good idea before a phone interview to record a new voicemail message that is friendly, clear, and energetic. This way if you miss the call, your recruiter can still get a feel for the personality traits that will make you a great new hire. As soon as you see you have a missed call or voicemail, return the call and apologize for the mistake and take the next steps for setting up a new interview.
–Tyler Geeve, Staff Source Marketing/Recruiting Assistant