Top Tips – Preparing For Telephone Interviews

As the most common way to qualify candidates, being prepared for a telephone interview is one of the easiest ways to put yourself ahead of the game from the start. Making sure you come across as someone who is organised, well informed, able to listen and likeable will separate you from the majority of candidates for that position you are applying for. 

Here are some pointers from some of Foundations Executive Search’s most experienced recruiters:

Research the company

This is a big one. Although most phone interviews are not going to be diving too deep, it is a great way to grab the interviewer’s attention. It shows you have taken the time and interest to really prepare if you know more about the company than just the opening paragraph on their website, this can be taken even further by finding out a little about the person who will be interviewing you and making sure you know the job description inside out.

Make sure you are in a good location

This may seem obvious but you will be surprised how often we have a scheduled call with a potential candidate and they are either somewhere noisy or don’t have a good connection. You aren’t going to come across well if they can’t hear you. Again, this all comes down to good preparation and showing that the position is something you value.

Put your notes up on the wall

Telephone interviews can seem daunting, but having some notes and talking points written down before you start can completely change the flow of the conversation. Have them written big and up on a whiteboard or stuck to the wall so you can see them easily, this will allow you to maximise the benefit of all the research and preparation you did in advance. There is nothing worse than having done all the research and then getting all flustered during the call trying to find something in the pages of a notebook. 

Listen and consider

To start with its quite normal for the interviewer to do a lot of the talking – introducing themselves, going over the job role etc. Listen carefully and make notes of any questions you may have for them at the end.

When it comes to the questions they have for you, take your time, there is no need to rush your answers. Taking the time to consider the question will give you time to glance at your notes and formulate an informed and cohesive answer. 

Have questions ready

This is a great way to show you have already put thought into working within the organisation and aiding the interviewer to visualise you as part of the team. To this end, it helps to have questions not only about the technical aspects of the role and the benefits that may be included with the salary but also regarding the environment you will be working within and the team dynamics.

And remember, the interviewer isn’t trying to trip you up, they know how daunting the interview process can be for candidates. They are interested in finding out not only what experience and technical skills you have but also the kind of person you are – there is always room for training and development of the right candidate, so showing initiative, good preparation and planning, being engaging, and how you come across can go a long way to shortlisting you for that dream position.

For more information on how Foundations Executive Search can help you take that next step

in your career see more of our Latest Insights, check out our Current Vacancies,

or Contact Us directly.