"Job hunting starts at the phone interview. To get the job, you need to present yourself well over the phone - say the right things, mind your tone, and be confident overall. To see how you can do this, read this article so you can land a job."
Phone interviews are frequently used by companies to save time by pre-qualifying your interest and expertise. The following are some recommendations to ensure your next phone interview is successful for you.
Isolate Yourself
Phone interviews place you at a disadvantage because you only have one tool of communication, your voice. The interviewer's impression of you is shaped by all the sounds coming through the phone. Insulate yourself from distractions and background noises. Do not have your phone interview when you are surrounded by a lot of noise like an outdoor café at a busy intersection. If the call is on your cell phone make sure the caller can hear you clearly.
When the phone interviewer first contacts you, make sure it is comfortable for you to talk on the phone for at least 20 minutes. If it's not convenient, recommend scheduling another time for the call.
Schedule the Phone Interview
If you can not speak comfortably when the first call arrives, ask the interviewer if you could schedule a specific time for the phone interview. Be sure to define who will call who. It is recommended that you offer to call the company. This ensures you are fully prepared and in a situation where you can speak without interruptions. Schedule the phone interview just like you would any face-to-face interview.
Stand Up
During the call standup, walk around and smile. All these things make a big difference in the projection and quality of your voice.
What's Next
At the conclusion, ask the interviewer about next steps and timing of their hiring process.
Get Face-to-Face
If you are interested, ask for a face-to-face interview. Remember that your objective (during the phone interview) is to secure a face-to-face interview. You will be most effective discussing your background and assessing the company in a face-to-face meeting.
Click here to read part 2 of this article
How to Thrive In a Job Phone Interview
Written by Unknown on Monday, November 23, 2009 at 12:02 AM
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9 Responses to "How to Thrive In a Job Phone Interview"
October 21, 2009 at 2:40 PM #
In the list of questions (the company may ask you)did you really mean:
'What is our current salary?'
or should this be:
'What is your current salary?'
November 11, 2009 at 11:30 AM #
During a phone interview I was asked to complete a query of questions that would be sent to my email. The primary question was a salary history.
My past salary histories are minute in comparison to the position I was seeking; this would have been the first position using an advanced degree.
In a brief paragraph I tried to tactfully state that, (up until that submitting, I was the top candidate), yet after, I was told another candidate was chosen, despite me having more experience in the field (as a support staff person versus the boss).
How do I get by this hurdle?
November 16, 2009 at 9:06 PM #
Dear Anonymous,
I've been in this situation before and followed this strategy -- and it worked well. The employer stayed within their defined salary range for the job and I got a nice pay increase accepting within the bottom of their range! Here's what I did and my philosophy on the issue. It works!
Never (at least almost never -- although I prefer never) give out your salary history, especially in a cover letter or phone interview that's the first discussion you've had with the company. If the employer insists on getting that info, you don't want to work for them anyway.
"He who speaks salary/benefits first loses." or so I was taught and have believed and experienced.
It's like dating -- you've got to go through the courtship and make sure you're a good fit for each other (company and candidate). If so, then you can talk about money and benefits (similar to courting a beau and talking about your personal financial position or whether or not to have children).
So what if they ask the question --postpone the conversation with a comment like, "I'm confident we'll be able to come to agreement on an appropriate salary once we know we're a good fit for one another." Or, ask what the salary range is and then assure the employer that you're comfortable working within it (if you are).
Good luck!
Nancy Bunker Koester, ABC
Bunker Koester & Associates
Communications & Research
November 23, 2009 at 9:09 AM #
When asked the salary history question and I have to submit a resume to a blind ad, I always state: With regards to your request for salary history, my salary has varied greatly over the years and has been dependent upon the benefit package provided by the employer. I am open to salary negotiations which we can discuss at a future date.
November 24, 2009 at 8:16 AM #
We ask the salary question. Our organization includes the salary range with the job posting. The salaries are set and do not allow much flexibility on our part. We attempt to get the previous salary as a gauge. It serves no purpose to have a job offer fall through because we can't afford the candidate. Since the range is posted, the preferable response to the question when asked is; 'My salary requirement is within the range posted.'
November 24, 2009 at 1:10 PM #
Nancy has it right-tactfully decline to provide the salary history in such a situation. If, a salary range is posted with the position posting, just say you are looking for a salary within the range (assuming of course that you are). I find the salary question up front to be a rather poor method of weeding out candidates-organizations risk losing exceptional candidates by dismissing someone based on their past salary history. If someone is changing careers or it is a step up for them, then the past history is not relevant-what they are willing to accept NOW for THIS position is relevant.
November 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM #
A Good friendly guidance for job seekers.
November 24, 2009 at 8:50 PM #
A lot of company's online applications have the applicants to fill out the salaries for each position previous held. Applicants could not go any further without fill out any numbers. How do you go by that??
February 8, 2010 at 7:15 AM #
Salary...
If you don't answer the question you will most likely be nixed from the process due to being evasive, under or over qualified and or looked at as someone who is not a team player. I prep my candidates to be prepared with the facts and answer might very well fall under the category of, "if you can't fix it, feature it!" Remember 75% of all people are hired because of chemistry and adversely 80% of all deal are lost when money is discussed... My recommendations are this (this is the 50,000 foot answer):
1 - Mr. HA... over the last three years I have made X, Y & Z...
2 - However, my criteria for accepting my next opportunity is to be sure I work with the right people, I am challenged and there is growth.
3 - END you answer with a QUESTION and spin the interview back in your favor... Can you tell me how your compensation structured? (not how much do you pay).
BTW... If you would have asked the three basic questions at the beginning of the interview ("get the information up front to be successful on the back end") you will avoid an uncomfortable moment not if but when this question is asked.
Cheers Ron
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