TOP 10 MUST HAVES FOR THE TELEPHONIC INTERVIEW

What you don’t have?

The opportunity to interact face to face with the interviewer, to read the interviewers expressions for feedback on how the interview is going. 

What you got going for you?

Since it’s not face to face, you can keep you profile and any other material handy and for ready reference. Also, the interviewer can’t read your body language and judge you based on your appearance.

10 MUST HAVES FOR TELEPHONIC INTERVIEWS

1) RESPECT THE APPOINTED TIME

If the interview has been fixed for a certain time, please ensure that you are ready and are not still caught up at your workplace or worse in a meeting. If something unavoidable comes up unexpectedly, please inform the interview co-ordinator well in advance.

2) MAKE THE TIME

The interview might take longer than expected, it might start late. You can’t predict anything. So it’s better that despite our choc-a-block schedules, you allot sufficient time for the interview.

3) SOLITUDE

When giving a telephonic interview please ensure that you are not at work, in a crowded restaurant or any place where you might be interrupted midway, overheard or become conscious of what others are saying.

4) KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Make sure you know who the members of the interview panel are .Look them up on Linked-in or the company website prior to the interview. Also ensure that you know whether the interview is just to go over your profile in brief, a technical interview or a structured personal interview.

5) CLARIFICATIONS

Don’t be in a hurry to rush through the interview. Since it is over the phone, do ensure that you have heard the question properly and ask for clarifications where required.

6) WELL TIMED PAUSES

While talking, also remember to give the interviewer a chance to respond and to ask questions. It is not a talkathon so don’t discourse endlessly.

7) TOO LONG SILENCES

While you have to give the interviewer a chance to respond, be ready to elaborate further on your responses if faced with silence from the other end. Also you could occasionally verify whether it’s okay to go on.

8) VOICE REPRESENTATION

In a face to face, we often rely on our magnetic personality or personal charm to a large extent to convey the fact that we are full of energy, verve and are right for the role. In a phone interview, your suitability will be judged a 100% based on the energy and enthusiasm in your voice. If you are extremely soft spoken, timid or too loud mouthed the interview can go south (i.e. downhill)

9) A FORMAL ATTITUDE

Yes they can’t see you. Nevertheless don’t be too lackadaisical or casual; you never know what gets conveyed over the phone.

10) ENSURE THAT THE INTERVIEW CONCLUDES ON A POSITIVE NOTE

Don’t forget to thank the panel and if possible try and take away some understanding of what the next step is. If no clue is forthcoming, don’t worry either the consultant or the o-coordinator will update you.