Successfully Prepare for the Phone Interview Questions

Interviewing is one of those things that most people are scared to go through. For me, I’d almost rather get a tooth extracted than go through a job interview, but in order to move ahead you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to get there! Many people are just scared that they are going to say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, and that will shed a bad light on them.

Confidence plays a big part in how well you succeed in an interview, and it is also just as important when called for a phone interview. You may want to read the unexpected phone interview post. Much of what I explain in this article are tips and ideas I have used successfully in phone interviews.

Your Expectations

What should you expect when called for a phone interview? Most companies will set up the phone interview ahead of time. They will ask what time will be best for them to call you, and that way you can be prepared. Be wary of companies who want you to call them. A legitimate company will call you.

Prepare to be Successful

1. Research the company. Even if you are applying for a job at one of those discount stores like Dollar Store, you can act intellegent in the interview. A question may come up in the interview, and you can answer it in part by saying something like “you only have 5 stores in that area, don’t you?”. Or “I saw that on your web site”. This will let the interviewer know that you are sincerely interested in their company.

2. Prepare a good 90-120 second reply to “tell me about yourself”, which disassociated.com calls an “elevator statement”. You can start with your education and work up, or just your industry experience. Always put some personal items in with it such as sports or hobbies you may have, or charitable organizations you participate in..

3. Know why you want to work at that company. Andrea Rice at the Gotta Mentor website, says that interviewees many times fail to relate their skills to the company’s needs, or they answer in a way that proves that they haven’t done their homework. I once was asked at an interview why I wanted to work at that company. My answer was that I had worked down the street for 9 years, and had looked at companies in the area to figure out what companies would be interesting to work for if the company I was employed at closed or I left. More information followed, but in the end I did get the job.

4. Understand the industry the job you are applying for is in. If you are changing industries or applying for a different employment or management level, know the buzz words and what that job is about so you can talk intelligently about it.

The Official Phone Interview Handbook

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6. If you put it on your resume, it’s fair game. Make sure you are able to answer questions brought up because of information you have on your resume or cover letter. Know it – straight and simple.

7. Prepare a few questions for them. Even though it’s perceived that when an interviewer asks if you have questions for them, that it’s a courtesy. But they are actually wanting to know if you have done your homework and want to know more about them.

The actual phone interview could be handled by one person or by a small group of people. In some companies, only the hiring manager will call you. I have also had an HR representative call me, then add participants on a conference call. Many times it depends on what type of position you are applying for.

Once you feel you are prepared, there are things to consider when actually answering the phone and being part of the phone interview. That’s another part of the interview you need to carefully consider and prepare well for. To prepare, you need to read the next article in the series which will help you with the actual participation in the phone interview.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Photographer xb3

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