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Phone Interview

Elly

Veteran

Dear Ladies--

I have a phone interview for a job scheduled for Monday morning (with a federal museum-- so long-distance phone interviews are the norm). This is my first competitive phone interview-- I've interviewed by phone twice before but have always been offered the job during the call.

The job is at a top-notch organization similar to my current position, but with more opportunities and higher pay (the Arizona job I've mentioned).

Any tips for interviewing by phone?

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21 replies

Latest reply was from Alassë

abc

Veteran

Go into it as mentally prepared as you would be for a face to face. Dress the part if it helps you take yourself more seriously. I mean, don't be nervous, but do all you can to be yourself, feel polished, put together, etc. You can have your resume open on your computer (or a printout), have some quick points you want to convey open or jotted down, etc. This is off the top of my head. I am sure you will get great advice here and can google for additional tips. GOOD LUCK!!!

Ankita

(website)

Great tips abc ☺
I agree, treat it like a face to face interview. I remember I went through a telephonic myself for the job I'm in for the last 2 years and all I can say is that be calm and be YOU!
Have your resume printed out in front to you...sit with a notepad and pen and most importantly look up everything there is to know about them and the industry in general.
These are all things we THINK you'll need....but for all you know they might just love your personality on the phone and not even ask you anything job related!
Best of luck Elly...hope you get it!

Liz

Veteran

I don't do phone interviews, but I do a lot of phone meetings. I prepare exactly as if the person were in my office: I shut down distracting screens so I am totally focused. I go in a room and close the door so I'm not disturbed. I sit at a table or desk, ready to take notes. Whenever possible, I use a landline to avoid cell phone issues.

I turn off my computer screen, and shut off all notifications so nothing chimes or dings to distract me or the people on the other end.

BethT

Be sure to reread your cover letter, resume and the job description again right before the phone call and have all 3 handy to review if necessary. Any other notes you write down about the company keep handy. If there are any key points about yourself you want to address, make yourself a bullet point list and have it in front of you. Any buzzwords you want to be sure to use? Again, a list in front of you.

Sit in a chair that forces you to have good posture (not the couch or bed) because your voice will sound better that way.

Pen and paper for notes. Glass of water.

I had a phone interview this spring and I had everything laid out in front of me and ready to go on my desk. It was very relaxed and just a prelim to getting called in (my job involves a lot of phone time with clients, so they wanted to be sure I could talk on the phone), but I was glad I had everything ready to go.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Do the Wonder Woman/ Amy Cuddy pose before the call (it's a ted talk, look for it if you don't know it) Use a wireless or cell phone so you can walk and be standing.

Mona

Veteran

I did my first phone interview last month and prepared for it exactly like I would for a face to face interview. Quiet room, dressed up in a suit, had a pen and paper and lots of notes ready. In the end, I was not offered a job but the interview went really well.

Elly

Veteran

You ladies are awesome!

Luckily I have Monday off. I will be at the SO's house, which doesn't have a good desk like space, but I will be dressed and ready to take on the world with water, printed notes, a proper pad of paper, my laptop nearby, and will definitely do the wonder woman pose. No landline at his place, but no chance of a barking dog either. He already has been told I'm prepping this weekend and he will be kicked out from 10 to noon on monday!

Anonymous

People really came through with excellent advice so I'm just going to wish you good luck and XO to the unpredictable barker.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Great advice here! I would add: smile often, as you would try to do in conversation face-to-face. It will come through in your tone.

Meredith

Veteran

Good luck!

Adelfa

Veteran

I send all my good wishes too!

Lisa W

(website)

Set up a mirror and watch your facial expressions. this gives you the feedback you'd normally get from watching the interviewer(s).

As others have said, when you want to sound friendly, actually smile.

Keep eyes and area around your eyes relaxed.

It's always important to be concise, but in a phone interview, rambling is really risky- there is no body language to counter balance it....

Fingers crossed!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

If it isn't too late, review the position advertisement and for each competency, think of a work example that demonstrates how you meet the requirement. Most interviews are situation based questions and coming up with the example in advance allows you to focus on the salient points. It also helps you avoid going off topic or drawing a blank.

Good luck Elly. Crossing my fingers for you.

Lucy

Veteran

Best of luck!
I've done one or two phone interviews for academic jobs. I think the hardest thing about them is that you don't get any encouraging feedback, and you don't get a sense of how you are going from the panel's body language. I don't say this to scare you, but just to get used to the idea, I wish I had thought about it before hand!
And yes, everyone has given awesome advice.

viva

Veteran

Thinking of you today!!! Good luck!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Good luck, Elly!!!! Let us know how it goes!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Holding thumbs and let us know how it went, Elly.

Elly

Veteran

Thank you for all the well wishes-- I think the interview went well (it was over an hour long). They said they would make the decision this week, so I will keep you posted.

viva

Veteran

So glad you feel good about it -- that is a great sign. Fingers still crossed.

abc

Veteran

Hope it turns out how you wish.

Alassë

Veteran

Thanks for the update.