Job interviews can take on many forms. It is not uncommon to have a preliminary interview for a job on the telephone, and it is becoming increasingly more common for job candidates to conduct interviews using a smartphone. If you schedule a telephone interview with a potential employer, follow these tips for a more effective interview:
1. Have your resume and the job description in front of you while on the phone
This will help you remember the focus of the call and give you a reference if you get nervous or forget what position you are interviewing for.
2. Circle key words on the job description
What skills is the company looking for? If you circle those on the job description, you can focus your conversation around those skills and use them to explain why you are right for the position.
3. Make a list of your professional successes related to the job description
If you write this list down before the phone call, you won't get lost or stumble over yourself trying to explain how you're right for the role. You can reference the list while explaining how you are the right person for the position by highlighting your job-related experience.
4. Write down questions as they are asked
Especially if an answer is lengthy, you don't want to get in the middle of it and forget the question. Jot down a key word or two to remind you what the question was so that you don't get lost in the middle of the answer.
5. Remember the basics of phone etiquette
Make sure you talk directly into the phone so your interviewer can hear every answer, and smile. Believe it or not, a smile does come across on the phone. If you're interviewing on a smartphone, make sure your plan is updated and you have enough minutes, and conduct the interview in a private location, not public.