The Telephone Interview

Phone
(888) 551-6343

Fax
(678) 495-1302

Career Center

Telephone interviews can be good and bad at the same time. It can provide an easy outlet for hiring authorities to get an idea of a candidate’s qualifications. However, they limit your ability to make a significant impression.

Make sure you schedule the call at a time when you can be in private, preferably on a land line. Make sure there is no background noise. i.e. dogs, babies, outside noise.
If you must take a call on your cell phone, make sure the phone is fully charged and you are in an area where you get great reception.
Never do a phone interview while you are driving.
When interviewing, be up and walking around, this allows the blood to flow and people think better on their feet.
Have a glass of water ready in case your mouth gets dry.
Make sure you have researched the company and have reviewed the job description. It is always a good idea to come up with a few questions to ask about the company. This will show that you have done your homework.
Allow the interviewer to lead the interview. Most likely, they are conducting a phone interview to save time and have some specific topics they would like to cover. Answer questions fully without rambling off on a tangent. If you could talk a lot more about a specific topic, you can ask the interviewer, would you like me to expand in more detail?
Make sure you listen to exactly what the interviewer is asking. If you are unsure what he is asking, ask them to clarify. You want to answer the right question.
Have a copy of your resume with you, so you know what they are viewing.
Always use appropriate language, no slang.