How to Prepare for a Phone Interview

Are you expecting a phone interview some point soon? Not too sure what you need to prepare? Not to worry! Guest blogger - CV Library's Jack Lloyd - has all the info you'll need to smash that all important call. Find out more in this blog post.

June 21, 2023

With recruiters constantly having a large number of candidates to review, phone interviews are consequently becoming increasingly popular.

Although these are often less stressful than a face-to-face, there's still a number of factors to consider.

For example, by not having your interview in person, you can’t rely on body language or social cues to help ease the flow of communication.

Therefore, you will have to work harder to impress the interviewer, using only the power of speech.

Whether it's on the phone or in person, preparation is always crucial to interview success.

So if you’ve never experienced a phone interview, or you think your interview skills could do with a little work, our advice below can help.

Research the company

Probably one of the most important aspects to interview success is researching the company you've applied for.

Go through the company’s website, social media profiles and job description thoroughly and prepare your answers to common interview questions in advance.

Take advantage of the fact that the interviewer can’t see you and have preparation notes in front of you to help give structure to your answers.

However, try to find that line between well-rehearsed and scripted responses, as you don’t want to put off the interviewer with robotic answers.

Use your notes as prompts and let your responses flow naturally. This way you're more likely to formulate a well-rounded answer and impress your interviewer.

It may also be useful to have a copy of your CV and the job description printed out so you can reference them easily.

Ensure all your documents are laid out neatly in front of you, as the interviewer will notice if you’re distracted whilst sifting through various documents

Figure out who’s calling who

One thing you need to find out beforehand is who's calling who and at what time.

Using your mobile could be risky as you might lose signal or it could cut out unexpectedly.

If you have a landline, this should be the preferred method, but if you do need to use your mobile, just make sure you’re in a place where you know you’ll have strong reception.

You should also try to find out who you’ll be speaking to and how many will be on the call.

If it's more than one person on the call then you'll need to listen out carefully so you can identify everyone easily.

Make sure you also find out how long you're expected on the call so you can set aside the appropriate amount of time.

The last thing you want is to have to end the call early. You wouldn’t do it with a face to face interview so make sure you respect your phone interview the same way.

Prepare some small talk

One of the benefits of a face-to-face interview is that it's a little easier to make a strong impression as you can rely on friendly body language to make your mark.

Though it's a little trickier over the phone, it's not exactly impossible.

Having small talk prepared, such as asking how they are or how their day is going, will not only help provide a smoother transition into your interview, but could help fill any awkward silences whilst waiting for anyone to join the call.

It's also a great way to help you feel at ease and alleviate any pre interview nerves whilst reflecting positively on you.

Consider your location and avoid distractions

While it's great not having to worry about travelling to your interview, you still need to consider where you'll be taking the call.

Somewhere that's quiet and allows you to have your notes laid out in an organised fashion will only help make you feel calm, collected and ready for your interview.

Try to avoid busy areas such as coffee shops as this will run the risk of you being distracted.

Find somewhere that will ensure you won’t be interrupted and can focus on your answers.

Practice your answers

One of the disadvantages of a phone interview is that the interviewer won’t be able to see how you respond to each question.

Therefore, you need to avoid sounding bored or disengaged as you answer questions.

Perhaps record yourself as you practice your answers to help find a tone that reflects being the most interested, engaged and enthusiastic.

Talking on the phone can also lead to speaking at a rapid pace.

You want to avoid this in your interview. Speak clearly and slowly as you practice and leave room for pauses to help ensure that the interviewer has finished their question.

This will help you avoid interrupting the interviewer and responding in a calm and collected manner.

Stay calm

Regardless of it being a phone interview, the process can always be a stressful time.

If you do find yourself starting to panic, just remember that the interviewer can’t actually see you.

Take a deep breath and a few small sips of water to help regain your confidence.

Use any technology around you to your advantage, if you have a laptop or a tablet handy you can have the company’s website open to help you stay focused.

By listening carefully to what your interviewer is saying and referring back to your notes, you'll find that you'll respond in a confident manner and answer appropriately.

Suit up and smile

Yes, the interview may not be able to see you, but lounging around in your pyjamas won’t help you get in the zone.

Dressing in your work attire could help get you in the right mind-set and remind you of your achievements throughout your career.

The same applies with a smile as it helps you sound more positive and confident over the phone.

Ask questions and end the interview on a positive note

You want to end the interview just as strongly as you started, so make sure you have a few relevant questions you want to ask at the end of the interview.

Not only will this prove that you're taking the role seriously, it shows that you've been engaged throughout.

Finally, make sure you thank the interviewer for their time and opportunity to speak with them as it will come across as polite and courteous and end the interview on a positive note.

Final thoughts

While these tips are there to help you prepare for a phone interview, they'll also come in use when preparing for an interview face to face.

If you’ve had a successful first interview over the phone, it’s likely the second interview will be in person.

Therefore investing the right amount of time on your phone interview will help you get one-step closer to launching your career.

CV-Library is the UK's leading independent job board. For more expert advice on careers and the workplace, visit their Career Advice and Recruitment Insight pages.

Thanks Jack! There's a lot of fantastic advice in there.

If you're preparing for a telephone interview, then good luck and remember to keep all of this in mind.

If you’d like more careers advice like this, please feel free to subscribe to our blog here.

Coburg Banks - Multi-Sector Recruitment Agency
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