Upcoming Phone Interview?
Preparing for an upcoming job interview can be daunting enough without any variation in the expected format.
Most meetings with a prospective employer occur in-person, usually with two to three people asking questions. However, in today’s ever-mobile workforce and fast-paced business environments, you may be asked to participate in interviews that are not in-person.
In our August 29 blog, we provided advice on how to prepare for a video/Skype/Zoom interview: https://bit.ly/2SWZUf6. Here, we will provide some guidance on how to succeed with a phone interview.
Jessica Hernandez, CPBS, CSBA, Executive Resume Writer, in the Jacksonville, Florida area, is a great resource for job search and career advancement advice.
In a recent LinkedIn post, she provided the following guidance and related infographic:
“One of my favorite tips to help with phone interviews is to create a “talking points” outline.
These are key points you want to cover in the interview. This can include: – Position and industry-specific accomplishments. – Unique assets you possess as an employee. – Information about the company that you learned from your research that ties into your skills, abilities, and qualifications.
Here are a few other tips to help you with your phone interview:
- Anticipate the conversation — think about the questions you might be asked and the key points to include in your answers.
- Prepare a list of questions to practice for the phone interview.
- Prepare questions ahead of time that you will ask in the interview.
- Tape record the practice call so you can identify areas to improve. Practice speaking concisely and clearly. Many people are surprised to hear how they sound on the phone.
- Convey your enthusiasm during the phone interview — which can be done through your voice pitch, tone, and volume.”
Here’s a great article on preparing for a phone interview: https://globalnews.ca/news/4048287/phone-interview-job-tips/
And here’s more great advice: https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/mastering-the-phone-interview-canada
https://www.randstad.ca/job-seeker/career-resources/job-interviews/tips-for-telephone-interviews/
https://www.bcjobs.ca/blog/8-things-remember-your-phone-interview/
Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to update their resume and cover letters and participate in an interview of any kind.
They can also assist you with your other job search tools and ensure you’re using all the resources available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Your strategies may include updating or acquiring new skills.
Although phone interviews have their own nuances, the basics are the same. In addition to doing your research and having your own questions prepared, though, you’ll want to be sure you have a quiet space and a charged phone – ideally you’ll have a landline to avoid distractions.
Essentially, you want to treat this interview just as you would an in-person meeting. Make sure your personality comes through and that you’re ready to wow your prospective next employer.
If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97th Ave., Grande Prairie.
We also help employers find qualified candidates.
