5 Killer Mistakes Made During Phone Interviews

As hiring managers receive thousands of applications in their quest to fill one job position, you’ll find that they begin to use phone interviews as a way to narrow down the applicant pool. While most job seekers may not be too familiar with the art of the phone interview, there are 5 things you have to avoid in order to better your chances of success.

Outside of your home

A phone interview should be done from a place you feel the most comfortable. Therefore, it is strongly recommended you handle a phone interview from the comfort of your own home. Choosing a nice, quiet place in your home will help you feel more relaxed. As a result, you’ll be able to speak in a calmer and clearer tone than the tone you would have in a mall or any other frantic environment.  Keep the distractions to a minimum so that surprises do not occur.

Failure to utilize your resources

The best thing about the phone interview is the fact that it’s a phone interview! Print out your resume for easy reference and place it in front of you. It may also be a good idea to print out the qualifications of the job so that you can better explain how you are best suited for the position. A phone interview allows you to take your interview preparation to a whole new level. Swing the situation in your favor by taken advantage of your resources.

Not answering the question

Think about the questions being asked and stay on topic. Hiring managers can lose interest in your candidacy if you can’t answer the questions being asked. Prepare for your interview by going over questions you think the interviewer will bring up. Preparation is key. If you fail to prepare, then you are preparing to fail. Take a deep breath and confidently provide a relevant response. If you are uncertain of what’s being asked, state that. Make sure you fully understand the question being asked so you can provide a complete and relevant answer.  

Failure to take notes or ask questions

Make sure to listen carefully and to jot down important information. Ask appropriate interview questions and make sure to signal your interest to begin working by asking where the company is in the hiring process. Take key points from the interview and use them as reasoning in your follow-up as to why you are a great fit for the position.

Failure to follow-up

You must follow-up! Since you should be home during the phone interview, there is no reason why you shouldn’t send a thank you e-mail once the interview concludes. In your e-mail, thank the interviewer for the wonderful opportunity, and express how eager you are to meet him/her face-to-face. Remember, following-up on any interview is an absolute must. Use your notes to craft a custom message that will convince the employer that bringing you in for a face-to-face interview is a necessity.

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