Interview by telephone

Telephonic interview

This mode of interview is getting popular. It’s generally used to shortlist applicants 
for the next stage of selection procedure. Once you’ve applied for a job, get ready 
for a telephonic interview.

Getting ready

A call might come any time asking you to be ready for it. Write down the day, the date 
and the time of the interview (if you aren’t available, ask some elder to take the call 
and write down the interview details). It’d be better to provide in your resume/CV a 
landline number if you have one for it’ll be free from poor reception and sending 
of signals. If you have only  a mobile, make sure it’s full charged  so that the interview 
can go on smoothly.

  

Whether landline or mobile, use it in an area of your home where there is no disturbance

to your dialogue with the interviewer, clear the area for space to keep a writing pad and

pencil within easy reach, your resume, use markers to shade in different colour your skills

matching the skills expected, your achievements, awards so you don’t have to search for

this information during the interview.

Visit the company’s website, gather info about the management, the hierarchy, their

vision, their product(s), their financial status, their customers, their corporate culture.

Keep this ready for use during the interview—to answer or ask questions.

Prepare yourself for the interview. Have a friend call you and play the role of the

interviewer asking the questions. The questions will be about you as an individual and a

skilled professional. Go to Google, open websites that provide you with questions and

possible answers. Such practice session will help you check your confidence level, voice

volume, tone, quickness or slowness of your replies. Ask your friend to give you

feedback so you can do better in the actual interview. 

Actual interview

A few minutes before the interview, take a spoon of honey or cough drop.

Keep pad and sharpened pencil, resume details close by.

A few minutes before the interview, have all electronic equipment switched off.    

Turn call-waiting off so your interview call isn't interrupted.

Standing position is ideal, say experts, and dressing formally is also recommended.

Other postures hinder smooth communication, and the formal dress puts you in the right

   frame of mind.

Avoid smoking, eating, chewing, munching.

Avoid sneezing, burping. If you can’t avoid these, say, ‘excuse me’ before continuing.

Smile and talk even if the interviewer can’t see you because it’ll change the tone of your

   voice.

Speak slowly and enunciate clearly.

If the interviewer gives the name, use it Mr or Ms (pronounced as Miz), use Mrs if the

  person has used the title while giving the name. Otherwise, use ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ but not too

   often.

Let your language and tone be formal unless the interviewer indicates he/she prefers

   informality.

Avoid interrupting the interviewer.

Leave a gap of two or three seconds before you give a reply. This helps to draw in breath

   and decide quickly how to respond.

Respond appropriately and adequately: go beyond a mere ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Avoid frequent use of like, basically, actually, you know.

If a question isn’t clear, ask for clarification.

If you have no answer, say so and indicate you’re willing to learn. Don’t try to be smart and

   give an answer that can, more often than not, get you caught on the wrong foot.

If there’s silence for more than a few seconds, you can say, ‘Sir / Madam, can I ask you a

   question?’ and choose one among the those you’ve prepared about the company or the

   position advertised, but not about salary and perks.

If the interviewer gives you names and telephone numbers, jot them down and have them 

   confirmed by repeating it to the interviewer. Do this as soon as you’re ready with the

   information to be given or contact them a few minutes after the interview and wait for

   response.

Thank the interviewer for the call and hi/her time.

A day later send an email or post a letter thanking the person and repeat why you think you should be given a chance to work in their environment.