Ace Your Telephonic Interview With These 6 Tips

There’s no doubt that interviews cause a lot of anxiety and fear in the minds of interviewees. Depending on the type of interview, you will need to be prepared for it.  

Telephonic interviews have become a common initial screening method for employers. They offer a convenient way to assess a candidate’s qualifications and suitability for a position without the need for face-to-face interaction. It also allows the candidate to demonstrate their interest in the position and ask any questions that they may have about the company and the role. In this article, we will look at the six essential tips to help you ace your telephonic interview. 

Six Tips to Ace Your Telephone Job Interview 

Acing a phone interview can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can make a strong impression. Here are six tips to ace your telephonic interviews: 

Prepare in Advance 

Remember the phrases “Rome was not built in a day” by John Heywood and “Well begun is half-done” by Aristotle. If you want to succeed in your telephonic interview, you need to prepare well in advance. 

Do your homework on the company. Take the time to research the company you’re interviewing with. Understand its mission, values, achievements, services, and recent news. This will demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm and help you tailor answers to align with the company’s goals. Familiarize yourself with your resume. For instance, if you managed a big project at your last job, be ready to discuss how you did it and the results you achieved. 

Review the job description thoroughly and be ready to discuss how your skills and experience make you a perfect fit for the role. Prepare answers to typical phone interview questions, such as “Tell me about yourself,” “Why do you want to work here? ” “ What are your strengths and weaknesses?”. Practice your responses, but avoid sounding robotic or overly rehearsed. 

Find a Quiet Spot

Choose a quiet, distraction-free location for the interview. Turn off email and other phone notifications. Make sure you have good phone reception and a fully charged phone or headset. Close doors, avoid background noise and inform household members about the interview to avoid interruptions. A good atmosphere will help you stay focused. 

Be Professional and Pay Attention to Your Tone 

Professionalism is critical, even in telephonic interviews. Address the interview respectfully with their title and last name, if known. Avoid using slang or casual language. Maintain a polite tone throughout the conversation. Even though the interviewer won’t see you, dressing professionally can help put you in the right frame of mind. It can boost your confidence and signal to your brain that you’re in work mode, helping you maintain a professional demeanor throughout the call. 

Your tone of voice plays a crucial role in how you're perceived during a telephone interview. Aim for a friendly, enthusiastic tone while maintaining professionalism. Smile as you speak to convey positivity and warmth.

Keep Essential Documents Handy  

Since it’s a phone interview, you can have notes and a copy of your resume in front of you. This will allow you to refer to them during the interview without fumbling or sounding unprepared. Just make sure to glance at them naturally. Avoid shuffling papers or sounding distracted. Additionally, having a copy of your portfolio or work samples can be useful if the interview asks for more detailed information about your experience. Being prepared with these documents demonstrates your organizational skills and readiness for the role. 

Listen and Speak Clearly 

Over a telephone interview, it’s difficult to read the body language, gauge the confidence level and integrity of the candidate. Without visual cues, it’s crucial to enunciate your words. Keep a steady, calm pace, and avoid talking too quickly. This will help ensure your responses are easy to understand. 

It’s not just about what you say; it's also about how you respond. Don’t interrupt the interviewer, and wait for the interviewer to finish speaking before responding. Be sure to pause before answering to absorb the question fully. If the interviewer asks about a challenge you faced, share a specific example, like how you handled a tight deadline successfully. Reflect briefly before speaking to ensure you’re engaged and thoughtful in your responses. 

Follow-Up 

After the interview, send a thank-you email expressing your appreciation for the opportunity to speak with them. Ideally, this should be done on the same day or within a day if you are traveling. Remember, they played a key role in getting you the interview. Additionally, mention something specific from the conversation to show you were engaged and are genuinely interested in the role. This small gesture can leave a lasting positive impression. 

When given the opportunity, make sure to ask insightful questions that demonstrate your interest in the role and company. Avoid questions that are too basic or could be easily answered through research. 

Before the interview ends, ask about the next steps in the hiring process, timelines, or follow-up interviews. This shows initiative and genuine interest in moving forward. 

Some of the key aspects to keep in mind for a telephonic interview include:

• Try a test call from where you will take your interview with a friend in an almost similar setup.
• Make sure you sort out any technical or audio setup issues from your end before the interview.
• Record your interview call and review how the voice comes across. 
• Check for clarity, tonality, pace, diction, and  grammar.
• Check for filler words like “um,” like,” “and,” and “you know.” 
• Check for nonstandard responses such as “yeah,” “yup,” “no,” “gotcha,” etc.
• Be clear and respond with a reason where feasible.
• Try avoiding timewasters such as “Can you hear me now,” “Sorry, I missed a word, can you repeat,” “Sorry, can’t hear you,” etc. While these technical challenges are not fully unavoidable, with better preparation, such things can be avoided.

Telephonic Interviews: Do’s and Don’ts 

With phone interviews becoming more common these days, it’s important to equip job seekers with the necessary do’s and don’ts of a phone interview. 

Do’s 

• Schedule the interview for your best time 
• Stand up during the call 
• Practice speaking in front of a mirror before the call 
• Smile when you speak 
• Dress for it as though you were going to the interview in person
• Tell stories using the STAR method

Don't's

• Give your salary range.
• Chew gum, eat, or drink during the call.
• Interrupt the interviewer
• Multitask 
• Rush your responses  

Final Thoughts 

Preparing for a telephone interview requires preparation, focus, and professionalism as an in-person interview. By preparing thoroughly, choosing a quiet location, practicing active listening, using a confident voice, keeping essential documents handy, maintaining professionalism, and following up with a thank you email, you can make a strong impression during your telephonic interview and land your dream job.