25 tips for mastering the phone interview pv
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Close Window Click here to print or select File then Print from your browser. It's the Real Thing! 25 Tips for Mastering the Phone Interview By Sean Haggard Waiting for a phone interview can be more nerve-wrecking and exhausting than the phone interview itself. But when it comes, you had better be ready! Use these 25 tips from Sean Haggard of InterviewBackdoor.com --increase your odds of getting a phone interview, impress the interviewer while you are on the phone, and seal the deal after you say goodbye. Before the Phone Interview 1. Include your phone number and email address on your application, cover letter, and each page of your resume. The worst reason for not receiving a phone interview is because the interviewer didn't know how to contact you. 2. If you have special contact instructions, list them in your cover letter, but don't expect they will be followed. Many interviewers just look at whatever paper is in front of them, find your number, and dial. They may not necessarily read the part of your cover letter where they are asked to call your home number between 2:00pm and 5:00pm EST or your cell phone number after 6:00pm EST. 3. Make sure your voicemail greeting is appropriate. One interviewer may laugh at the song you play or the joke you tell during your greeting, while another might just be annoyed and subtract points from you. A simple greeting such as "You've reached Sean Haggard. Please leave me a message" or "You have called 555-235-1212. Record your message at the tone" is fine. You can always change your greeting back after you get the job. 4. Let the phone go to voicemail. Although your family or roommate may have the best of intentions, messages sometimes get lost. The easiest method is just to give out a phone number that you know will either be answered by you or by no one. 5. Keep the company information on hand. I track my applications with a folder system on my computer. Each folder has a name, such as "IBM_ProcessEngineer_012811" (company_job_date). Then inside that folder I keep the job description (I make a PDF copy of the website if it was online), the resume I submitted, the application I submitted, and any notes that will help to refresh my memory when they call. If you do answer the phone when the interviewer calls, you want to be able to access all of this information on the spot. 6. Return messages promptly. An un-returned call for a phone interview is a missed opportunity. Also keep in mind that most interviewers call batches of people to schedule phone interviews. If you don't answer, I leave a message, hang up the phone, and call the next person on the list. Whoever gets back to me first has the first pick of a slot on my busy schedule. Whoever gets a phone interview first has the potential for having an in-person interview first. And that leads to the shiny, new job. 7. Remind interviewers who you are. If you return a call and must leave a message, give your name and phone number, mention you are returning the person's call for the (insert your position name) position, and state that you are still interested in the position. I suggest saying your name and phone number once at the beginning of the message and again at the end. If you speak slowly enough, the interviewer will be able to write down your information or grab your file without too much effort. 8. When you arrange the phone interview, confirm the details. You need to know the date, the time (if you are in a different time zone from the recruiter, confirm the time zone), who will be calling whom, and the phone number to call. Add the appointment to your calendar and set a reminder for at least 15 minutes prior. During the Phone Interview 9. If you are calling the interviewer, call exactly at the scheduled time. Wait by the phone for a few minutes if necessary. If you do not reach the person, leave a voicemail, wait ten minutes, and try to call again. If you still aren't able to make contact, see if you can "opt out" of the person's voicemail and reach a receptionist or assistant.
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Transcript of 25 tips for mastering the phone interview pv
Close Window Click here to print or select File then Print from your browser.
It's the Real Thing! 25 Tips for Mastering the Phone InterviewBy Sean Haggard
Waiting for a phone interview can be more nerve-wrecking and exhausting than the phone interview itself. But when it
comes, you had better be ready! Use these 25 tips from Sean Haggard of InterviewBackdoor.com--increase your odds of
getting a phone interview, impress the interviewer while you are on the phone, and seal the deal after you say goodbye.
Before the Phone Interview
1. Include your phone number and email address on your application, cover letter, and each page of your resume.
The worst reason for not receiving a phone interview is because the interviewer didn't know how to contact you.
2. If you have special contact instructions, list them in your cover letter, but don't expect they will be followed.
Many interviewers just look at whatever paper is in front of them, find your number, and dial. They may not necessarily
read the part of your cover letter where they are asked to call your home number between 2:00pm and 5:00pm EST or
your cell phone number after 6:00pm EST.
3. Make sure your voicemail greeting is appropriate. One interviewer may laugh at the song you play or the joke you
tell during your greeting, while another might just be annoyed and subtract points from you. A simple greeting such as
"You've reached Sean Haggard. Please leave me a message" or "You have called 555-235-1212. Record your message at
the tone" is fine. You can always change your greeting back after you get the job.
4. Let the phone go to voicemail. Although your family or roommate may have the best of intentions, messages
sometimes get lost. The easiest method is just to give out a phone number that you know will either be answered by you or
by no one.
5. Keep the company information on hand. I track my applications with a folder system on my computer. Each folder
has a name, such as "IBM_ProcessEngineer_012811" (company_job_date). Then inside that folder I keep the job
description (I make a PDF copy of the website if it was online), the resume I submitted, the application I submitted, and any
notes that will help to refresh my memory when they call. If you do answer the phone when the interviewer calls, you want
to be able to access all of this information on the spot.
6. Return messages promptly. An un-returned call for a phone interview is a missed opportunity. Also keep in mind that
most interviewers call batches of people to schedule phone interviews. If you don't answer, I leave a message, hang up the
phone, and call the next person on the list. Whoever gets back to me first has the first pick of a slot on my busy schedule.
Whoever gets a phone interview first has the potential for having an in-person interview first. And that leads to the shiny,
new job.
7. Remind interviewers who you are. If you return a call and must leave a message, give your name and phone number,
mention you are returning the person's call for the (insert your position name) position, and state that you are still
interested in the position. I suggest saying your name and phone number once at the beginning of the message and again
at the end. If you speak slowly enough, the interviewer will be able to write down your information or grab your file without
too much effort.
8. When you arrange the phone interview, confirm the details. You need to know the date, the time (if you are in a
different time zone from the recruiter, confirm the time zone), who will be calling whom, and the phone number to call. Add
the appointment to your calendar and set a reminder for at least 15 minutes prior.
During the Phone Interview
9. If you are calling the interviewer, call exactly at the scheduled time. Wait by the phone for a few minutes if
necessary. If you do not reach the person, leave a voicemail, wait ten minutes, and try to call again. If you still aren't able to
make contact, see if you can "opt out" of the person's voicemail and reach a receptionist or assistant.
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