5 Tips for Telephone Interviews

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Not all interviews take place in person - especially in the early stages of the hiring process, a tech professional will likely have to talk on the phone with recruiters, HR staff, hiring managers, and even potential colleagues.

While phone interviews have several advantages - you don't have to get dressed or commute to an office somewhere, for example - they also present a unique combination of challenges, especially for those who are relatively inexperienced with interviewing for jobs. That's exactly why you'll find some quick, valuable tips on how to prepare:

Schedule time

Make sure it's possible for you to take the call in a quiet environment. Build in some "flex time" for the total duration of the interview, in case the interview takes longer than expected. Therefore, avoid conducting such interviews while driving or walking - the interviewer may hear ambient noise and mistakenly conclude that you are not approaching the situation with the seriousness it deserves because you are wrapping up the application somewhere, in a spare minute while commuting.

Limit distractions

It's tempting to conduct a phone interview in front of your PC or tablet. How else would you quickly look for the things the interviewer is asking about? However, you get distracted here more than you think. This could have negative consequences for the interview, you should not sound inattentive at all.

Notes

Of course, you can't be sure what questions the interviewer will ask, but you can write down some useful points that might come up during the interview. Like two or three projects where your skills and experience have had a positive impact. That way, you don't have to frantically rack your brain when the interviewer quickly asks for an example of your previous projects. You may also be able to note down any previous roles. Sometimes it happens, for example, that you get your personal history a little mixed up due to nervousness.

Know your interviewer (and company)

With any type of interview, it pays to be prepared: Make sure you spend some time researching the potential employer and interviewer before taking the phone call. Knowing some essential key data about the company is essential. Personal details about the interviewer are less important to the interview itself, but could perhaps lead to a more relaxed atmosphere during the application process.

Proper aftercare

Also note the formalities after the interview. If it hasn't already happened: send the interviewer all relevant documents, including your resume and any links to your previous projects. In any case, after the phone call, also send your interviewer a short message thanking him/her for the time and opportunity, and also ask right away if he/she might need any additional information.