Acing Phone Interviews

myFOX Job Shop - Employers often use phone interviews as a way to screen candidates for in-person interviews. But don’t fret! These tips will help you ace the phone interview and lead the way toward an in-person interview.

Keep a copy of your resume handy because you never know when you’ll be contacted!

Also, keep a pen with you to take notes or write down questions you’d like to ask on the call. Make sure you’ve practiced answers to some of the most common interview questions, covering your past experience, strengths and weaknesses, and even salary expectations.

While you’re on the call, it’s important to treat it like a real interview.

Find a quiet place to take the call that is free of distractions (and definitely don't take a phone interview while you’re driving!). If you don’t have good cell phone reception (“Can you hear me now?”) or are busy with something else, ask if you can reschedule, and consider giving them a landline number. Although they might be a thousand miles away, speak as if the person is right in front of you—stand up, project your voice, speak clearly and don’t chew gum, eat or smoke while on the call.

At the end of the call, make sure you capture the interviewer’s name (including spelling) and contact information.

Thank the interviewer for his or her time on the call and send him/her a thank you note via email. After following these tips for a successful phone interview, get prepared for the next step in the interview process: the in-person interview.