01/17/2017
4 Tips To A Successful Phone Interview
1. Demonstrate Quickly That You Cover the Basics
Don't worry about getting into the nitty-gritty details about your technical aptitude. A phone interview is to see if you meet the baseline requirements for the job. STUDY the job description closely or talk with people working in the department, and then (before the interview) list out the things you think are the most important deliverables for the role.
2. Show That You’re Truly Interested
Recruiters love when they realize a candidate is a strong match skills-wise for the role they’re attempting to fill. However, being a skills match means little if you give off the impression that you’re only so-so interested in the company or role.
3. Exude an Air of “Strong Culture Fit”
Companies hire candidates based on three things, not just one. Number one is the obvious, “Can she do the job?” This must be a “yes,” no matter what. “Do we like her?” and “Do we think she’s going to fit in around here?”
You absolutely must show—early on—that you’re a strong cultural fit. Thus, if you’re interviewing for a role within a company you know little about, you should study the organization’s online presence—the company website, page, Twitter feed, you get the picture—and figure out its brand personality, its tone, its vibe.
4. Understand the Recruiter’s Role and Stake in This Process
By understanding the role of the recruiter in the hiring process, you will likely be better able to strategize this first interview. Most of these people are compensated—either entirely or partially—based on their ability to find and place people into open positions. That said, when they call you, they already want you to win. They want you to sail through the screening call because, if you win? They win. And if they fill this position quickly, they can also move on to another position (and make more money).
So, never be afraid to ask for the interviewer’s input on how you can put your best foot forward with the hiring manager or for clarification on any questions you don’t understand. Again, this person wants to send you through to the hiring manager. Make it easy to do so.
Interviewing is part art, part science. The art part requires you to bring forth your personality, enthusiasm, and interest. The science part? Requires you to study the process and the players and then strategize.