17 Tips to Ace Your Next Phone Interview

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Nofal 4:19PM April 23, 2013

Love the tip about talking points to cross off! Not being face-to-face does have some benefits.

kMAC of IL 3:50PM February 14, 2013

Thank you so much for this valuable information. I have been caught off guard by a call from prospective employer before. The most helpful information to me was put the dogs in the other room, don't pace from room to room, have your resume in front of you and job description. Thanks again from Ft. Worth, Texas.

Leslie Urlage of TX 5:55PM February 11, 2013

Diploma in Mechanical Engg.

JITENDRA SETHY of OR 12:56PM February 01, 2013

Very good tips - thanks!
I'm preparing for a phone interview tomorrow. I've done well on them in the past, but you can never prepare too much.

Melanie of NY 6:54PM December 05, 2012

Great article and I appreciated reading the comments too. One question on the article: It sounds as if the applicant is the one placing the call. In my experience, the company calls the applicant for the phone interview. Is it appropriate to suggest that you will call the interviewer at a specific time so you can be on the phone of your choice?

eliewriter of MI 1:50PM September 18, 2012

this is great tips! Thanks!! Ur the best!!!!!

Bresha of WI 8:35PM March 19, 2012

Phone interview may have one of the following purposes:
1) To find out if the candidate has the minimum qualifications to do the job. Usually, the interview is conducted by an HR assistant or the Recruiting Coordinator. The interviewer would have a checklist that would reflect the requirements for the job. The interviewer in this case does not have any authority to make decisions or recommendations. Therefore, asking them for anything would be a waste of time.
2) The second type of phone interview is usually done by a peer or a junior manager. This interview is usually called ‘The Technical Phone Interview’ which sole purpose is to find out if the candidate has the technical attributes to do the job. Again, the interviewer does not possess any decision making authority his or her only task is to evaluate the technical viability of the candidate.
3) Sometimes, when recruiters actually call, then there is room to show off your skills and convince the recruiter to bring you in for an interview.
So my advice would be to first find out what is the purpose of the interview, and second find out who you are actually talking to.
Good Luck to Everyone,
Sigal Grosvirt-Dramen

Sigal Grosvirt-Dramen of CA 8:03PM June 28, 2011

One tip I would like to add about cell phone interviews: Oftentimes there is a one-to-two second delay. So, to avoid "stepping" on the interviewer's comments (and risk sounding rude), after the interviewer stops speaking, pause for one to two seconds before you begin talking.
I used to do contract work for an outplacement agency, and we would often receive feedback from interviewers that the candidates interrupted the interviewer. We finally figured out that wasn't the case; rather, it was the cell phone delay.

Vicki Kunkel of IL 4:19PM June 17, 2011

Phone interviews may be one of the trickiest interview procedures to master, and I am not sure you ever really can "master it". Long pauses and silences are an awkward part of the process so managing that successfully is a talent. These are all great tips. http://www.exechunter.com/

bruchard and associates of MO 5:01PM June 16, 2011