6 Tips To Help You Nail That Phone Interview

By Tara Hale

Are you about to graduate and on the hunt for a “big boy/girl” job? I am and recently was interviewed over the phone for a company that I really want to work for in the future. I looked and looked for tips on how to nail the interview over the phone and below is a list of what I found was the most helpful.

1. Use LinkedIn

If you know the person who is going to be conducting the interview, look them up on LinkedIn or on their company website. By knowing a little more about the person who will be interviewing you, this allows for you to make a connection and can make you feel more comfortable during the interview. Plus, if you find them on LinkedIn, they can see that you took the initiative to learn more about them which is an impressive quality to have.

2. Do Your Research

Research the company you are interviewing with. Know as much as possible about the job description and company’s core values as you can. Be sure to identify the qualities that they are looking for in an employer and give examples of how you have or plan to demonstrate those qualities. Nothing is more impressive to an interviewer than a motivated individual who has done their homework.

3. Look the Part

Be sure to look the part, even if it is a phone interview. When you feel good, you do good and even though the interviewer can’t see you, dressing the part helps you perform better. Be sure and smile when you’re on the phone, too!

4. Have a Cheat Sheet

Take advantage of the interview being conducted over the phone. You can have a “cheat sheet” with talking points and a copy of your resume out in order to have a security blanket in case you blank while being interviewed. Warning: don’t sound too rehearsed and don’t read your talking points directly off the page or else you’ll sound stale. Keep it conversational and be yourself!

5. Ask Questions

Be sure to have an excellent question to ask the interviewer at the end of the phone interview. Companies usually conduct phone interviews to screen you for the face-to-face interview. By giving the interviewer a great first impression on the phone, this will allow for a good recommendation to the face-to-face interviewer. Ask a question like, “In your experience, what is the company’s culture like?” or “What do you think it takes to be a successful employee at Company X?”

6. Avoid Fillers

One last tip: avoid saying “Umm” or “Like” in the phone interview. Those words are fillers and shouldn’t be used in a professional setting. Take a couple of seconds to gather your thoughts before you answer a question that the interviewer asks and confidently respond. I found that Pinterest was a great help for tips on how to nail a phone interview so check there for more suggestions. Good luck on your phone interview and I hope these tips help!

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