The practice of phone interviews is not very common especially if the interviewer understands that you can make it to the interview venue. Although there are circumstances that can encourage a phone interview and if you receive a phone call from your prospective employer, there are common etiquette pointers that you should be aware of. When it comes to phone interviews, you must always remember that the words that come out of your mouth can never be put back in once they reach the ears of the listener.
Normally the first call may be to set up the interview date. When this is done, wait for the material day while observing:
1. Charge your phone enough to avoid it running out of power during the interview.
2. Do NOT call, wait till you are called by the interviewer.
3. Make sure you are in a room where you can communicate without fear or holding back information. This is applicable to those people who are employed and the call may come when in the office. You DO NOT want your current employer knowing that you are job hunting.
4. Have the relevant information at your finger tips or in writing in case a question is asked concerning them.
All that is required is to prepare for this interview just like any other because the person interviewing you may ask a number of questions, and the answers you give will mean the difference between landing a high paying job you have been searching for, or end-up being rejected by your potential employer.
In these interviews, all you need to put in mind is that the interviewer is out of sight thus you can do the interview in the most relaxed position.Having said that, it is always better to think before you speak. Many people make the mistake of speaking before they think, and not only can this lead to disaster during the phone interview, it can lead to problems with your personal life as well.
When the interviewer asks you a question, answer the question directly. Do not answer a question with a question, and never go around the question you have been asked. Just answer it directly.
When you answer a question with a question, or attempt to dodge it, you will make the interviewer suspicious. For example, imagine if the interviewer asks you a question such as: what qualities do you feel you have that makes you an effective applicant for this job? With a question like this, you must be able to give a clear and concise answer. You should take a second or two to think about the answer, but no longer than this. If you take too long this may be bad for the interview, but answering the question too quickly can cause you to make mistakes.
Under no circumstances should you ever interrupt the interviewer while they are speaking. Of all the mistakes you could make during a phone interview, this is the fastest way to kill your chances of winning. Interrupting people is rude in general, and companies do not want rude people working for them. If you have a habit of cutting people off during conversations, then this is a habit that you must get under control "before" your phone interview starts.
This can be a simple interview but also very tricky. Be careful not to underestimate a phone interview. Prepare well like any other interview and be sure you will make it.
