Telephone Job Interview Preparation Tips

TELEPHONE INTERVIEW BACKGROUND

Telephone interviews are quite common in today's job market. They are offered for a variety of reasons including cost savings, screening of candidates and out-of-town applicants. To successfully navigate the phone interview, it is important to have a solid game plan in place for preparation.

The following 8 quick tips will help prepare yourself for a successful call.

8 QUICK TELEPHONE INTERVIEW PREPARATION TIPS

1. DO SOME RESEARCH
Try to find out who will be interviewing you. Will there be multiple people on the call? If possible get their names and titles. Become familiar with these before the call and you will have one less thing to worry about during the call. Try and get some background on the interviewer. Any insight you can gain about him/her will allow you to better tailor your responses to make the best possible impression.

2. ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS
Make a list of your accomplishments, goals and strengths. On another list write out your weaknesses and what you are doing to overcome them. On a third sheet write down why you are interested in the company. Think carefully about all of these items as they often come up in interviews.

3. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
Never forget that a telephone interview is still an interview. Take time to practice interview questions with friends or family. Ask them to provide honest feedback so you can improve your responses. Mock interview questions can easily be found on the internet or the bookstore. If you get stuck on a question, sample answers to these questions are often provided as well.

4. DO A SOUND CHECK
During the mock interview, have your friend ask you questions both over the phone and in person. Make sure that he/she listens not only for content, but also tone, rate and clarity of your speech. If possible, record yourself speaking. Are you speaking slowly and clearly? Can you easily be heard? Is your voice portraying you as a confident and enthusiastic candidate? If not continue to practice until you are comfortable.

5. FIND YOUR LOCATION
Stake out a quite space to occupy during your interview. Ideally, there should be a comfortable place to sit as well as a table to lay out your papers. Try and find a low-traffic spot where members of the household are un-likely to disturb you.

6. ORGANIZE YOUR PAPERS
Have a copy of your resume and cover letter close at hand. Take out those lists you made while organizing your thoughts. In addition keep any notes related to the company that you feel may be helpful during the call. Spread these items out across your table so they are easy to access. Only keep what is truly necessary. Too much paper can be a distraction.

7. GATHER YOUR WRITING TOOLS
Place a notepad and several pens or pencils on the table. These will be helpful in writing down notes, questions and most importantly, your interviewer's names.

8. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS
As the appointed hour draws near, make sure that the television and the radio are turned off. Exit your email and turn off your computer screen. If possible, disable your call-waiting. Let your family or roommates know about the timing of the interview so they do not accidentally disturb you. Place a do not disturb sign on your door as a gentle reminder.

CONCLUSION
By following these 8 basic tips, you are making a great impression and on your way to the onsite interview. Remember, the phone interview is very important and you should plan and prepare for it carefully.

This article can be read online directly at: http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/telephone-interview-preparation.html

Sincerely,
Nathan Newberger
Managing Editor
http://www.WorkTree.com
Helping You Find More Jobs Faster

Nathan Newberger is the job and career expert at http://www.WorkTree.com Nathan has over 10 years experience in staffing and human resources. He has worked both as a recruiter and career counselor. Mr. Newberger has been the Managing Editor at http://www.WorkTree.com for the past 5 years and his articles have helped thousands of job seekers.

Permission is granted to use reproduce this article but credit must be given to the author and also a direct link to http://www.WorkTree.com The article content cannot be altered.

---

Behaviour To Climb The Stepping Stones To Career Success

The heading of this article could just as well have... Read More

Im just me - An Overview of an Web er.. Designer, Developer, Consultant and Friend

I am going to give you a breakdown of my... Read More

Using Your Whine Factor

Brian's work was exceptional. Still, as his boss,... Read More

Job Interviews: Succeeding With Panel Interviews

These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of... Read More

Dressing Tips for Interview Success

Dressing appropriately for job interviews is one of those areas... Read More

Considering a Career Change?

Are you thinking about a career change? Many people do... Read More

Stand Out From the Crowd with Simple Marketing Methods

Although today's job market can be very competitive, many job... Read More

How To Get A Job Fast

In today's unpredictable economy, the idea of job security with... Read More

Seven Deadly Types of Job Recruiters

Collect them all!Over the course of six months in my... Read More

Searching for Jobs Online

Searching for jobs online is easier than ever, but also... Read More

Learn Some Useful Feng Shui Career Tips

As it does with every main life aspect, feng shui... Read More

Giving Notice: 6 Things to Do To Prepare to Leave

After days, weeks, months or longer of interviewing, you have... Read More

Job Search - Understand Employers

Think like an employerTo be successful in your job search... Read More

Is Pursuing a Career in Patent Law the Right Move for You?

What's It All About? The field of patent law is... Read More

What Can I Do To Improve My Job-Interviewing Skills?

Whether you're a student job seeker or a polished and... Read More

Job Search: The End of the Line

There is an end to the job search tunnel!It has... Read More

Image and Style Count

When I was a child, there was a pool nearby... Read More

Resume Writing - Importance of a Professional Summary

The Summary is the preview of your entire resume. This... Read More

What You Cant Ask a Job Candidate is as Important as What You Can Ask

As a human resources professional or business owner, you face... Read More

A Workplace Romance Can Be Detrimental to Your Career

Over 70% of single employees will become romantically involved with... Read More

Resume Writing - Tips and Advice

Job-hunting is not the most exciting thing in the world... Read More

How to Success On The Job from Job Hunting to Keep Your Job and Get Most of Out of It

INTRODUCTIONThis article will prepare you for the difficult task of... Read More

Could You Write Performance Reviews For Money?

Writing performance reviews can be an excellent way to earn... Read More

Interview Skills That Attract Offers

An interviewer's mission is to assess your qualifications compared to... Read More

Day Trading ? The Ultimate Work-From-Home Job?

Ever dreamt of giving up the daily grind? Want to... Read More

Job Interviews: What to Wear

It takes between seven and seventeen seconds for a person... Read More

Yesterdays Hero

Wonder Woman makes it looks so easy. She gets up... Read More

Waiting for Lightening to Strike

Author and management guru, Peter Drucker says, "People adjust to... Read More

Reinvent Yourself in a New Career

Some people reserve the word "vocation" for religious calling. Contemporary... Read More

17 Surefire Ways to Annoy Potential Employers

Despite the President's encouraging words, the job market is still... Read More

Professional Moms: How to Get Ready to Re-Enter the Workforce

Finally! Your youngest is in school and you are ready... Read More

Making The Best Of Yourself At Interview

You are just about to leave university You are just... Read More

Networking - A Key Factor in a Successful Job Search

In today's economy, job seekers need an edge beyond their... Read More