The next time you have a job interview by telephone, don't underestimate its importance. It is, after all, your first chance and possibly your only chance, to make a great impression.
"The most important thing to realize when doing a phone interview is that people on the other end can hear what you're doing,” said Katherine Burik, Strategic Job Search Consultant and partner at The Interview Doctor, Inc (www.jobinterviewcoaching.org). "They can hear your attitude, whether you’re smiling or frowning, and if you’re slouching. It's not something they hear and pay attention to, but it comes through the telephone in a way that the person will pick up on it. So it really is an influencer," she said.
Here are four ways to master that phone call every time.
- Close out all distractions
How often do you talk on the phone and do nothing else at the same time? If you're like most of us, probably never because you're a master of multitasking, right? Well, when it comes to multitasking while interviewing on the phone, don't do it! Having laser focus is absolutely critical.
“As a person who interviews people on the phone all the time, I can almost hear when someone is looking at another screen. Close all the (computer) windows and turn off audio and visual notifications so you aren't tempted by them."
And while you're at it, don't forget to disable notifications and other potentially distracting features on your phone, too.
2. Set up a focal point.
How many times have you tried to have a conversation with someone who was distracted? It probably didn't take long for the conversation to hit a brick wall and make you want to disconnect. Well, the minute the a job interviewer thinks a candidate's focus is elsewhere, he will want to disconnect too. To give yourself the best chance at building rapport, simply set up a physical focal point on your desk to talk to.
"I have Catbert from Dilbert on my desk," said Burik. "When I'm talking on the phone, I’m talking to him. He represents a real person in my mind."
3. Give yourself a pep talk.
Interviewing can be nerve-wracking, so before you even get started, give yourself a pep talk to get in the right frame of mind. Decide on how you want to come across and use a mantra to speak it into existence.
"You could say, ‘I am calm, confident and courageous,', Burik said.
Or, make up your own like, I will be present in the here and now or I am right for this job and this job is right for me. You can use any string of words that makes you feel positive and helps you exude confidence.
"Also, exhale; sit up or stand up straight; and look your person in the eye. You will sound clearer and more confident," Burik said.
4. Say ‘Cheese!’
Mirror, mirror on the wall, help me smile right through this call.
Smiling is another way to build rapport. It adds warmth to your words, giving you a pleasant tone of voice. But, it has to last throughout the entire call, so hang a photo of your children, siblings, or friends, smiling away at you. Or, as Burik suggests, use a mirror.
"Have a mirror handy and look into it to remind yourself to smile. Everyone sounds different when they are smiling than when they are frowning," she said. "When you're smiling on the telephone you come across as more friendly and outgoing. It helps you be in the moment, too."
The goal in any interview, on the phone or in person, is to get to the next step in the hiring process. By following these tips on the phone you can begin building a relationship that just might help you get there.
