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Telephone Interviews: Prep for success!

In today’s fast-paced digital age, the traditional face-to-face interview is no longer considered the next step after a successful job application.

The Rise of Digital Communications

With many of us now working remotely and getting more skilled in digital communications – this is now being reflected within recruitment. Many recruiters are now opting for an initial telephone or zoom interview as a 1st point of contact. In this article we will discuss how you can prepare for that 1st Telephone contact with an employer.   

Prep for first Telephone Interview
Prep for first telephone interview

"Prepare for success!”

You might have come across your parents saying something like, “It’s all in the preparation” or “preparation is key.” Surprisingly, these traditional sayings still hold true even in today’s 21st century work environment. Let’s be honest, you can’t simply overlook or avoid the need for preparation if you want to progress in life. Preparing for something can often feel daunting or can lead others into the dreaded cycle of procrastination! However, with some focus and taking things step by step, you really can become a pro at preparing for success!

Slow it down

Slowing things down can often have the opposite effect to help speed things up! It’s important when preparing for a telephone or zoom interview to sit and take the time to research and make notes on the company you’ll potentially be working for.  

In our article ‘Finding your Fit: What do you need to know about a firm before making a job application’, all the research we recommend in this step-by-step guide, is also relevant to keep hold of for a telephone or zoom interview. 

Okay, so you have received the exciting news that your application has been successful, and you are now scheduled for a telephone or zoom interview, but how do you effectively prepare for these?

Telephone Interview Prep

A telephone interview is normally one of the first points of contact following the success of your job application. It’s a useful way to apply your professional enthusiasm with prospective future co-workers and start building rapport with a company.

Follow our step-by-step guide to best prepare for a successful telephone interview. 

It’s all in the details

Make sure you have noted the following details of your upcoming interview:

  • Interview Date and time. 
  • The name of the person interviewing you. If this hasn’t been given to you, make sure to contact the recruiter and ask the name of person calling you on the day. 
  • The role you have applied for. This is worth noting down if you have a few different interviews or jobs you are applying for at the same time. 
  • Check that the company has your correct telephone number to call you on.  

Research, Research, Research

You have already researched the company when making your initial job application, but you now need to conduct further research. You should treat this telephone interview as if it were a face-to-face interview and research the following: 

  • Take some time to review the Job Description and carefully go through the Job Application and CV that you submitted. These were crucial in securing your telephone interview, and will assist you in demonstrating how your skills and experience align with what the employer is seeking. 

  • Think about the types of questions the interviewer may ask. One way to do this is by reaching out to someone you know who works in a similar position and asking them about any questions that are worth preparing for. 

  • Write some prompt cards that hold some useful pieces of information, such as company details, your skills, any dates that hold specific relevance and answers to questions you’ve prepped for. You can place these cards in front of you during the call.

Plan questions to ask the employer

Interviews are a two-way street, and at the end of an interview, it’s highly likely that you’ll be given the chance to ask any questions you may have. 

Prepare for this by writing 2-3 questions that will help support your knowledge and understanding of the company or role you are applying to. 

Plan where to take the call

Its important to make sure you have prepared an area to conduct the telephone interview. You should think about finding a space that has the following: 

  • An area with good signal! Chances are you don’t have a landline with guaranteed signal. 

  • If you struggle to find a decent signal, perhaps its worth asking a friend or parent if you could hold the interview in an area of their home with good signal to take any stress away from losing contact mid-way through a call!   

  • Prepare a quiet and distraction free space. If you live in a household of multiple occupancy, make sure to let others in the house know the date and time of the interview to avoid any interruptions and maintain a professional atmosphere. 

  • If you have any caring duties, please plan ahead by getting assistance to help you out on the day or a few hours before and after the call. 

Practice

Practice makes perfect! Practice by answering some interview questions you may have prepped for. You could also:

  • Ask a friend, family member or partner to call and ask you some of the questions you have prepped for.

 

 

  • You could also record yourself practicing your interview call and listen back to make sure you are speaking clearly with an enthusiastic and professional tone. Top tip: Smile while talking to keep an engaged friendly telephone manner.
Prep for first telephone interview
Prep for first telephone interview

The day of the Interview

Make sure you have everything you need to hand: 

  • A notebook or laptop to make notes. 
  • A (working) pen 
  • Application Form and CV 
  • Your prewritten prompt Cards
 

It is also worth doing the following things on the day: 

  • If you are using your mobile, make sure it is fully charged, or,
 
  • Put your mobile on silent if you are using your landline so you don’t have any distractions. 
 
  • Make sure your environment is quiet and free from distractions. Kindly remind the other individuals in your household about the scheduled time of your interview.
 
  • Dress the part! It is still worth getting dressed as though you are going to a face-to-face interview. This can really boost your confidence and help you embody the role you’re aiming for.

During the Telephone Interview

Make sure you are ready at least 10-15 minutes before your call is due to take place. This will help settle any nerves and will allow you to go over notes and take some deep breaths.

When the call has taken place, you can:

  • Try standing up whilst interviewing. This can help to elevate your confidence levels. 
  • Stay polite, professional, clear and engaged in your tone. 
  • Make sure to speak up if you’re having difficulty hearing. It’s better to ask for clarification than to answer incorrectly.

After the Telephone Interview

After finishing the interview, make sure to express your gratitude to the employer and enquire about the timeline for hearing back and the next stages. 

You can then: 

  • Consider what you have learnt from your telephone interview. 
  • Make notes on some of the interview questions that were asked. 
  • Research anything that you may not have expected to come up in the interview. 
  • Think about 3 things that went well for you during the interview and 3 things that you feel you could improve on for next time.
 

As always, please feel free to drop us a line if you would like any further assistance with connecting to Featured Companies or applying for a new position

Our email is: enquiries@bespoketrainingsolutions.com. 

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

Check out our Jobs Board to view the latest vacancies within Finance and latest jobs from our Featured Companies.

To find out more information on each of our Featured Companies, please check out our Featured Companies page below.

You can also connect with any of our Featured Companies by editing your profile and updating your connect with featured companies preferences.

Read the following article to find out more information about prepping for a first Zoom Interview: “Prep for First Zoom Interview”

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