Telephone interview hints and tips!

 Telephone interviews

Telephone interviews are a really easy way for companies to see if an applicant has the competencies they are looking for. These competencies are usually as follows!

-          Good communication skills

-          Ability to lead and work well in a team

-          Ability to be independent and autonomous when required

-          Thinks outside the box and brings creative ideas

-          Displays analytical and problem solving skills

-          Is confident but not over-bearing or arrogant

-          Is driven and dynamic

-          Structured and logical thinking

-          The ability to influence and persuade

-          Asks intelligent questions and is interested in knowing more about the company

-          Is really interested in working for this organization

One thing candidates don’t seem to realize though is that the employer can make their mind up in the first second of the telephone interview. It all comes down to the word ‘Hello!’.

The way you say ‘Hello’ is the most important step of a telephone interview. If you sound bored, unexcited, unenthusiastic, distracted or not articulate enough then you may have just lost your chance! From my time working in the field of graduate recruitment it surprises me how many young people seem to mess the telephone interview up! We used to have over 1000 people applying for jobs every week and when we called them for their telephone interview we ended up rejecting over 75%! This is an enormous amount and it could have all been different if only they had followed these principles.

1. You must sound enthusiastic and smile! When a company is calling you for a telephone interview, remember this is the first step. You are facing tough competition so act really pleased to hear from them! Ask the interviewer how they are and smile! I would also encourage you to stand up, rather than sit down as you will project your voice more and sound clearer. The interviewer will also know that you’re smiling and this will provide them some encouragement that you are keen to work for their company and they will instantly warm to you.
2. LISTEN to their questions! Another common mistake young people make is that they don’t hear the question because they haven’t listened effectively enough. You must answer the question you have been asked. A good trick is to repeat the question once it is asked to you. For example ‘Why do you want to work for our company?’ you would answer ‘I want to work for your company because…….’ Etc etc.
3. Don’t ask who they are and which company they are calling from! If you have listened effectively from the beginning you would have heard them say who they are and where they are calling from. I know that you have been applying to lots of different jobs and I’m sure the telephone interviewer does too but remember everyone is human and humans are egocentric by nature, meaning you must stroke their ego and act as if this is the only company you have applied too and the only company you would want to work for!
4. Don’t ramble or waffle! Be concise in your answers! There is nothing more annoying to a telephone interviewer than a candidate who goes on and on about nothing. Listen to the question, be concise in your answers by using the FEATURE, PROOF, BENEFIT rule. For example ‘why do you want to work for our company?’ ‘I want to work for your company because I have been doing lots of research on the sector (FEATURE) and I particularly like the new development in X space (PROOF) and with this new thirst for knowledge and enthusiasm for this industry I definitely feel I would be the best candidate for the job as I really am passionate about it!’ (BENEFIT). The answer is short, concise, to the point and has a clear example and benefit statement. Try and answer all questions with this format.
5. CLOSE FOR COMMITMENT- Don’t just let the interviewer hang up and say goodbye. Express your enthusiasm for the role and ask them what they next steps are and when you will hear an answer from them. Explain that you have been progressed to further interviews (even if you haven’t) with other companies however this one is your favorite (stroking their ego remember) and you want to know what the next steps are.

If you follow all of these steps then I am certain you will be invited to the next step, which is often an Assessment centre ….more information on how to Ace an assessment centre is coming soon!