To save valuable time,
most hiring processes include a phone interview step. The purpose of
phone interviews is to narrow down a stack of resumes to a small number
of people who will be seen in person. So if you’re called for a phone
screen, you’ve passed the first hurdle! Unfortunately, however, many
people self-destruct at this stage. Here are ten mistakes that you
don’t want to make:
1.Be difficult to find.
When you have resumes
out, you should always be close to a phone. Even if you can’t talk at
that moment, it’s better to take the call and arrange another time.
That way, you’ve at least made contact. If you can’t answer the phone,
check your messages hourly. And remember not to block people who don’t
allow caller ID. You could miss some interviewers who don’t want you to
have their phone number.
2.Have a silly or unprofessional message.
Now is not the time for
cute, silly, or sexy recordings on your voice mail. Interviewers need
to hear a simple message that conveys a professional image.
3.Use bad phone equipment.
If there is static on
the line or your voice sounds remote, the interviewer will not get a
positive mental picture. This can be a particular problem with cell
phones. Try calling your number to check out the sound. People are
often unaware of their own phone problems.
4.Forget where you’ve sent your resume.
When an interviewer
calls, you don’t want to sound confused about the company name or the
nature of the business. Keep a copy of every ad you answer and make
notes about all referrals you get from others. Organize this
information so that you can easily grab it when the phone rings.
5.Talk at a bad time.
If your child is
screaming or you just stepped out of the shower or you’re driving down
the freeway, don’t hesitate to politely ask if you can schedule another
time to talk. You won’t make a good impression if you are distracted or
if there is background noise. But try to set a specific time for the
callback.
6.Assume that you can “wing it” when you get
a call.
As with any interview,
you need to have a game plan. Start by identifying the most important
information that you want to convey about yourself, then practice doing
it clearly and concisely. A phone interview is likely to focus on your
resume, so decide what you want to say about each aspect of your
background.
7.Fail to do your homework.
Interviewers will be
impressed if you can sound knowledgeable about their business during an
unexpected call. Whenever you send out a resume or fill out an
application, print pages from the organization’s website. Have that
information available at all times, organized so that you can quickly
access the appropriate pages.
8.Sound like you’re half-dead.
A phone interviewer is
developing a mental image from your voice. No one wants to hire someone
who sounds down, depressed, listless, or tired. So you need to come
across as enthusiastic, energetic, and upbeat. If necessary, learn to
fake it.
9.Babble on endlessly.
When you have made your
points, stop talking and wait for the next question. You want to keep
your responses crisp. On the phone, you lack visual cues to tell you
when the interviewer’s attention is wandering.
10.Say anything negative.
Remember that a phone
interview is all about screening people out. Anyone who comes across as
complaining, whining, or hard to manage will be quickly put in the “do
not hire” pile, so don’t say anything bad about your former employer,
your manager, your workload, or anything else.
