Are you looking to refine your strategy for a telephone interview ?
Discover our 10 tips in this article.
You have just landed a job interview in the company of your dreams, and the 2nd step is the telephone interview.
You put pressure on yourself, it’s normal. But don’t worry, this step is not the most complicated part of the recruitment process.
However, there are a few pitfalls to avoid in order to successfully complete your telephone interview.
Let’s discover together the best practices for taking the next step in recruitment. ????
Summary
- What is a telephone interview?
- 10 tips for a successful phone interview
- What is the purpose of a telephone pre-interview?
- How to prepare for a phone interview?
- What questions to ask in a phone interview?
What is a telephone interview?
A telephone interview is one of the first steps in a company’s recruitment process which consists of a short telephone conversation (15-45min) between the recruiter and the candidate.
The purpose of the telephone interview for the recruiter is to be able to filter out some of the candidates who are the least suitable for the coveted position.
For the candidate, the telephone interview is also interesting and is an opportunity to seize to analyze the feeling with the recruiter and to make sure to join the company that is best suited.
10 tips for a successful phone interview
Prepare your pitch
Can you introduce yourself briefly?
You know, this question is inevitable, so better if prepare perfectly.
We have identified 2 scenarios here:
If you are just out of school:
You will start by presenting your university course, then talk about your different professional experiences, your internships, etc.
If, for example, you have professional projects such as freelance, participation in conferences, webinars, etc., we recommend that you also talk about them during this interview.
This can be a good way to show your pleasure in working and learning more and more.
If you already have some pro experience:
To prepare your speech, we recommend that you simply keep your main professional experiences, give your position held and then briefly explain your missions and then your results.
Simple, clear, precise.
Most candidates today explain the assignments but then stop afterwards.
Even if the HR recruiter is not your future manager, it will only be positive to talk about the results obtained in your past experiences.
Make some research about the company
This advice seems obvious, yet most applicants hardly know the company they are applying for.
Which can quickly become problematic if the recruiter asks you what you know about the company or even why you want to join them.
Our advice: look at their website, dissect the pages and clearly understand how the company works, their customers, business model, etc…
A little extra is to take a look on social networks to see the latest company news. As a result, you can be punchy in front of the recruiter and bounce back on certain topics or even ask relevant questions.
Be relevant and clear in your remarks
We’ve all stammered during an interview, for whatever reason.
And of course, this is to be avoided as much as possible because stammering will make you appear unsettled or indecisive.
Keep your guideline, speak clearly and loudly enough and if you don’t know how to answer a question from the recruiter, don’t panic.
When you talk about your experiences, tell them in chronological order, for example, or in order of importance.
Of course, avoid lies as much as possible, because sooner or later the company will find out and this will lead to awkward situations.
Settle into a professional environment
It sounds trivial, but settling in a place of trust, calm and tidy for your interview will allow you to fully concentrate on the interview itself.
For example, if you have an office, sit there or in another quiet room.
Prepare for a scenario
Although more and more rare during the first interview, some companies still practice this kind of puzzle for the candidate, the scenario.
But how do you prepare for it?
Use common sense and always be one step ahead.
For example, if you are applying for a sales job, it is very likely that the recruiter will ask you for a scenario on a subject of negotiation or direct sales.
So practice this exercise beforehand with a friend so that you don’t feel powerless in the face of this situation.
Adapt your vocabulary to the job posting
To put it simply here, although you have the skills requested on the job offer, the idea is to appear expert in the field and skills requested.
Adapting your vocabulary with the terms used on the job offer is a big plus and the recruiter will better see you as the ideal candidate.
So remember to read the entire job offer before the call or even to have it in front of you during the interview and adapt your speech.
Adopt a friendly, dynamic and professional tone
As the interview is voice-based, avoid nonchalance or soft voices during your few minutes of interview.
Coffee or Red bull, everyone has their own technique, but be dynamic!
Recruiters see dozens of profiles so be the one who stands out by being dynamic and friendly.
Note that friendly does not mean familiar. Stay professional in all circumstances!
Be ready 10 minutes before the call
It’s rare, but a recruiter could potentially call you before the meeting time for one reason or another.
If you are available, be operational 10 minutes before the interview time, which will allow you to secure a call ahead, just in case!
Also, keep your computer within reach with your open mailbox in a tab to anticipate any last minute message from the recruiter.
The computer can also be used as a note-taker.
Ask relevant questions
The recruiter has introduced you to the job, you have introduced yourself, now it’s time for questions.
Important rule, always have questions to ask.
Asking questions will show your interest in the position and the company.
Keep in mind that this telephone interview is an exchange with everything.
Go to the last section of the article for some sample questions to ask during your phone interview.
End on a high
To conclude your interview, thank the recruiter for his time and highlight your dynamism once again and your availability.
There’s nothing like ending an interview like ending on a positive note or with a highlight that you haven’t touched on yet.
For example, if you went to the same school as the recruiter, if you know someone in the company or other.
We advise you to go and see the recruiter’s profile on Linkedin before your interview to identify commonalities, for example.
Once the interview is over, don’t forget to send a thank you email immediately after to demonstrate your desire to go further, your availability and your determination.
- Prepare your pitch
- Make some research about the company
- Be relevant and clear in your remarks
- Settle into a professional environment
- Prepare for a scenario
- Adapt your vocabulary to the job offer and the skills required
- Adopt a friendly, dynamic and professional tone
- Be ready 10 minutes before the call
- Ask relevant questions
- Thank the recruiter on the phone and send a thank you email afterwards
What is the purpose of a telephone pre-interview?
The objective of a telephone pre-interview for the recruiter is to be able to filter out some of the candidates who are the least suitable for the coveted position.
The recruiter will check various points that may vary from one company to another, such as:
- your motivation
- your availability
- your fit with the corporate culture
What questions to ask in a phone interview?
This is usually the last step of the telephone interview, but a step that is important!
Asking the right questions during this interview has several advantages:
- You will see more clearly about your expectations.
- The recruiter will see your involvement
- You will project yourself better in the company
Here are some examples of questions to ask during the phone interview:
- How many steps are there in the recruitment process
- What is the next step in the recruitment process
- When can I expect a return from you?
- How many employees does the company have?
- How is the department structured?
- Is telecommuting allowed?
- How is the company culture?
- How is internal communication carried out?