PHONE INTERVIEW: How to prepare for it?

The key to ace a Phone Interview is nice preparation. Prepare for a phone interview just as you would prepare for a regular interview. Compile a list of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as a list of answers to typical phone interview questions. In addition, plan on being prepared for a phone conversation about your background and skills. Here are a few best tips to nail a job over phone interview:

• Keep your CV in clear view so it’s at your fingertips when you need to answer questions.
• Have a short list of your achievements available to review.
• Have a pen and paper handy for note taking.
• Turn call-waiting off so your call isn’t interrupted. Also switch off other mobile phone, if you have.
• Clear the room – keep children and pets out, turn off the TV and nix all kind of interruptions. Or go to an isolated room to focus and concentrate on the interviewer’s questions.
• Unless you’re sure your cell phone service is going to be perfect, consider using a landline rather than your cell phone to avoid a dropped call or static on the line.
• Try smiling while you are talking. It changes your tone of speaking and some studies have shown that it has a positive effect on the person who is listening. It is also a good idea to stand during a telephone interview as this makes you sound more confident and helps project a positive and professional image.
• Be concise. For most questions a 2-4 minute answer is a good target. Time is a main issue with telephone interviews and you are wasting your interviewer’s time if you stray off the subject.
• Find out all you can about the company’s products, services, history, and culture. Familiarize yourself with the company’s website and its background and be prepared to comment constructively upon it if asked.
• Don’t speak too quickly, use slang, interrupt or talk over the recruiter. Matching your speaking rate and pitch to that of the interviewer will help you to establish good rapport. Don’t ’um’ and ’err’ too much!
• The key thing to remember when responding to interview questions is to keep your answers brief and to the point.  If you are faced with a difficult question, make sure you stay calm, don’t get defensive, and take a moment to think about your response before you answer.
• Try to personalize your response as much as possible. Use the word “I” instead of “We”. Sit confidently, make a happy face, don’t give a rude impression, talk politely, show knowledge of the work (for past and for applied job) and success is guaranteed.