: How to Prepare for a Phone Interview
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(467 Words)
A phone interview can be just as important as an interview in person. Some people are literally hired from these, thus you will want to do all you can to prepare. Try the following strategies.
Make sure that you have a quiet, calm environment
You do not want to have to do the phone interview with your children screaming in the background. You do not want to be distracted by a pot on the stove. Plan the phone interview for when everything is quiet and you can relax and focus on the task at hand. Try to find someone to keep an eye on your children or do it at a time when they are not home. Do not have the television on or have anything else going on. You want to be able to put all of your energy into the interview.
Also make sure that there is nothing else that can happen to distract you during your interview. If there are people who call you often then you might want to tell them to hold off until the interview is over. You can also make sure you have a caller ID so that you can see if someone tries to call in and only answer if it is an absolute emergency.
Make sure to have all materials you might need with you
Obviously you will not be handing the interviewer a resume however that doesn’t mean that he or she won’t want specific information from it. For instance, they may want to know the exact dates that you worked or the phone number of your last position. You do not want to have to tell them to hang on as you go rummaging through old files to find this information. You should make sure that you have your resume and any information that you may need at easy access.
Make sure that you have eaten/used the restroom/etc.
You do not want to be conducting the phone interview while you are starving. Be sure that you have eaten beforehand. Also make sure that you used the restroom so that you do not have to ask for a break.
Try to relax
Just because it is a phone interview does not mean that you might not be anxious about it. If you are feeling trepidation, try relaxation techniques to prepare yourself. You can do a little meditation or listen to calming music.
If they are calling you, then you want to be ready a little in advance. It is not uncommon for phone interviewers to call early, and it will be impressive if you are ready for them. Make sure to have a comfortable place to be as well. The more you prepare, the more you can focus and hopefully do a great job on your interview.