Recently I had a student appointment with someone who was preparing for a phone interview for an internship. She wanted to know what suggestions we could offer her, as a previous phone interview had not gone well in her opinion. Well, we do have some pointers for students, and here they are:
*Most important is being well prepared for your phone interview (you should be just as prepared as if it were an in-person interview). That means researching the company, its values, products, clients, projects, corporate culture etc. In addition, learn as much as you can about the position you are applying for — what are the job responsibilities and the skills required to succeed?
If given a choice of times, set the interview for a time when you know you won’t feel rushed and will be undisturbed in a quiet place.
Make sure you have good phone reception, perhaps even using a land line, to reduce the risk of static, background noise, or dropping the call. Also make sure you know who will be calling (if someone else is setting up the appointment), or to whom you are speaking when the phone interview starts. It is okay to ask for the correct spelling of the interviewer’s name, their job title and contact information.
Have your resume and other documents prepared in front of you, so you can easily refer to them during the interview. Being able to take notes is an advantage to a phone interview, but don’t write so much that you lose track of the conversation.
Speak clearly and concisely–have a focus to your answers. Don’t ramble. Be prepared with several examples of your achievements or experience in mind that you can refer to in your responses. Specifics will make your answers much more interesting.
Remember, the other person can’t see you, so tone of voice is important. Be confident, sit up straight and smile (yes, this can help your delivery!) when speaking.
Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer if you have answered the question sufficiently, or to ask them to clarify their question if you are not sure what they are asking.
And keep in mind that any interview is a two-way conversation, not an interrogation. Ostensibly, this interviewer already saw something they liked on your resume, or when they met you at a career fair. So go into the interview with a positive attitude, try to relax and enjoy the opportunity.
What tips or advice do you have for your fellow students? Comment here, or email me at cspector@psu.edu.
Charlotte Spector, Career Services Specialist
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