Whenever they are planning to fill a key role in one of my businesses They always prefer to meet any potential candidates on at least one or two occasions. This always helps because you can learn as much about a person from their demeanour and body language as from what they are actually saying to you.
But in the busy modern environment where most of us have packed diaries and demanding lives it is not always possible to get together at the same time and place. Therefore it becomes more and more commonplace to hold interviews over the telephone – a situation which demands a completely different set of skills.
In many ways the telephone interview can be even more mentally challenging than a face to face situation; requiring more focus and concentration.
The key to getting the most from a phone interview, as in most situations, is plenty of preparation. The biggest advantage you have is the ability to have all your notes in front of you, so research the company every bit as thoroughly as you would for a face to face interview.
Depending on what stage of the recruitment process you’re at, the person interviewing you could be at a different level within the organisation, therefore you may need to tailor your answers slightly. For example, if this call is in the very early stages of the process you may get someone from HR calling you, whereas if it happens later down the line then it will be a senior manager or even the CEO. Ask in advance who will be calling – this also gives you the opportunity to research them. Even if it's a simple case of looking at their LinkedIn profile, it's always useful to have some background information.
If you know roughly how long the call will be, you will know whether you need short succinct answers, or more in-depth detail. Try to control the ebb and flow of the conversation. As in any interview, you want to ask questions of your own and don’t want the interviewer to overpower you. At the same time you don’t want to be overly dominating either – so be aware of your tone of voice. Remember the interviewer will not be able to read your body language, but they certainly will pick up on how you speak so be aware of this. It can be harder to grasp when somebody has reached a conclusion or when there is a natural break in the conversation, so always err on the side of caution by pausing for a second or two before answering. This way you are not constantly talking over the interviewer.
As well as your research, have your CV, covering letter and the job description in front of you. Often in an interview situation nerves can get the better of you and you might forget key information. Many times candidates walk out of an interview kicking themselves for not mentioning a certain experience or skill. In a telephone interview though, you can eliminate this regret. Have a structure in your mind for the conversation that is about to take place. I would suggest drawing up a note of the key points you want to make, as well as questions you need to ask.
Finally, always give yourself plenty of time and space – there is nothing more unprofessional than conducting a phone interview while you are rushing to be somewhere, or in a noisy environment. Some people may only be able to do these interviews during office hours, which makes things more difficult as you can’t go home. But even going to a quiet road can suffice, and you will find that a quick stroll just prior to the interview will clear your head.
The important thing is not to let the conversation wander or go off at a tangent as that will be a waste of everyone’s time and effort. I would still advise breaking the ice with some very brief small talk – and this is where your background research on the interviewer could be useful – but stay absolutely focused on the main reason for the interview.
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