You’ve probably heard countless tips on preparing for job interviews. A lot of the focus tends to be on wearing the right thing, maintaining eye contact and showing up early. But what if you’re scheduled for a phone interview? For a lot of people, phone interviews  take a lot of the anxiety out of the process. You don’t have to worry about what to wear, how to find the office or what traffic will be like. But phone interviews require just as much preparation as an in-person interview. Perhaps more, because the focus is always on the conversation. How to prepare for a phone interview.  Let’s dive into it.

Focus:

One advantage of an in-person interview is that there are no distractions. At home, you might get a little too comfortable, since the interviewer can’t see you. To combat this, sit at a desk or table, and sit up straight. Resist the urge to turn on the tv or browse the internet. You need to give it 100%, just like if you were sitting in the office being interviewed.

Keep Notes Handy:

One major advantage of a phone interview is that you can have any information you need at your fingertips. If you often get nervous during interviews and forget your prepared answers, a phone interview is ideal. You can keep a pen and piece of paper nearby or a Word document pulled up with any notes you’ve made for yourself. And speaking of notes, take them! While the interviewer is talking, take notes and remember to ask questions. This is an opportunity to prove that while you have great ideas, you’re also a good listener.

Treat it Like Any Other Interview:

A phone interview may seem like a chance to take things easy. It’s nice to not have to worry about all those little extra things that make going to an interview so stressful. But it’s important that you take it as seriously as any other interview. This is most likely the company’s first contact with you, so make it count. Be confident, articulate and professional. Don’t dominate the conversation, but do answer questions to the best of your ability—and ask the interviewer your thoughtful, purposeful questions. And just like with any interview, research the company (and, if possible, the interviewer) beforehand. Good luck!

If you need help preparing for the interview, reach out to Charlotte’s most trusted career experts at TalentBridge today!