Phone Interview Tips UK: How to Prepare and Succeed

With so many applicants chasing each job in recent years, the phone interview has become an increasingly popular tool with employers. But how should you approach the phone based interview?

It won’t matter what you wear or whether you maintain good eye contact- important factors in a face to face interview– so how can you impress your prospective employer when they are at the end of a phone line?

Here are some top tips for getting your point across at a distance:

Scheduled or unannounced?

The first thing to establish is whether the time of the phone interview will be pre-arranged (scheduled) or the call will come at any time (unannounced). Scheduled interviews are much easier to deal with. You know when the call will take place and you will also probably have an idea of how long the interview will last. Unscheduled interviews are trickier to handle.

Many candidates feel that if the interviewer calls at an inconvenient time they should still attempt to complete the interview. This is not the case. Most prospective employers will understand if you are not in a position to talk to them right away and will recognise this as a professional approach. Make an arrangement to call them back so that you can give the interview the attention it deserves. Whether the interview is scheduled or unannounced, keep your phone with you at all times and always answer it in a professional manner.

Planning and preparation

Do your research as you would for a conventional interview. Find out as much as you can about the company, its senior management, its ethos and the competencies associated with the job you have applied for. Keep this information to hand during the interview- you don’t have to memorise it as you would for a face to face interview as they won’t be able to see your notes!

Also think about potential questions they may ask and prepare draft answers. Be ready to deliver your answers as the thinking time you have in a face to face interview can become an awkward silence when on the phone!

On the day

Find somewhere quiet, private and comfortable to conduct the interview. Try to avoid somewhere with background noise or other distractions- you want to be able to focus exclusively on what is being asked. Listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying- they will usually start the conversation with some scene setting. Take note of what they say as this may be useful later on.

Ensure your voice is audible and speak at a speed which can be easily understood. Drink plenty of water as this reduces the likelihood of needing to clear your throat. Sit up straight and smile when you speak- your tone will sound much warmer and more positive. Using active listening responses such as ‘right’, ‘ok’ and ‘mmm’ throughout the interview will also help the flow and make the interview feel more natural.

It can be difficult to gauge whether you have provided enough information in response to questions when being interviewed on the phone- the visual clues you would get face to face just aren’t there. If you aren’t sure if your answers are long enough, ask the interviewer if you’ve answered the question fully.

If you need more information on the next stages in the recruitment process be sure and ask for it. End the interview on a positive note thanking the interviewer for the call and confirming your continued interest in the position.

For more information at succeeding with phone interviews and webcam interviews read here.