5 Ways To Leave a Good Impression on a Job Interview Phone Call

I’ve seen a recent trend to give phone interviews for the start of the entire candidate selection process. This is a good thing. You don’t want to drive all the way across town if the job’s not a good fit for you, and likewise the company doesn’t want you driving all the way across town spending an hour or two if you’re just not a good fit.

Tone and tune up your phone skills.

So, starting off with the phone interview is a pretty good idea for both parties. And hey, you save gas! However, there are quite a few things you need to keep in mind to make sure that you are impressive and professionally relevant when it comes to a phone interview for your next career hunt. Here are five ways to ensure you’re on the right path.

Way One: Have A Professional Voicemail Message

I understand the funny voicemail messages from the 90’s sitcoms set off a wonderful trend to entertain everybody. However, when you’re looking for a job it’s time to change that. It’s time to go to the nice, pleasant, but maybe boring, “Hello, you’ve reached Billy Joe.

Please leave your name your number and a short message and I’ll call you back as soon as I can. Bye.” That’s it, go ahead and change that now because you don’t want anything goofy getting in the way of your next job.

Way Two: Do Not Answer The Call

If you’re not ready, you don’t know who it is, you’re not sure which position it is because you applied to so many, or any other thing that involves wishy-washiness, don’t answer the call. They’re use to it. They’re going to leave a message that gives you all the information you need to prepare to call them back with an effective plan.

You’re going to figure out which company it is, which position it is, it’s going to buy you time calm down, refresh your mind on the posting and do a little bit of extra research on the company before you call back. Chances are, it’s just to schedule a phone interview.

However it might be the interview right then and there. So take the time, rather that’s a couple of hours or until the next day, but take the time to prepare properly. Let them know that you’re interested and do things the right way.

Way Three: Pick Your Environment

If anyone has a phone interview at their desk, or in the break room, they really deserve what’s coming to them. You need to make sure that you do this off the clock because you don’t want to violate any time charging policies and it’s just not right.

You want to make sure that you’re in a comfortable environment that you won’t be constantly distracted in, and that you’ll have great focus for relatively difficult conversation that you’re going to have ahead. This may mean driving to an empty parking lot during your lunch break, having the A/C on blast for an hour, or any other number of things that set you up for success. Get your environment right. That’s the last thing you need getting in the way. Because it’s something you can control for the most part.

Way Four: Do Not Ramble

Be on point when you’re answering questions, when you’re talking about your qualities and when you’re figuring out rather or not this is really what you want, keep it simple, keep it concise, keep it to the point. And I’m done with that one.

Way Five: Beware Of Drops

If you know you’re in a dead zone, or you know that your phone constantly drops, and all you have is a cell phone, you might want to find a place, or a home or a friend that will allow you to use their phone because you do not want a phone conversation dropped in the middle.

Yes, they’re use to it, yes it happens, it’s fine. However, when you’re on a roll the last thing you want to worry about is “oh hello, hello, sorry, sorry I missed your phone call. Oh no, no let’s go back and forth.” It just sets the mood off to the wrong step and it gets in the way. It’s something you can control for the most part so get it out of the way.

Impress Well and Speak to Your Advantage

Make sure you leave a good impression with the interviewer and everyone involved for your next job phone interview. The five tips you just heard will set you off on the right path.

When you have a professional voice mail message, you answer the call when you’re ready, you pick your environment, you do not ramble and you beware of technical logical problems, they you are on the right track to making sure that this phone interview will be a good move for your career development.

Take these tips to heart, get out there do it right and have a great adventure!