By michael vivar
COVID lockdowns and subsequent hybrid schedules made it apparent many in-office obligations can be handled remotely. This includes interviews.
Many interviews are now conducted via the many popular video conferencing apps such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Some hiring managers are old school and still hold interviews over the phone. If this is unfamiliar territory, here are seven tips to succeed in phone interviews.
There's a bromide, "To be forewarned is to be forearmed." Do a deep dive into the prospective employer. Interviewers will be impressed by the effort.
It's never safe to assume a small applicant pool and no possibility for confusion. Call to confirm an interview the day before to ensure no one's time is wasted.
If an estimated duration for the interview is provided, double it. Prematurely ending the meeting gives a negative impression of disinterest.
Ambient noise and other distractions can lead to miscommunication. Avoid taking an interview for a new job at the site of a current employer.
Unless it's explicitly stated, any interview can't be assured to be the final one. Notes will help refer to salient points from previous conversations.
If asked about compensation, give a range (e.g. $90,000 - $100,000). Emphasize being flexible regarding payment negotiations.
This may not be obvious to those inexperienced with phone interviews. A relaxed, amiable demeanor is conveyed over the phone as well as it is in person.