10 Tips to Get You Through a Phone Screen Interview

The interview is your opportunity to showcase how your experience, skills, and personality match up to the needs of a potential employer.  That’s tough.  But what is that first interview is actually a phone screen.  We’ve pulled together our top 10 tips to help you nail your next  next phone interview and get you to the next step—a face-to-face interview.  

1. Make sure your phone connection is clear and strong.  If you’re using your cell phone, make sure you’re not picking up static.  (VoIP and Skype are also prone to interference.)
2. Find a quiet, private place.  Find a place where you can focus on the interview and without distractions.
3. Prepare for the inevitable questions. Behavioral interviewing has become the norm.  Instead of asking you if you posses certain qualities, interviewers will ask you to tell them about situations that display your skills, knowledge, etc.  We’ve got the most common questions and answers.
4. Get to the point. Because you don’t have the interviewer’s expression to tell you when to stop, you need to make sure you’re clear and concise.  To help you stay on point, jot down a few bullets that answer the behavioral questions above.  Once you’ve gotten through your points, stop.
5. Focus on accomplishments.  What were you responsible for achieving? Make sure to quantify your responses whenever possible.
6. Listen. Don’t get ahead of the conversation.  This can be especially hard on cell phones as there can be a delay.  Wait a few beats before responding to make sure your interviewer got their whole question or statement out.
7. Smile and show enthusiasm. Facial expressions translate over the phone, so smile and relax.  Your entire tone will change and you’ll be more convincing as you show them that you are excited about the opportunity.
8. Ask the right questions.  When it’s your turn to ask questions, know ahead of time what to ask.  If it’s the first interview, avoid talking about pay or benefits unless the interviewer asked you about them.  Your questions should make it clear that you are interested in the job and company.
9. End on the right note.  Don’t forget to close the deal.  Ask about next steps, what else you can address for the recruiter or hiring manager.  If you setup another interview, ask about the format, more information on the position, etc.
10. Follow up appropriately.  Don’t forget to send a thank you note to the interviewer.  It’s a great way to keep you top-of-mind when your prospective employer is thinking about who to call in for the next round of interviews.