5 Little-Known Factors That Could Affect Your Phone Interview - or How to Get a Second Interview Every Time

More and more employers are opting for phone interviews as a first step in the hiring process. This gives them a chance to fit candidates more easily in to their busy schedule, which can be good for you. Although they’re more personable than a sheet of paper, you still have to work harder to come across as human when you aren’t meeting face-to-face. Here are some kick ass tips on getting that second interview every time:


Prep accordingly
Even though it’s just a phone interview, you should still be doing as much research on your prospective employer as you would if you were going in to the office. Don’t think you’ll have enough time to talk about the company in the span of 15 minutes? Think again. Even one off-handed comment strategically thrown in by you could take you straight from Maybe-sville to the town of Hell Yes.

Iron out the details
Don’t assume that the employer will be calling you. Usually this is the case, but not always. Ask the person setting up the interview who will be initiating the call. Give them the best number to reach you, even if it is already on your resume. If the hiring manager will be initiating the call, ask for the number that the call will be coming from. This saves you from the potentially annoying situation of answering another call from a chatty someone at the wrong unknown number seconds before the scheduled phone interview time.

Stake out a quiet place
Get rid of any of the distractions around your environment. If you’re going to be in the office during the interview and don’t have a way to seal yourself off from the rest of the world, make a fake appointment excuse and take the call from the parking lot of a quiet nearby area. If you work from home, silence any landlines and let the dogs outside for a few minutes.

Tips 4,5, and the complete article