These days, phone interviews
are an unavoidable part of the job interview process, and for good
reason: They save everyone involved time and effort. But that doesn’t
mean that phoners require zero energy on the part of the candidate. Yes,
you should spend more time preparing for an in-person interview, but
many companies treat phone screens
as the official first round of the hiring process. That means
candidates are expected to go into them prepared with as much
information about the company, position, and their own skills and
strengths as possible.
We asked HR pros about their top phone interview pet peeves,
they had no shortage of advice to offer. Apparently, it’s quite easy to
mess up your phone interview. But here’s the thing; it’s also not hard
to come across well if you keep some key things in mind.
1. Never Take The Interview Somewhere Noisy
It might seem like common sense, but
you’d be surprised what interviewers say they can hear in the background
of their phone interviews—everything from barking dogs to screaming
children. “Prepare for the interview by securing a quiet space in
advance, even if it means escaping to your car parked in the garage,”
advises Chere Taylor, founder of Fulcrum HR Consulting.
“If you can lock your home office door, by all means do it. We’ve all
been there and sometimes things just happen, but the more time spent
anticipating what could go wrong, the better prepared and organized you
will appear to the interviewer and the greater likelihood of success.”
That doesn’t mean that if your washing machine beeps once in the
background all hope is lost, but the more effort you put into being in a
quiet place, the more focused you’ll be.
3. Resist The Urge to Multitask
It might be tempting to cross something
off your to-do list while on a phone interview, but recruiters and
hiring managers can easily tell if your attention is elsewhere. “My
number one pet peeve is people who decide to multitask while on the
phone interview,” says Dan Krupansky, Talent Acquisition Manager at PrimePay.
“I have heard candidates washing dishes, making lunch in the microwave,
going for walks, letting their dog out, and grocery shopping during the
interview. I even had one person use the bathroom and flush the toilet
while speaking with me.” Needless to say, this doesn’t reflect well on
your level of interest in the position you’re interviewing for.