How to Stand Out in a Phone Interview

As companies try to cut down on expenses related to bringing in candidates—and also want to streamline the interview process—phone interviews are becoming increasingly common.

For job seekers, phone interviews can have some pros and cons. On the plus side, you don’t need to travel. And there are no wardrobe decisions to make. You can also jot down notes in advance, so you remember your important points.

On the downside, there’s less opportunity to develop a rapport with the interviewer, and you can’t get any clues from their body language or facial expressions about how things are going. 

If you feel you would do better with a face-to-face exchange, maybe you can compromise and ask if the interview could be conducted via Skype.

This article has more tips on making the best of a phone interview. A lot of it is basic common sense, like being prepared in advance and making sure you have a quiet place to talk on the phone. One important thing: since the interviewer can’t read your non-verbal cues, pay particular attention to the tone of your voice. Ideally, you want to sound professional and confident yet also friendly and easy-going.

How do you prepare for a phone interview? Share tips in the comments.

Image courtesy of AndrewWippler