Since the internet sprung into a necessity over being a luxury, online jobs grew popular. It has become the go-to income of many who simply could not fit an office job along with their responsibilities.
The whole process for these online jobs does not include you actually meeting your employer. They ask outputs from you, meet you via video call, or simply call you but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the virtual interviews seriously. These may not involve you physically appearing in front of someone but your phone presence still counts as a factor that will help you land the job or not. There are a couple of things you should take note of when having a phone interview; here are five:
ONE: KNOW THE DETAILS
Once you’ve decided to submit your application to the company, do your research about them. Know what they do, when they started, who owns the company, just so you’re prepared if they ask if you know what you’re getting into. Then, prepare for the call. If they set a schedule, take note of the date and time. Make sure you’re available on that period like you would for a personal interview.
TWO: BRING IN THE ATMOSPHERE
If your phone interview came unscheduled and you are in no place for a phone interview, try and reschedule the interview but if they insist that you continue, immediately transfer to a place where you can hear and be heard clearly. A quiet space with good signal is best. Make sure you sit or stand in a way that projects professionalism, this will reflect in your voice as well.
If you are eating, swallow what you’re currently chewing or put your food away for the meantime. There is nothing more off-putting than hearing the person you’re speaking to chewing while you are talking.
Make sure that wherever you are is free from distraction. It is very common for one to look for something to twirl in your fingers while you talk on the phone but this will take your attention away from the call and it will echo in the way you talk. The interviewer might think you’re uninterested. Concentrate on the conversation as you would in a face-to-face interview.
THREE: TAKE NOTES
Once you’re satisfied with the quality of the call connection and your location, jot down important things that the interviewer mentions (ie their name, the name of the company, their contact email or number etc) so you would no longer need to ask the interviewer again except for clarification.
FOUR: LISTEN WELL, RESPOND BETTER
Listen intently to what they say. Make sure they are done speaking before you answer. Keep your responses short but complete; do not overshare. Once the interviewer asks you a question, just answer simply and then elaborate when asked to.
Stay calm. When you’re anxious and nervous, it reflects in your voice. You tend to say a lot of verbal fillers and end sentences with a question mark. Breathe, convince yourself to stay calm and smile as you speak but not too much.
FIVE: STICK THE LANDING
Stay focused and try not to wrap up the interview with a “love you” because you’re just too used to ending most of your calls like that. Accidentally saying that indicates that your mind is elsewhere. Concentrate on closing well with a “thank you so much for your time, bye” short and sweet makes the ends meet.
Once you’re done with your interview, be patient. Do not constantly pester your interviewer with the status of your application. If they give you a time frame, follow that and wait. Once it exceeds the time frame, go ahead and send them an email asking about your application. Remember to stay polite and professional and not sound like an angry goose chasing its unwilling victim.
Keep these in mind and you’ll be able to conduct a smooth phone interview. Good luck!
