Quiet environment. Make sure the environment at your
home or office is clear of other people and extraneous
noise, such as radios, TVs, etc.
Have your resume in front of you
Prepare a list of accomplishments for each of your
positions prior to starting the call—keep this list in
front of you.
Research the company, products, revenues, and other
pertinent industry information.
Prepare questions based on the position’s
responsibilities, goals of the division, cultural style
of the company, or the interviewer’s background, if it
is the hiring manager.
Be on time.
Beginning the Call
Be enthusiastic. The first 15 seconds are crucial and
interest in your voice is key. Just the way you answer
the phone has an impact on the caller. Talk distinctly
and with confidence.
Establish a connection. Ask about the caller’s
experience with the company or mention something you
have read about the company. Also try touching on a
common experience.
Ask for an overview. Once you are comfortable, ask the
interviewer what they are looking for and why the
position is open. If you don’t already have this
information, this will provide you with good information
so you can plan your responses.
During the Call
Know your resume. Don’t assume that the person on the
other end of the phone knows your background or is
familiar with the companies listed on your resume.
Assume that you have to illustrate your entire
background. Make your resume "come alive". Try to
anticipate what a company may ask about your background.
Demonstrate a career plan. The interviewer may start
with the question, "Tell me about yourself." One
approach is to begin by saying, "Let me tell you how and
why I am in my current position". If you have had a
number of other titles at one company, explain how value
you added to the company resulted in promotional
opportunities.
Demonstrate accomplishments. Review a problem that you
turned into a positive situation for each position that
you list. Help the interviewer understand the problem,
your specific role, what path you took to resolve it,
and the final result. Paint a picture. Also, try to
quantify accomplishment in each position (e.g. Increased
sales by X percent; Oversaw budget of $Y).
Address reasons for leaving. Be clear on your reasons
for leaving each position. Almost every interviewer will
ask that question. If you left a job because there was a
conflict in the department or with your supervisor, be
brief about the conflict. Most people don’t enjoy
hearing a long drawn out negative explanation.
Ask questions from the list you prepared. Asking good
questions illustrates that you are already thinking
seriously about the position and joining the company.
Potential employers expect to be asked questions and
welcome opportunities to talk about their companies
and/or their own backgrounds.
Be open to compensation questions. If you are asked, be
specific and precise about the base, bonus, stock
options, car allowance, etc. If asked "What salary are
you looking for to make a change?" A good answer is, "My
current package is a base of $XX.XX and bonus of XX%,
and I am hoping you will make me a fair offer based on
my experience and the value I can bring to your
company." The interviewer will usually not press you for
a specific number if you answer the question in that
manner.
Ending the call
Give up control. The end of the call is always a tricky
thing. A good suggestion is to thank the caller for his
or her time and say that you are interested in the
opportunity. If the interviewer has not asked you about
your schedule or availability, it is a good idea to ask,
"What would the next step be in the process?" Let the
interviewer reestablish control of the interview with
this question.
Confirm information. If you don’t already have it, be
sure to ask for the interviewer's exact title and name
spelling, along with a street or email address, so that
you can send a thank you note. (Ask if the interviewer
uses email regularly before sending one).
