Acing the Telephone Interview

Part One

When you get a clear understanding of an employer's needs, with questions like these, you can seize the opportunity to sell yourself appropriately, "Would it be of value if I described my experience in the area of office management?" or "Then my experience in word processing should be a great help to you," or "I recently completed an accounting project just like that, would it be relevant to discuss it?"

When you identify an employer's imminent challenges and demonstrate how your skills can lessen the load, you portray yourself as properly focused with a problem solving mentality, and move immediately closer to a face-to-face interview; everyone hires a problem solver.

You can also keep up your end of the conversation, by giving verbal signals that you are engaged in the conversation; you do this with occasional short interjections that don't interrupt the employers flow but let him know that you are paying attention, phrases like "Uh huh," "that's interesting!" "Okay." "Great, " "yes, yes." These are verbal equivalents of the body language techniques you'll use to show interest during a face-to-face meeting.

Always speak directly into the telephone, with the mouthpiece about one inch from your mouth. Numbered among the mystical properties of telephone technology is its excellence at picking up and amplifying background noise. This is excelled only by its power to transmit the sounds of food and gum being chewed, or smoke being inhaled and exhaled. Smokers take note: Nonsmokers naturally discriminate, they will assume that even if you don't actually light up at the interview, you'll have been chain-smoking beforehand and will carry the smell with you as long as you are around. Taking no chances, they probably won't even give you a chance to get through the door once they hear you puffing away over the phone.

You should take notes when possible, they will be invaluable if the employer is interrupted, you can jot down the topic under discussion, then when he or she gets back on the line, you helpfully recap: "We were just discussing . . ." This will be appreciated and show that you are organized and paying attention; your notes will also help you prepare for the face-to-face meeting.

The company representative may talk about the corporation, and from your research or the website on your screen, you may also know something about the outfit. A little flattery goes a long way, so admire a company's achievements, when you can, and by inference you admire the interviewer. Likewise, if any areas of common interest arise, comment on them, and agree with the interviewer when reasonably possible—people usually hire people like themselves.

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