SARA CURTO
  • Career Coaching
    • Meet Sara >
      • Blog
      • Let's Connect
    • WORK WITH ME
    • EMPLOYERS >
      • Career Transition & Outplacement Coaching
      • Executive & Leadership Coaching
  • Author
    • Sara Curto - Author
    • Sara Curto - Books
  • FREEBIES
    • Free FIND YOUR DREAM JOB Guide
    • The Official Get Promoted Guide
  • The Hired & Happy Program

Written Words

Mastering the phone interview

8/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
People always talk about the resume and the face to face interview but they often forget about a key step in the process - the phone interview.  It is now pretty commonplace for a corporate recruiter/talent acquisition specialist to call a short list of candidates to conduct a telephone prescreen.  Also when working with agency recruiters, they tend to do most of their interviewing over the phone.  So knowing how to act and present yourself in a professional and open manner over the telephone is necessary for success.
​​
What to Expect

First of all, not all telephone interviews are preplanned. There are times when a recruiter will pick up the phone and call so be prepared to be caught off guard!  If it isn't a good time (you are at work, driving or home with noisy kids) do not be afraid to ask to schedule a better time.  When you are distracted you are not able to give it your all and the background noises will distract the recruiter from giving you their undivided attention both resulting in a decreased liklihood of you getting asked in for a face to face!

The phone prescreen is usually about 15-30 minutes in length with the recruiter going through your resume and asking specific skills based questions.  They may touch base on why you applied, your salary expectations and your availability.

Keys to Success

Some of these will sound silly and common sense, but you would be surprised how often we forget them!
  1. Treat the phone interview like a face to face interview.
  2. Take the call in a quiet and distraction free area.
  3. Go into the call prepared - go to the washroom, get a glass of water, dress for success (doesn't have to be a suit but in comfortable clothes).
  4. Have your documents (resume, job description, list of questions) and blank paper laid out on a table nearby.  Don't pile them because then you will need to rifle with them which is a distraction!
  5. Ask questions!  
  6. Finish professionally - thank them for their time, express your increased interest.  Send a thank you email within 24-48 hours.

Did you miss this article?  Sign up for my newsletter to get all my articles straight to your inbox in my weekly newsletter where you also get access to "Insider Tips", first crack at FREE resources and extra discounts.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Sara Curto is the career coach that has helped 600+ people find their dream job, where they work less, make more and finally feel happy & fulfilled doing work they love.

    Free: how to find your dream job guide

    Picture
    Click HERE to grab the free guide 

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017

    Categories

    All
    Career Change
    Career Development
    Coaching
    Confidence
    Create Connections
    Find Your Way
    Get Noticed
    Goal Setting
    Interviewing
    Interview Questions
    Interview Tips
    Introspection
    Introvert
    Job Search
    LinkedIn
    Marketing Plan
    MBTI
    Motivation
    Networking
    Q&A
    Resume
    Sara's Story
    Social Media
    Success Series
    TED Talks
    Writing Samples

    RSS Feed

sara curto, certified career & leadership coach

WORK LESS. MAKE MORE. FINALLY BE HAPPY & FULFILLED DOING WORK YOU LOVE

Photo from Amanjeev
  • Career Coaching
    • Meet Sara >
      • Blog
      • Let's Connect
    • WORK WITH ME
    • EMPLOYERS >
      • Career Transition & Outplacement Coaching
      • Executive & Leadership Coaching
  • Author
    • Sara Curto - Author
    • Sara Curto - Books
  • FREEBIES
    • Free FIND YOUR DREAM JOB Guide
    • The Official Get Promoted Guide
  • The Hired & Happy Program