Telephone Interview Preparation
By Marty Robinson, CTC, CPC, President, Travel Career Network, Ltd.

A telephone interview is normally based upon a request by the employer who wishes to personally screen the candidate by a telephone conversation before proceeding with a formal face-to-face meeting. This is simply a convenient way for the employer to quickly and efficiently target his area of interest in the candidate's background, and is routinely used by our out of town clients.

The candidate should consider that a telephone interview is just as important as a personal interview and prepare for it just as one would a formal one. Your goal is to arouse the interest of the employer to the extent that he, at some point in the phone conversation, states that he is interested in seeing you in person! This may be set up during the phone conversation or through the recruiter when he is de-briefing the employer. It is very important that you call the recruiter with feedback as soon as possible after the phone interview so that he is informed when speaking with the employer.

Since a telephone interview is normally brief it is essential for the candidate to listen to each question posed by the employer and answer it as fully and completely as possible. Realize that if an employer targets a specific area of skill or experience, that specific area is his prime area of concern at that time. Use brief incidents to illustrate your points, as this will help your responses stick in the employer's mind after the conversation. Although the focus is on the questions by the employer, the candidate should attempt to determine some preliminary information about the position involved (e.g., major responsibilities) - just enough so that the candidate shows enough interest in the opportunity to secure a personal interview with the employer.

Remember to use all your interviewing skills such as smiling when you speak, sitting alertly, focusing on the interviewer, etc. Your attitude comes across in your voice, so make sure your phone interview is a professional as your in-person one will be. Try to find an appropriate setting and time so that you are not disturbed during the conversation. Once it appears that the interview is coming to a close (unless the employer has indicated that a personal interview will be arranged), you may properly inquire: "What is the next step?" or "Where do we go from here?" In telephone interviews (as in personal interviews), the follow-up is essential - after you call your recruiter with interview feedback, send a thank-you note to the employer.