Tip of the Day Tuesday

Phone Interview Tips

Telephone interviews are used as the first stage in a selection process. A telephone interview will work like a filter, finding the best candidates. Here are just a few tips to ace yours!

1. Prepare a list matching your achievements to the job description. You can use this list during the interview and refer to it at possible opportunities.
2. Find out all you can about the company's products, services, history and more. Familiarize yourself with the company's website and be prepared to comment on it of the topic comes up.
   
3. Review your CV and highlight any areas that the interviewer is likely to want to address.
   
4. Interviewers want to hear about specific challenges or problems you faced in the workplace, the specific actions you took and the measurable results you achieved. Think about giving examples which you used communication skills, analytical skills, teamwork, and so on.
   
5. Don’t speak too quickly, use slang, interrupt or talk over the recruiter and don’t ’um’ and ’err’ too much!
   
6. Use the interviewer’s name regularly throughout the conversation and also use the company name a few times.
7. Be succinct. For most questions a 2-4 minute answer is a good target.
   
8. Have a copy of your CV, the job description and your notes to hand, for quick reference. Jot down key points throughout the course of the interview.
9. Try smiling while you are talking. Studies have shown that this has a positive effect on the person who is listening.
   
10. Have a list of prepared questions available to ask the interviewer once they have asked their questions. This shows an employer that you are serious about the job.
    

Here are a few questions which the interviewer might ask you:

• Can you tell me a little about yourself?
• Why did you apply for this position?
• What are the main responsibilities in your current position?
• What can you bring to this position?
• Why are you leaving your current job?
• What is the most important achievement in your career to date?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you see yourself doing in five years?
• What challenges do you think you will face in this job?
• Please tell me about your salary expectations

Written By: Nikki N, 22-11-2009. To view the original article CLICK HERE