Today, I wanted to share with you some of the best tips and advice I have ever received to successfully prepare for a phone interview. Most of them come from professional and experts in recruitment, but some are also personal ones that I have accumulated through the years. By using these tips and tricks, I have honestly found myself more relaxed and prepared to face phone interviews.
Know your CV
Although a bit simplistic, knowing your CV by heart does make a difference. To improve your own personal branding, refer back to your CV during your interview, using the same phrases and key words if possible.
Know your cover letter
In the same logic, it is very important to know your cover letter well. If you are job hunting like me, you might have written dozens of cover letters, tailoring each one of them to the position you are applying for. Having in mind which of your experiences, skills and education history you have highlighted for a specific role is crucial.
Know your sector
Think about the bigger picture, where does this company fit in the industry? If it is within education, trade or academic publishing, the landscape is very different, and you should be aware of it, and be able to demonstrate this understanding to your recruiter. There comes some essential research that you should conduct before your interview. Study what recent innovations have been introduced to your sector, and who might be the key players within it at the moment – you’ll then be able to identify potential competitors on the market. Identify why you feel strongly about this side of the industry, why it is different? It is always useful to have a few quotes in mind that reflect your mentality, maybe even some relevant statistics (e.g. market share, sales volumes).
Know the company
That is by far the most important part of preparing well for any interview. A candidate without any understanding of the company is definitely not appealing and does suggest a lack of enthusiasm for the role. There are many places you can look out for, start with their website, then you can extend your research to their various social media channels for precious and recent information.
Know the job description
You have to demonstrate to your interviewer that you care about this position, even if it was your fiftieth job application. The best way to do that is to refer back to the job description using some of their keywords. By understanding the position better, you will be better prepared to sell yourself, and identify where your personality and experiences fit their requirements and desirables.
Know the relevant tools, software and jargon
Some roles come alongside requirements/desirables for candidates to be confident using certain tools and software. If you have the knowledge and competency, be prepared to demonstrate it: do you have any way to describe how you have used the software in the past? If you do not have an extensive understanding of a specific tool, it is also fine, but do some research around it; you should be familiar with the jargon around it and know how it fits within the company’s global strategy.
Know your recruiter
It is always less scary to talk to someone on the phone if you can picture who they are better. I find it very interesting to know how my interviewer ended up in his/her current role and what is his/her career history. This may also answer some of your question, or trigger some that you could ask at the end of your interview. I find it relatively easy, through LinkedIn or various social channels, to research basic information such as my interviewer’s favourite genre, author or book, or even what list he/she is working on.
Know yourself
How do your qualifications and experiences match with their need? You should be able to justify this by giving example on how you achieved tasks and projects in your previous roles. If you don’t have any experience yet, think about transferable skills or school projects that gave you similar experiences. Additionally, jot down some of your interests – book related and other ones too.
Know how to ask
Never end the conversation without asking a few questions, it shows your interest and willingness to learn more about your potential future company. However, never ask something that could be easily found with a quick Google search. Ideally, ask role-specific questions that only your recruiter can answer. A few great examples that I was given are the following:
What are the next steps in the recruitment process? (Note that some interviewers might go through it themselves)
What is the management style? (Especially valuable when companies are still working remotely)
Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with? (You can then research potential future colleagues)
Is there any potential for training or progression? (Great question if you have applied for a FTC or temp role)
I strongly advise you to write down on paper what you consider is most relevant to you, and highlight key points you are likely to need during the interview. Additionally, make your CV and cover letter easily accessible on your computer (if you don't have print versions) and have the job description and company’s website available too. I rarely go through them during an interview, but I feel more comfortable having the option in front of me if I need a quick glimpse. Due to more than normal stress during the interview, I easily forget some information about my career history or the company I am talking to. It would be useful to have an additional piece of paper for you to jot down quick information that the recruiter might give you – especially key dates or important names.
Straight after the interview, I advise you to write down how you feel in the heat of the moment. It is very easy to forget about it once it is over, and then have trouble remembering some of your main take-aways from the experience. It can be what you did well (give yourself some credit), or not, and might need to improve for a next interview.
I am still on the learning curve of being a great interviewee/candidate myself, but I sincerely hope that this honest and structured post will help a few of you.
One question remains a total mystery for me, do recruiters really ask you about your weaknesses? I have never been asked that question before. Have you?