The Second Impression You Make: The Phone Interview
If you are in the job search mode, and have sent your resume out to the universe, remember THAT when you answer your phone! If you passed the 1st impression test (and your resume got noticed), you might be getting calls from potential employers…so be polite and professional when you answer that phone! Some additional simple rules to help you through this very important step:
1) Make sure your voice mail message is PROFESSIONAL. That can be accomplished quite simply by stating your name and a “please leave a message” statement. Do NOT record music – if you want to send a message to your boyfriend, TALK TO HIM, don’t tell him what you are feeling by leaving a song on your phone as your voice message.
2) Keep a copy of the resume you sent out RIGHT BY YOUR phone. If you did not include the dates on your resume (we’ll cover that in another post), have the dates on the resume that you are keeping by your phone. You will be asked about those “missing” dates during a phone interview. If you stumble and seem unsure of yourself over the phone, you won’t be called in for an in-person interview (see that posting).
3) Take notes on what the person is saying.
4) Don’t interrupt the person; let him/her say what she is calling to say and then answer any questions or make any statements.
5) If you have dogs barking, children playing, or wine glasses breaking in the fireplace behind you, move to another room to take the call.
6) Even if you don’t think you want the job, go on the in-person interview anyway; it will be great practice for you for when the time comes and your ideal potential employer calls you in for an interview.
7) Send a thank-you note after the phone interview (see that posting).
Getting noticed through your resume is the first impression you make. Once you’ve accomplished that, you’ll get a phone call to either schedule an in-person interview or to answer some questions right then and there – the moment you answer the call. We’ve had many clients over the years who have gotten hired right after their over-the-phone interview! What you say and how you say it over the phone is just as important as if you were meeting with that person at his/her office. If you’d like to do a mock interview to practice your answers, call us and we’ll do that for you! (216) 475-2963
