NavigateNavigate your way through a your way through a Phone InterviewPhone Interview

By: By: Lynn AmorusoLynn Amoruso

Career NavigationCareer Navigation

Congratulations!

Congratulations on receiving a phone interview invitation. It’s an important opportunity to launch the journey to your career’s next home port.

Before Setting SailBefore Setting Sail

Once you’ve established the Once you’ve established the time, time, date, and person date, and person (with correct (with correct

spelling of the first & last name, and spelling of the first & last name, and title) with whom you’ll be speaking, title) with whom you’ll be speaking, as well as who’s to initiate the call, as well as who’s to initiate the call,

it’s time to get underway.it’s time to get underway.

Here are 4 travel tips Here are 4 travel tips that will be helpful:that will be helpful:

Research the DestinationResearch the Destination

Do you know why the position is Do you know why the position is open?open?

Talk with people you may know who Talk with people you may know who are already within the company, such are already within the company, such as fellow Alumni, ex-coworkers, as fellow Alumni, ex-coworkers, contacts on LinkedIn, etc.contacts on LinkedIn, etc.

Read up on current press releases Read up on current press releases and news about the company and its and news about the company and its hiring managerhiring manager

Prepare for the JourneyPrepare for the Journey• Write well thought-out questions

• Practice your dialogue in front of a mirror with the phone in hand

• Cheat Sheet – Summary Reference Points

Tools for the JourneyTools for the Journey

Dress for the interview as if you were showing up at the Dress for the interview as if you were showing up at the officeoffice

Get your adrenaline going ahead of time, even if it Get your adrenaline going ahead of time, even if it means doing jumping jacks or running in placemeans doing jumping jacks or running in place

Have a writing tablet at the ready to take notes with Have a writing tablet at the ready to take notes with plenty of pens & a glass of waterplenty of pens & a glass of water

Ensure an uninterrupted interview Ensure an uninterrupted interview quiet private location is a must quiet private location is a must if able, use a landlineif able, use a landline cell phonescell phones

charged phonecharged phone clear phone receptionclear phone reception

Set the “Scene”Set the “Scene”

Annunciate clearly, speak slowly with Annunciate clearly, speak slowly with confidence, and smile when appropriateconfidence, and smile when appropriate

Mirror the interviewer’s tone of voice and Mirror the interviewer’s tone of voice and rate of speech to gain rapportrate of speech to gain rapport

Remember your accomplishments that Remember your accomplishments that will add valuewill add value

Successful ChecklistSuccessful Checklist

• Summarize your strengths based on Summarize your strengths based on interviewer’s commentsinterviewer’s comments

• Ask about any perceived weakness Ask about any perceived weakness (such as no direct industry experience)(such as no direct industry experience)

• Bring up the next steps – such as Bring up the next steps – such as meeting other members of the teammeeting other members of the team

• Send a handwritten ‘Thank You’ noteSend a handwritten ‘Thank You’ note• Call your Recruiter to “debrief”Call your Recruiter to “debrief”

The sky is clear, it’s time The sky is clear, it’s time to set sail…to set sail…

Without these four key steps, Without these four key steps, you’ll never leave your portyou’ll never leave your port