Most employers nowadays ask for phone interviews at the initial stages in order to quickly shortlist candidates. Instead of spending the time and resources needed to bring you in for a face to face interview, they will want to see (actually hear) if you give them a reason to eliminate your name from the list. This is your first contact with the company. Therefore you have to work much harder to make sure you portray yourself as enthusiastic, capable and possess the skills they are looking for in a candidate.A phone interview is a pre-screening, so make sure you have all the information you need at hand. Have with you:

• your CV
• a copy of your application letter/form
• the job advertisement/ job description
• pen and paper to make notes

5 Points to Help You Prepare For a Phone Interview

1. Take it as seriously as a face to face interview

Even though a phone interview may sound casual, don’t be fooled. It is still an interview. Take it seriously! Take your time to prepare, just as you would for a face to face interview. The interviewer will know if you are not prepared even if they are not seeing you. Ensure that you have the time, concentration and freedom from interruption so as to give a decent performance. When your interview is first scheduled, make sure you set aside time before the interview to prepare for it.

Ensure your phone is fully charged and that it is in good condition. The interviewer will not understand such excuses as…”ngoja kidogo nicharge simu” or “ngoja kidogo nibadilishe simu coz earpiece ni Mbaya” or wacha nitafute network kwanza”. This is because you are expected to be prepared well in advance as you will have been notified of the time of the phone interview in advance. The interviewer expects you to be ready.

2. Cut out all distractions

Ensure that you are not distracted during the interview. If you are at home turn off the TV and inform everyone that you are expecting a call. If possible get into an empty room and close the door.

Nobody wants to ask you about your work history and hear ‘Afrosinema continues shortly’in the background. Interviewers can tell if you are distracted from how you speak. Don’t lay down on the couch either. Find a place where you can sit upright as the wrong posture will have an effect on how you speak.

3. Research the company

As soon as a phone interview is scheduled, do some research about the company. This is because chances are you have sent applications to more than one company and it is always good to know a bit about the interviewing company.

Read about the company by checking its website.  Google them to see how they are doing and what they do. You can also check their company profile on LinkedIn. This allows you to tailor your answers to fit the kind of person they are looking for.  Remember to keep your answers honest, thoughtful and reflective

4. Listen

This is a good opportunity for you to show your potential employer that you are a good listener. Just like in a face to face interview, it is the interviewer who sets the pace for the conversation. Do not dominate the conversation as this will portray you as a know-it-all.

Answer the questions clearly and as much as possible avoid one word answers. Stick to the questions asked and do not go off topic. Answer questions in a calm composed manner and avoid being argumentative

Write down notes and questions to ask at the end of the phone interview.

Pause for a second or two between the interviewer asking you a question and when you start giving your answer. This will give you a chance to think about you answer and will prevent you from cutting off the interviewer mid-sentence.

5. Ask questions

Towards the end of the interview, you will always be given a chance to ask questions. Ask questions that will help you get information about the different aspects of the job as this will help you make an informed decision about the job.
Ask follow up questions as this demonstrates your genuine interest in the company and shows that you were attentive during the phone interview.

Prepare questions about the areas that weren’t covered in the job description in advance and ask for clarifications at this point. However, remember to keep your questions short, clear and above all relevant to the job.

Ensure that you end your phone interview on a positive note and remember to thank the interviewer for taking their time to talk to you and let the interviewer know that you enjoyed the phone interview.

Have a blessed week ahead!