How to Pass a Telephone Interview

In the first instance, an HR Manager may well contact you by telephone in order to have a preliminary discussion concerning your current status, track record, your expectations and desired position.

So when you send your CV, be ready to have a short conversation about your future employment. 

Taking an initial Telephone Interview with a Potential Employer

If you receive a call of this nature when it is not very convenient to talk, just ask the caller to ring you back at a later time. It is always better to minimize background noise when you are talking on the telephone, so try to avoid speaking to the person whilst driving a car or in the company of other colleagues. If you didn’t manage to catch the HR Manager’s name, ask them to repeat it again. Try to be positive and open during the call. One small ruse: smile when you talk. It is a fact that other people will detect a more pleasant tone to your voice if you do.

During the phone interview you have got a chance to find out some important information about the company and the position. For instance, the main responsibilities of the job, the reporting structure, opportunities for career progression, etc.

If you are invited for an interview, write down all the information that you received during the call. For instance, the name of the company, the HR Manager’s name, the details of the meeting and the contact details of the relevant people. Also you can ask to send this information to your e-mail address, along with the details of the vacancy. You can then look through all the information again in preparation for the interview.