Record yourself and donít say, ìTo make a long story shortî before rambling, says online recruiter, WallStJobs.com.
To handle the increased numbers of candidates who are looking for positions, companies are increasingly using phone interviews to decide who they will bring in for an in-house meeting says Robert Graber, founder of WallStJobs.com. ìPhone screening makes it easier for firms to reduce the number of face-to-face interviews, thereby speeding their employment cycle. That is why it is more important than ever to fine tune your phone skills.î
Graber offered some suggestions to successfully make this increasingly common first-cut. ìListen to yourself on calls. Are you enunciating well? Do you say ëlikeí or ëyou knowí as filler in your conversation? Would you hire yourself based on your speech pattern?î
In preparation for a phone interview, Graber advises the following:
- Donít use a cell phone.
- Pull up the company web site on your computer in advance of the call.
- Never put the caller on hold. Defeat call-waiting. Mute the ringer.
- Keep your resume in reach.
- Write down the names of those on the call as soon as you hear them (use a pad and pencil to avoid key-taps which can be distracting and might be interpreted as a lack of attention).
- Listen to questions, donít interrupt. Avoid clich expressions such as, ìto make a long story short.î
- If you think you are talking too much, you probably are.
- When ending, ask what is the next step in the process and what the time frame might be.
- Thank everyone by name.
ìWith text messaging becoming so popular, it is easy for anyone to get sloppy about their verbal conversation skills,î Graber says. ìBut with phone screening becoming so important, it pays to practice your telephone presentation and prepare adequately for this ëfacelessí first interview.î
About the company: WallStJobs.com, the premier recruiting source exclusively for financial service professionals, is a member of the Jobosaurus family of uniquely specialized recruiting sites.
Opportunity calls before knocking!
Opportunity calls before knocking! With more people in the job market, companies use phone screening to narrow the field so be sure you are telephone-savvy.
