News & Press

June 23, 2003

« Previous | Return to Main | List All | Next »

Geri Koeppel & Andrew Long
Tribune

Long-distance charisma

Preparing for interviews is a job in itself. But when the first interview is over the telephone, there’s an added layer of work. Linda Baugh , owner of American Career Executives in Phoenix, said she always urges job seekers to push for meeting in person because "the face-to-face contact is so much more impactful." But she has noticed that more companies are conducting interviews with out-of-town job candidates on the phone rather than flying them in. "The budgets just aren’t there," she said.

If you can afford a plane ticket, offer to pay for your own flight to visit the company, Baugh said. If not, put in extra effort to make a good first impression on the phone.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Record your voice. Using your voice mail system or a tape recorder, assess your voice before the interview: Are you speaking too fast or not fast enough? Are you speaking clearly? Are you speaking loudly enough (or too loudly)?

Remember, never talk with food or gum in your mouth. Ask your spouse, a family member or friend to listen to the recording and give tips, too.

2. Ask questions before the call. Find out to whom you will be speaking and know how to pronounce the person’s name. There may be more than one person on the line, so get everyone’s name and title.

Find out if everyone is in the same room on speaker phone or if it’s a conference call with people at different locations.

Send each person a separate copy of your resume on high-quality paper. Never send a picture — it doesn’t do any good, and it could get used as a dartboard (or worse).

3. Make sure the house is quiet. Turn off the radio and TV, and be sure pets and children will not disrupt.

4. Use a plug-in headset and stand up throughout the interview. "You’re going to have your full vocal quality, you’re going to have plenty of air and you’re going to feel more energized," Baugh said.

5. Smile when talking. "A smile, strange as it sounds," Baugh said, "does come through on the phone."

6. Use the 5-5-5 rule. Write down five points you know about the company; five intelligent questions to ask about the company, the position for which you’re applying and the department; and five points you want them to know about you before hanging up.

7. Don’t talk money, even if the interviewer brings it up. "That is used to eliminate candidates," Baugh said. "The more time and resources the company invests in a candidate, the better their chances of getting hired."

If they ask how much you expect to earn, Baugh suggests saying, "Actually, money is secondary. Let’s see if I’m the right person for the job, and if I am, I’m certain the money will fall into place." Then quickly ask them a question.

8. Keep it professional. The first question is usually, "Tell me about yourself," so prepare a brief speech outlining your work history, not an autobiography detailing your favorite foods or your hobbies.

9. Don’t use slang or profanity. It seems obvious, but Baugh said people who are in the habit of using cuss words must remind themselves to behave. And don’t use "Oh, my God" or "Jesus" as interjections.

10. Follow up in writing. Send each person with whom you interviewed a hard copy (not e-mail) of a letter thanking them for the opportunity to speak with them.

Start NOW To Improve Your Results!
Click Here to Complete Your Confidential Career Profile