Phone interviews: 5 tips to succeed

They liked your CV. You fit the position. But the recruiter needs some additional information. It's time for the phone interview, the one that sometimes catches us off guard and for which we are the least prepared for. Its aim: allowing the recruiter to test your motivation in relation to the position and the company before meeting you - or not. Here are our best tips for putting all the chances on your side during this first step.

Don’t answer the phone call

Your parents always told you not to talk to strangers, right? This is exactly the same. Once you've started to make several applications, don't answer the phone if you don't know the number. The idea may be counter-intuitive as the person on the other end of the line could very well be a recruiter. Just give them time to leave a message on your voice mail. This will allow you to identify the company and the position for which you are being called. You will then have all the cards in your hand when you call the recruiter back. You won't lose those few precious minutes you would have needed to remember the job in question. 

If you picked up the phone as a reflex or thought you were going to answer the courier, don't panic. Take advantage of the moment when the recruiter asks you “Am I interrupting you?” to say that you are unfortunately not available immediately. Ask for their availability during the day so that you can call them back. Easy as pie. 

Remind them that you are a great candidate 

There's no need to pull out your entire CV, they probably have it in front of them. Be concise and simply remind them of the experience and skills that are directly related to the position you are applying for. 

Don't hesitate to use some support

The advantage of phone interviews is that nobody can see what you are doing. You are therefore perfectly entitled to have the job description in front of you, a memo sheet with the main key points to know about the company, your computer open to a new Google page in case you need to do some lightning research, etc. In short, anything is allowed, so don't hesitate to use it. 

Silence is your friend 

When you’re not used to phone interviews, you risk being over-stressed - and this is normal - but also speaking too quickly, or even cutting off the person you are talking to. To avoid this, the trick is to introduce pauses in your speech. Why? 

• It will allow the recruiter to intervene if he or she has something to say without cutting you off 
• It allows you to be more synthetic and structured, since pausing allows you to think about the rest of your speech 

Be careful, however, not to overdo it and to remain dynamic in order to keep you interviewer interested. Use headphones and stand up, during as much time as you want, as if you were really in front of your interviewer. With a smile to your face, it will convey your dynamism and professionalism. 

Put a smart end to the interview 

Ask what the next steps are and how long the recruiter has to make a decision. As well as subtly showing the recruiter that you are really interested in the job, this will allow you to know when to follow up if necessary. A practical move.