December 19

Phone Interview Tips – #5: How to Build Your Confidence

Finding a Job, Getting Hired, Interviewing Skills and Tips, Job Interview Advice, Job Interview Preparation, Job Interview Skills, Job Search, Job Search Success, Job Search Tips, Jobseekers, Phone Interview Questions, Phone Interview Tips, Phone Interviews

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Phone Interview Tips Series

Table of Contents

Phone Interview Tips 1-10
  1. Phone Interview Tip #1 -- Check Your Voicemail Greeting

  2. Phone Interview Tip #2 -- The Best Time to Set Up Your Call

  3. Phone Interview Tip #3 -- Where’s the Best Place for a Phone Interview?

  4. Phone Interview Tip #4 -- How To Keep Your Focus

  5. Phone Interview Tip #5 -- How to Build Your Confidence

  6. Phone Interview Tip #6 -- How to Project Enthusiasm

  7. Phone Interview Tip #7 -- Use Cheat Sheets

  8. Phone Interview Tip #8 -- Research the Interviewer

  9. Phone Interview Tip #9 -- Research the Company

  10. Phone Interview Tip #10 -- Prepare Answers to Common Phone Interview Questions

Phone Interview Tips 11-20
  1. Phone Interview Tip #11 -- Practice Your Phone Interview

  2. Phone Interview Tip #12 -- How to Hit Your Phone Interview Goals

  3. Phone Interview Tip #13 -- The Best Phone for Your Interview

  4. Phone Interview Tip #14 -- Your Phone Interview Voice

  5. Phone Interview Tip #15 -- How to Give the Interviewer What They’re Looking For

  6. Phone Interview Tip #16 -- How to Project the Right Image Over the Phone

  7. Phone Interview Tip #17 -- Help Them Qualify You for the Face-to-Face Interview

  8. Phone Interview Tip #18 -- Speak the Right Body Language (Yes, Even On the Phone)

  9. Phone Interview Tip #19 -- Secret Tricks to Phone Interview Success

  10. Phone Interview Tip #20 -- Ask Questions

Phone Interview Tips 21-30
  1. Phone Interview Tip #21 -- How to Listen Well

  2. Phone Interview Tip #22 -- Don’t Talk Too Much

  3. Phone Interview Tip #23 -- Watch Your Language

  4. Phone Interview Tip #24 -- Phone Interview Etiquette

  5. Phone Interview Tip #25 -- Getting the Face-to-Face Interview

  6. Phone Interview Tip #26 -- How and When to Follow Up

  7. Phone Interview Tip #27 -- Biggest Phone Interview Mistakes

  8. Phone Interview Tip #28 -- Small Phone Interview Mistakes That Cause Big Problems

  9. Phone Interview Tip #29 -- Things You Should Never Say

  10. Phone Interview Tip #30 -- Make a Phone Interview Checklist

Phone Interview Tips 31-37
  1. Phone Interview Tip #31 -- Relax, Be Calm, and Make a Good Impression

  2. Phone Interview Tip #32 -- Good Telephone Communication Tips

  3. Phone Interview Tip #33 -- Typical Phone Interview Questions

  4. Phone Interview Tip #34 -- Thank You Notes

  5. Phone Interview Tip #35 -- The One Question You Should Ask

  6. Phone Interview Tip #36 -- How to Keep Them From Screening You Out

  7. Phone Interview Tip #37 -- How to Prepare for a Phone Interview

Click to expand question sets, then click individual questions to read the article.

Phone interviews have all of the critical, “make-or-break” qualities of a face-to-face interview with none of the advantages.

(1) You don’t have very much time to make a good impression.  Phone interviews are very often over within 10-15 minutes. If you make a mistake, you don’t have much time to recover.

(2) You can’t see the other person’s face, so you don’t have any idea if they’re smiling, nodding, or frowning at something you’re saying.  Sometimes we don’t realize how much we depend on those visual cues to interpret how well the conversation is going.

And (3), you have nothing to rely on but your voice to help you sell yourself for the job…no brag book, no 30/60/90-day plan, not even your smiling, friendly face.  Just your voice.  Nervous yet? Don’t be.

Here are 3 tips that will help you build your confidence so you can have a great phone interview.

   1.  Dress in a Killer Outfit—Even Though It’s Only a Phone Interview

The clothes we put on have a major impact on how we behave.  I have a friend who’s noticed that the days she wears her boots, she’s got a little more strut in her step than if she’s kicking around in her tennis shoes.  (BTW…take a look around one day and see how many people shuffle their feet when they wear flip flops.)  You’d think this stuff doesn’t matter, but it really does.

The idea is, if you want to make sure you behave and sound like a professional, you should dress like a professional.  It will put you in the right frame of mind and help you focus.  Put on a suit that makes you feel fantastic.  And it doesn’t even matter if it’s the same one you’ll wear to the face-to-face interview.  They can’t see it, after all.

Don’t wear something that’s too tight or doesn’t fit well.  It will make you uncomfortable and it will show up in your voice.

Please make sure that whatever you wear is something you feel comfortable and confident in.  If you feel it, you will act it.  It will come across even over the phone.

2.  Be Prepared

Do all your pre-interview research, list out the questions you want to ask, and even write down some key points you want to make.  The more you can do, the more prepared you will be and the more confident you will feel.  You will feel like you’re ready for whatever they can throw at you.

3.  Be Organized

Go old-school and lay out all your papers on your desk in front of you—your resume, your question list, your notes, everything.   Don’t try keeping everything all on the computer screen in front of you.  Print it out so you can lay hands on it quickly without clicking around to find it.  It’s faster and more reliable.  What if your computer freezes up?  You can certainly have the company’s website up, and maybe another site or two in other tabs, but for the most part, play it safe and keep your most important documents safely in front of you on your desk.

If you’d like to practice your interview answers with professional feedback, or you need help with specific answers, I’d love to work with you as your interview coach.

Find out more about my special offer for personal 1:1 coaching or my group coaching membership that meets online Thursday evenings at 7:00pm CST!

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