Countless books deal with the job interview - which is not the case concerning phone interviews: guides on this topic are scarce, even though they often constitute a decisive screening:

The interview is the first personal contact with the potential employer. A recruiter or employer will use the phone interview to get a better idea of the candidate. Today, the first e-mail exchange is typically followed by a phone interview. This exchange usually lasts 20 to 30 minutes, after which a decision is made as to whether or not to invite the applicant to an on-site interview.

The following skills are decisive in the phone interview:

– Oral eloquence

– Language proficiency

– Pleasant voice

– Dialog competence

These 10 tips put you in command:

1. Thorough preparation: Review carefully the job description before the interview. List where you lack the experience and which are your strong points. The phone interview will not necessarily focus on your strengths, but also on the elements which may be missing in your skill set.

2. Organize a totally undisturbed environment: Make sure to be able to carry out the discussion without distractions. Reduce ambient noises to a minimum. Children cries or cooking noises are taboo. Choose a quiet space. Avoid locations exposed to wind or draft which can cause loud background noises. You should ideally settle down in an enclosed space rather than outside. Avoid interviews during a drive.

3. Faultless technique: Make sure beforehand that your contact has your correct phone number. Ensure that your telephone connection is in working condition. Do not take the risk to have to deal with a loss of communication or any other technical fault. Before the call, do not forget to control the reception quality - especially if you are using a mobile phone. Check if the acoustic can be improved with earplugs and headset.

4. Breathe quietly! Prior to the phone interview, you should do targeted breathing exercises. Breathe in and out a few times as deeply as possible.

5. Control your voice, tone and voice modulation: It is often not a question of what is being said, but how it is being said. A quiet tone of voice conveys an impression of competence and proficiency. This is why you should always control your voice. Excitement and rapid breathing raise the pitch of your voice. It sounds hectic and nervous and betrays your stress level.

6. Relaxed warm-up: The phone interview generally includes a short warm-up period. This is the time to exchange greetings, to introduce oneself, and to initiate the conversation. Candidates often make the mistake of anxiously waiting for the first question. Thus, they do not benefit from the advantages of an informal exchange. This shows in one-word answers to introductory questions. The resulting tension makes it difficult for the interviewer to make the transition to the main topic. Keep cool. Do not hesitate to ask your contact partner how he is doing. Express your thanks for this opportunity to discuss or express your interest in the exchange.

7. Show a focused interest: The recruiter or employer needs to understand why you are interested in the offered position. Avoid set phrases like «I want to grow professionally». You should rather describe your motivation in an authentic, straightforward manner. Explain in two or three concise sentences what makes this job so appealing to you.
8. Underline the widest possible overlap: You will generally be asked about specific skills which are not sufficiently highlighted in your resume. Present your skills without exaggeration. Do not try to hide possible missing skills behind buzz words. You may otherwise be asked probing questions which could put you in an embarrassing position. But do not yield ground too quickly. Try to highlight the widest possible overlap with the profile sought. Use a professional and accurate terminology.

9. Be focused and concise: Avoid superfluous digressions. Do not provide too much examples and do not tell anecdotes. Keep in mind that your interviewer has to work through a checklist. Provide efficient and quick answers, do not pause too long to look up for the right word, but do not provide quick inconsiderate answers. Reduce your speaking pace without giving the impression of being amorphous. Make sure the interviewer clearly understands you. Make brief pauses from time to time to allow the interviewer to ask a question if he deems it necessary.

10. Avoid needless queries: Phone interviews are not appropriate to ask counter-questions. Most of the time the interviewer only needs to clarify certain basic issues to help him decide whether or not it makes sense to meet with you. Keep your questions for the on-site interview. Do not extend the conversation unnecessarily. Once his questions answered, the interviewer will usually thank you and quickly close the discussion.