Employers use telephone interviews as a way of identifying and recruiting candidates for employment. Phone interviews are often used to screen candidates in order to narrow the pool of applicants who will be invited for in-person interviews. They are also used as way to minimize the expenses involved in interviewing out-of-town candidates.

While you’re actively job searching, it’s important to be prepared for a phone interview on a moment’s notice. You never know when a recruiter or a networking contact might call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk. Review these tips, then take a look at our phone interview tips video for more advice on how to pull off your phone interview without a hitch.

Be Prepared to Interview

Prepare for a phone interview just as you would for a regular interview. Compile a list of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as a list of answers to typical phone interview questions. In addition, plan on being prepared for a phone conversation about your background and skills.

• Keep your resume in clear view, on the top of your desk, or tape it to the wall near the phone, so it’s at your fingertips when you need to answer questions.
• Have a short list of your accomplishments available to review.
• Have a pen and paper handy for note taking.
• Turn call-waiting off so your call isn’t interrupted.
• If the time isn’t convenient, ask if you could talk at another time and suggest some alternatives.
• Clear the room – evict the kids and the pets. Turn off the stereo and the TV. Close the door.
• Unless you’re sure your cell phone service is going to be perfect, consider using a landline rather than your cell phone to avoid a dropped call or static on the line.

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Practice Interviewing

Talking on the phone isn’t as easy as it seems. I’ve always found it’s helpful to practice. Have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview and tape record it so you can see how you sound over the phone. Any cassette recorder will work. You’ll be able to hear your “ums” and “uhs” and “okays” and you can practice reducing them from your conversational speech. Also rehearse answers to those typical questions you’ll be asked.

During the Phone Interview

• Don’t smoke, chew gum, eat, or drink.
• Do keep a glass of water handy, in case you need to wet your mouth.
• Smile. Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice.
• Speak slowly and enunciate clearly.
• Use the person’s title (Mr. or Ms. and their last name.) Only use a first name if they ask you to.
• Don’t interrupt the interviewer.
• Take your time – it’s perfectly acceptable to take a moment or two to collect your thoughts.
• Give short answers.
• Remember your goal is to set-up a face-to-face interview. After you thank the interviewer ask if it would be possible to meet in person.

After the Interview:

• Take notes about what you were asked and how you answered.
• Remember to say “thank you.” Follow with a thank you note which reiterates your interest in the job.

The letter of recommendation is a critical component of your graduate school admissions application, yet is entirely dependent on someone else — your professor. How you request a letter influences professors’ responses and ultimately the quality of your letter of recommendation.

Job interviews are always stressful – even for job seekers who have gone on countless interviews. The best way to reduce the stress is to be prepared. Take the time to review the “standard” interview questions you will most likely be asked. Also review sample answers to these typical interview questions.

Then take the time to research the company. That way you’ll be ready with knowledgeable answers for the job interview questions that specifically relate to the company you are interviewing with.

Interview Questions: Work History

• Name of company, position title and description, dates of employment. – Best Answers
• What were your expectations for the job and to what extent were they met? – Best Answers
• What were your starting and final levels of compensation? – Best Answers
• What were your responsibilities? – Best Answers
• What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them? – Best Answers
• What did you like or dislike about your previous job? – Best Answers
• Which was most / least rewarding? – Best Answers
• What was the biggest accomplishment / failure in this position? – Best Answers
• Questions about your supervisors and co-workers. – Best Answers
• What was it like working for your supervisor? – Best Answers
• What do you expect from a supervisor? – Best Answers
• Who was your best boss and who was the worst? – Best Answers
• Why are you leaving your job? – Best Answers
• What have you been doing since your last job? – Best Answers
• Why were you fired? – Best Answers

Job Interview Questions About You

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• What is your greatest weakness? – Best Answers
• What is your greatest strength? – Best Answers
• Describe a typical work week. – Best Answers
• Do you take work home with you? – Best Answers
• How many hours do you normally work? – Best Answers
• How would you describe the pace at which you work? – Best Answers
• How do you handle stress and pressure? – Best Answers
• What motivates you? – Best Answers
• What are your salary expectations? – Best Answers
• What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make? – Best Answers
• Tell me about yourself. – Best Answers
• What has been the greatest disappointment in your life? – Best Answers
• What are you passionate about? – Best Answers
• What are your pet peeves? – Best Answers
• What do people most often criticize about you? – Best Answers
• When was the last time you were angry? What happened? – Best Answers
• If you could relive the last 10 years of your life, what would you do differently? – Best Answers
• If the people who know you were asked why you should be hired, what would they say? Best Answers
• Do you prefer to work independently or on a team? – Best Answers
• Give some examples of teamwork. – Best Answers
• What type of work environment do you prefer? – Best Answers
• How do you evaluate success? – Best Answers
• If you know your boss is 100% wrong about something how would you handle it? – Best Answers
• Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it. – Best Answers
• Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it. – Best Answers
• More job interview questions about your abilities. – Best Answers
• More job interview questions about you. – Best Answers

Job Interview Questions About the New Job and the Company

• What interests you about this job? – Best Answers
• Why do you want this job? – Best Answers
• What applicable attributes / experience do you have? – Best Answers
• Are you overqualified for this job? – Best Answers
• What can you do for this company? – Best Answers
• Why should we hire you? – Best Answers
• Why are you the best person for the job? – Best Answers
• What do you know about this company? – Best Answers
• Why do you want to work here? – Best Answers
• What challenges are you looking for in a position? – Best Answers
• What can you contribute to this company? – Best Answers
• Are you willing to travel? – Best Answers
• Is there anything I haven’t told you about the job or company that you would like to know? – Best Answers

Interview Questions: The Future

• What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you? – Best Answers
• What are your goals for the next five years / ten years? – Best Answers
• How do you plan to achieve those goals? – Best Answers
• What are your salary requirements – both short-term and long-term? – Best Answers
• Questions about your career goals. – Best Answers
• What will you do if you don’t get this position? – Best Answers

Candidate Specific Interview Questions

• Customer Service / Retail Interview Questions
• Administrative Assistant Interview Questions
• Teacher Job Interview Questions
• Teen Job Interview Questions

Behavior Based Interview Questions
In addition to being ready to answer these standard questions, prepare for behavior based interview questions. This is based on the premise that a candidate’s past performance is the best predictor of future performance. You will you need to be prepared to provide detailed responses including specific examples of your work experiences.

Tough Interview Questions
These are some of the more difficult interview questions that you may be asked on a job interview.

Interview Questions to Ask
The last job interview question you may be asked is “What can I answer for you?” Have an interview question or two of your own ready to ask. You aren’t simply trying to get this job – you are also interviewing the employer to assess whether this company and the position are a good fit for you.

Compile Responses to Interview Questions
Take the time to compile a list of responses to both types of interview questions and to itemize your skills, values, and interests as well as your strengths and weaknesses. Emphasize what you can do to benefit the company rather than just what you are interested in.

Add an Interview Question
Have you been asked an interview question that isn’t on the list? Share the questions you have been asked on job interviews and add them to our list.

Why don’t more job-seekers write thank-you letters? Some say it’s simply too hard. Nonsense. It’s not any harder than writing your resume or preparing for the interview. More importantly, it’s one of your last chances to sell the employer that you are the perfect person for the job!

Job-seekers should ideally send thank-you letters within 24 hours after a job interview

– and certainly no later than about 2 days after the interview. You may even want to ensure that the interviewer has your thank-you letter in hand no later than end of the next day.
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Thank-you letters can be mailed, dropped off, or emailed. They can be typed or hand-written. The key element is to take the time to write them.

What should be in a thank-you letter? And how long should it be?

Most job-seekers write a thank-you letter that reinforces their fit with the position and employer, but there may be times when you feel you need to add a key element you forgot to mention in the interview, to reinforce a question that arose about your qualifications, or to attempt damage control over an interview gone bad.

Remember to address the thank-you letter with the correct spelling and title of the interviewer, as well as the proper spelling of the organization.

Fundamentals of a General Thank-You Letter

First Paragraph
Use the first paragraph of your thank-you letter to show your genuine appreciation for the job interview and to reinforce your interest and fit for the position.

Use words like thank you, thanks, appreciate, excited, and enjoyed.

Example opening paragraph: Thank you so much for taking the time to discuss the assistant brand manager position at Kraft Foods with me. After meeting with you and the other members of the marketing department, I am further convinced that my background and skills are perfect for the position.

Second Paragraph
Use the second paragraph to showcase some of the key elements of your background that match exactly what the employer is seeking in candidates.

Use words like convinced, ability, experience, achieve, collaborate, and contribute.

Example second paragraph: I am eager to bring my previous marketing experiences, strategic problem-solving skills and passion for your brands to your department. I am convinced the knowledge, skills, and experience I’ve already achieved make me the best candidate for the job.

Third Paragraph
Use this optional paragraph to reinforce a point you perceived as a possible weakness during the interview or to play up a key strength the employer seeks — or to mention something you forgot to state in the interview.

Example third paragraph: As for your concern about my sales experience, I want to reiterate that my having been new member recruitment chair at my school’s chapter of the AMA, along with outstanding grades in my professional selling classes, qualify me nicely.

Fourth Paragraph
The fourth and final paragraph of your thank-you letter should again thank the recipient for the interview and for being considered for the position, and mention that you are looking forward to the next step in the process and hearing back shortly.

Example fourth paragraph: I look forward to hearing from you regarding your hiring decision. I know I am the perfect candidate for the position. Finally, thank you again for your time and consideration.

Final Thoughts
Remember that this formula is just an outline of a thank-you letter. While the content is important, it’s just as important to write it and get it into the interviewer’s hands as quickly as possible. Listen and write from your heart.

Want to see some free examples of different types of thank-you letters? Follow this link to some some sample job interview thank-you letters.

Question: What are the top tricks for getting an interview? I’ve heard of people doing some crazy things to insure that the resume makes it to the hiring manager and past the “gate keeper”

Answer:

Great question! Before outlining the tricks that I have found over the years, note that before using these tips, the job seeker should evaluate the position they are applying for…. For example, #5 (below – “Send your resume with a gift”) was used when attempting to get a resume in front of a hiring manager at an advertising agency. This option may may not work as well for hiring managers in some industries (or personalities, which is tougher to gauge). Therefore, know thy audience before using the below With that said, below are the top tips & tricks that I’ve found both creative and effective to insure that your resume is reviewed. I’ve broken them out into submitting printed resumes as well as electronic submission tips.

First, tips and tricks for printed resumes.
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* Use a different color paper for mailing your resumes. Chances are, you’re using a cream, white, or gray paper color. Yes? So is everyone else. Be creative, and use a non-resume paper. Be original, and stand out. With that said, should you use hot pink? No, remember you’re applying for a professional career – but do choose something less common than white, cream, or gray.

* Use a different size paper for your resume. Why you ask? Have you ever shuffled a stack of papers. Do you ever have one/a few pieces of paper that when you are shuffling are a different size paper than the others. They stand out right? Of course they do, they stand out from the rest – it’s simple, but it does make your resume stand out. Therefore, use a paper that is (for example) .25 inches greater than the standard size. You can buy it at any office supply store, such as Office Depot or Kinko’s.

* Inside contact – If you’re interested in a specific company, get an inside contact. This means proactively trying to meet someone from the company, or a friend of a friend situation. People hire people they know – it’s comfortable. Therefore, do whatever it takes to get an inside contact.

* Certified Letter – Have you ever sent a certified letter? All it requires is going to the post office, and paying a few dollars to send it “certified” with confirmation. This means that the recipient of the letter must sign for it. And, I’ll bet that they’ll sign – they’re curious, and want to know what it is. By sending it certified to the hiring manager, you’re insuring that your letter has reached its destination – it has reached the hiring manager. This is a huge plus, as usually the hiring manager’s mail is filtered through a number of gate keepers.

* Send your resume with a gift. Yes, a gift. Head over to the local florist, pizza place, etc – get creative. Pick out a nice bouquet or lunch, and deliver it to the office with your resume. If you do the pizza, here’s a tip – put your resume in a zip lock bag and tape it to the inside of the box.

* Deliver the resume in person. What do you have to lose? Walk into the office, and ask for the hiring manager (by name). Just say you need to discuss the current job opening with him. Sound crazy? It works – they will see you as being determined, proactive, and outgoing.

* The post-it note trick. In larger companies (and sometimes in medium/smaller companies) a secretary or an office assistant will open the resumes for the employees. This person is responsible for screening for junk mail and to weed out non-qualified candidates. Therefore, here is the trick. Take a regular Post-it note, and write something like “This one looks good! – J”, and attach it to your resume. Who is “J”? Who cares! The point is that the hiring manager will get a resume with a Post-it note on it, stating that it’s good. Therefore, they are more likely to pay close attention to the resume at the direction of another employee. By the time the person realizes it’s not a note from their mail screener, you’ve already gotten your resume reviewed – is it deceptive? – no, its effective and innovative advertising.

OK, now for email…. (submitting electronically)

* Call or research online to get the name of the hiring manager for the position. Company websites always have the “About Us” page with a link to key executives these days… Once you have a name, type the name into a Google.com search. Chances are, you will find some contact information through one of the search results. Nothing? That’s OK…. Company email formats are very simple to figure out. Try this. Send your email with resume attachment to to all of the below email formats of the person’s name. I would recommend b’cc (blind copy) the multiple recipient variations, and only choose one as the “to”. You laugh? I’ve contacted the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies this way.

bobsmith@companyname.com
bob.smith@companyname.com
bsmith@companyname.com
bob-smith@companyname.com
bob@companyname.com (only 1st name not common in companies of +25 employees)

* Inside contact (same as above) – If you’re interested in a specific company, get an inside contact. This means proactively trying to meet someone from the company, or a friend of a friend situation. People hire people they know – it’s comfortable. Therefore, do whatever it takes to get an inside contact.

Job interviewing never seems to get any easier – even when you have gone on more interviews than you can count. You are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills, and often getting the third degree about what you know or don’t know. Here are job interview tips to help prepare you to interview effectively. Proper preparation which help alleviate some of the stress involved in job interviews.

Job Interview Tips

Practice

Practice answering interview questions and practice your responses to the typical job interview questions and answers most employers ask. Think of actual examples you can use to describe your skills. Providing evidence of your successes is a great way to promote your candidacy.

Prepare

Prepare a response so you are ready for the question “What do you know about our company. Know the interviewer’s name and use it during the job interview. If you’re not sure of the name, call and ask prior to the interview. Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions.

Watch

Take a look at my Job Interview Tips Videos, so you’ll be sure to dazzle a potential employer and leave the right impression.

Get Ready

Make sure your interview attire is neat, tidy and appropriate for the type of firm you are interviewing with. Bring a nice portfolio with copies of your resume. Include a pen and paper for note taking.

Be On Time

Be on time for the interview. On time means five to ten minutes early. If need be, take some time to drive to the office ahead of time so you know exactly where you are going and how long it will take to get there.

Stay Calm

During the job interview try to relax and stay as calm possible. Take a moment to regroup. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Listen to the entire question before you answer and pay attention – you will be embarrassed if you forget the question!

Show What You Know

Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions.  When discussing your career accomplishments match them to what the company is looking for.

Follow Up

Always follow-up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position. If you interview with multiple people send each one a thank you note.