Ten tips for handling job interviews by phone

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Have you ever thought to standup and smile during a phone interview?...check out these ten tips to give you the edge during your next phone interview session. Karen

From American Nurse Today

Issue Date: January 2012 Vol. 7 No. 1

Author: Kathleen Pagana, PhD, RN

Ten tips for handling job interviews by phone

You were expecting a face-to-face job interview, but instead you're scheduled for a phone interview. Discouraged? Don't be. Phone interviews are a way to narrow down the applicant pool and minimize expenses for out-of-town applicants. These days, they're a standard first step for many jobs.

The purpose of a phone interview is to screen job candidates and determine which ones to invite for an in-person interview. Remember--interviewing is a two-way street. As an interviewee, one of your goals is to determine if you're a good fit for the organization. If your answer is yes, your challenge is getting to the next step--the face-to-face interview. Here are 10 tips for acing the phone interview.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Excellent advice! A phone interview is definitely NOT the time you want to have the dog barking her head off or the kids fighting over the last peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich in the background. Hope this gets a lot of readership and replies......as a hiring manager myself, I'd like to see more applicants take interviews seriously. :)

[wooh, BSN, RN]

My little sister has a phone interview today, I just sent her a link to the article! Thanks!

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

The job I currently have, I obtained through a phone interview. Treat phone interviews the same way as in person. Have your responses prepared, research the position and the organization beforehand, and sound enthusiastic. Contrary to what some people think, this is not the time to slack off. Your prospective employer will be able to pick up on your demeanor.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Also, I was hired sight unseen. My phone interview and references resulted in the offer. So I knew I had to make an impression, or blow a good opportunity. I was hired and they waited three months for me to relocate 2000 miles. I'm still there a year and a half later :)

[Vespertinas]

-Pace back and forth a lot. Then you'll start panting between sentences and it'll keep em guessing.

-If you're in need of privacy, lock yourself in the bathroom. The telltale echo will make the interviewer think that you have taken measures to amplify your voice because you understand how crucial it is for him/her to hear you clearly.

-Take the call in the nude. Ever heard of that trick to imagine everyone is in their underwear to ease your nervousness? Well if you're naked, you can more easily imagine that the person on the other line is naked too. Way less nervous.

-Answer your call waiting. It will make the interviewer think that you're highly sought-after or important.

-Use lots of "um"s and "like"s in your vernacular. It gives you time to think about what you want to say mid-sentence and you will appear more thoughtful.

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

unquestionably, i give you props for starting this thread and posting the link, great concept:bow: ...aloha~

[N.U.R.S.E.]

good article, practice good grammar and communication skills and since people use computer charting practice on your typing skills

[celyseRNBSN]

Great article! Thanks for posting!

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I found myself scouring the internet for articles like this when I had mine the last month. I loathe talking on the phone and needed help on how to handle it. Turns out I did most of these things. Instead of mental notes I wrote down the title and name of the people at the interview and gave each a number so their voice had a name attached to it. I also paced up and down the halls as that relaxed me. Having paper and pen nearby is a must!

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I had my first phone interview back in 1983 when I graduated from high school and had secretarial training. So they've been around for a while. But all the different jobs I got during my life were from old fashioned in person interviews.