The Lion’s Pride: Interviewing - The Phone Interview

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The Lion’s Pride: Interviewing

The Phone Interview

Interviewing over the phone can be a little unnerving, but it doesn't have to be. Here are a few tips:

Prepare. Oh. THAT again. Yes, THAT again. Neither the Steelers nor the Seahawks would have made it to Super Bowl XL without excellent preparation. Hit the company website. Talk to a few employees. Prepare.

Relax. Breathe and smile. In. Out. Good. Breathing properly will help you relax. Smiling will actually allow you to think more clearly (fewer muscles used, thereby allowing more blood to reach your brain) and help you relax.

Focus on a face. I encourage my clients to have a photograph of someone they know well handy. This helps the visualization process. Look at this picture when you're in a phone interview. Talking to the wall takes you out of the moment. Focusing on a persons face helps keep you in the moment. Some have told me they even look in a mirror.

"It's a screen!" You'll hear the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive players shouting this warning to their squad during the Super Bowl. In football, this helps eliminate the possibility of a lateral pass play. Over the phone, it means the employer is eliminating candidates for one reason or another. Be aware of what the eliminating factors are for the position prior to the phone interview. Be familiar with some of the company products - and jargon. Also be aware that many people act different over the phone than in person - and you might, too. If you find that you ramble or clam up when on the phone, try to find a middle point. Ditto with stammering, slang, etc.

Dress like you were at an "ordinary" interview. Dressing the part is an important part of every interview - so why not those on the phone? It will make you feel more professional. If you feel more professional, then you will conduct yourself as such. Would you normally talk business in your shoulder pads and helmet? Probably not. It just wouldn't feel right. Even Hines Ward would interview in a suit.

IN THE CARAVAN: Do well on your phone interviews with preparation and relaxation, focusing on a face, eliminating the screens, and dressing the part.

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Negotiating Pay / The Questions You Hate to Answer / Nerves? Schmerves! / Pre-Interview Prep / Dress the Part / How to Show Your Portfolio / Speaking Of Pay... / All Shapes and Sizes / Interview Practice / What To - And NOT To Reveal / Andre's Answers and Roger's Requests / Practice Like The Karate Kid / Building Rapport 101 / Be a S.T.A.R. / Worst...Interview...Answers...Ever. / The Five Most Important Questions for You to Ask / Reflecting for Rapport / 18 Questions You're Bound to Hear / The Phone Interview / Negotiating With Mr. Smith, Part I / Negotiating With Mr. Smith, Part II: My Pete Rose for Your Reggie Jackson and Matchbox / Negotiating With Mr. Smith, Part III: Smith vs. Jones vs. Greene / Remove Thy Foot from Thy Mouth / Body Language 101 / Interviewing Disasters / Hire Your Boss / Keeping Your Cool Under Pressure / Returning the Question / The Dinner Interview / What You Want? Baby, You Know I Got It! / Know Your Industry / You Don’t Need to be a Psychic / Training / The Hippo Technique / Dropping Names / Marking Your Territory / The Walk-On Role / Body Language: The 15 Signals Hiring Managers Send and How to Read Them / You Have GOT to be KIDDING Me! / Taking a Drop: Re-Interviewing After the Fact / Proposing Your Own Job / Answering Self-Employment Questions: The Self-Employment Paradox