EditorialsBy Matt Bud, Chairman, The FENG

Probably one of the most difficult interviews to pull off well is a telephone interview. (I much prefer Zoom!)

Let’s start off with the idea that the lack of face to face contact prevents you from seeing if the words and ideas you are presenting are playing well. A live audience, or a Zoom interview is always better. Is the person on the other end of the phone nodding in agreement? Are they rolling their eyes? Even for someone who spends as much time on the phone as I do, it is often hard to tell.

Sitting during a telephone interview is probably not a good idea because your conversation will tend to lack energy. This is at least one of the things you can solve. If you have a wireless phone that you can use walking around the room, that will help, but one of those “operator headsets” would be best. I have one, and it allows you to gesture wildly if you are so inclined.

I may be wrong, but phones don’t seem to “duplex” as well as they used to. I find that interrupting someone while they are speaking is very difficult these days. Perhaps it is the wireless phones, or just the state of technology, but if you are the kind of person who doesn’t take a breath when you are in a “sales pitch,” be aware that your “customer” can’t interrupt you and ask another question.

Just as when you are speaking to a large audience, you may have to force yourself to speak a little slower than you normally would and perhaps even a little louder, although neither of these two changes should be so extreme as to be obvious to the person on the other end of the phone.

Since this is a strained situation of sorts, you should also be aware of the importance to be organized. Have your resume out on your desk and, even so, review it before the call comes in. You have probably read it so many times you are sick of looking at it, but do it anyway. In addition, make a list of the areas you feel you would like to cover and check them off as you are able to communicate them.

While I don’t hear stories about telephone screenings as much as I used to, telephone interviews are still a skill you want to master.

As much as you may feel the need to cover EVERYTHING in your telephone interview on the theory that this may be the only shot you will get, remember that your goal is to be invited in for an in person interview, if you are open to that. It is not inappropriate to try a “trial close” if you feel it might work during the conversation. The interviewer may have an agenda, but then again, they may not. The worst thing that can happen is for you to “rattle on.” And trust me, the lack of visual cues as to how you are doing can cause idle chatter that can unwind a “done deal.”

Anything you do a lot of, you will get better at, even pitching your services over the phone. It is, like so many things, one of the skills we have to build to be good at this “job search thing,” so don’t avoid it or dread it. It is all part of the game.

Regards, Matt

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