As the world adjusts to a new way of living and working as a result of COVID-19, the New Zealand industrial recruitment industry will need to as well. Many employers are now looking at different ways of recruiting that will help protect both their current staff and potential new employees as well.
While we are in lock down there is still increased need for essential services and they will still be looking to have the staff required to deliver their services under increased demand, and businesses will also be planning around their recovery processes and requirements when things start to come back online.
If you’re thinking about job hunting over this period the usual interview may look quite different to what you are used to. One of the changes is that you may be asked to do a phone interview in place of the usual face to face meeting. Should you find yourself in this situation, here are a few great tips on how to ace your phone interview, and up the chances of securing the position you want.
20 Tips to Acing the Phone Interview
- Do your research – it’s the same game as a face-to-face interview, use the internet and social media to see what the company and role is all about
- Have your resume handy and prepare a cheat sheet to refer to – cover company history, role requirements, your question list and key achievements. Extra tip: write in bullet points, otherwise it may sound like you’re reading a script
- Practice mock interviews – ask a friend or family member to help you practise. Adjust where necessary
- Choose a quiet call location – no distractions such as young kids or pets (if avoidable!)
- Fully charge your phone
- Turn off phone notifications
- Switch off call-waiting
- Consider using a landline if possible – it lessens the chances of call dropouts
- Have a pen and paper handy for notes
- Sit comfortably – preferably at a desk
- Keep a glass of water close by
- Be on time and ready
- Try not to ramble or interrupt when the interviewer is speaking
- Consciously slow down – it’s easy to talk fast when nervous
- Focus hard on what’s being said – you won’t have non-verbal clues to help you
- Pause after the interviewer has finished speaking to allow for any delays
- It’s ok to ask for clarification
- Use the interviewer’s name and smile – it helps build rapport and just the act of smiling (whether you feel it or not) actually changes your tone of voice positively
- End by reiterating your excitement about the role, why you’re a good fit and ask about next steps
- Follow-up – consider sending a follow-up email at the end of the day, or early the next day advising how much you enjoyed the interview and that you look forward to hearing from them when ready
We hope these phone interview tips will help you navigate through these changing times. If you score a phone interview and want further advice, need more health and safety tips or would like support with your job search, feel free to call us on 0800 178 233.
