It doesn’t matter how experienced you are, interviewing for a job is almost always an intimidating task. Not only do you need to make sure you’re dressed for the part, but you might very well have to get up and travel in order to get to the interview on time.
Fortunately, nowadays, many first-stage and even second-stage interviews are now being done online or over the phone. Which, on the one hand, makes preparing and making an interview on time that much easier, but it also comes with a few new skills you need to learn in order to succeed.
Fortunately, VoiceNation is here to lend a hand with our detailed guide covering our top phone interview tips and video interview advice, all so you can nail your next interview and get the job you’re after.
To begin with, let’s first look at the difference between a phone and a video interview so you know how these types of processes can differ.
How do phone interviews work?
First off, let’s look at how phone interviews work compared to video interviews. And, as the name implies, such an interaction will take place over the phone. This means that the interviewer will call you at a set time, and all you have to do is pick up and answer their questions to the best of your ability.
In most cases, a phone interview will not be a full interview, and will more than likely focus on asking preliminary questions to make sure you’re the right fit for the role and business in question.
How does a video interview work?
Unlike a phone interview, a virtual interview is an interview conducted online using video conferencing software like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet. Virtual interviews are becoming increasingly popular because they offer a convenient and flexible way for employers to conduct interviews with job candidates who may not be able to meet in person.
Generally speaking, virtual interviews work in much the same way as an in-person interview. However, because you’re online, you’ll need to bear in mind certain criteria that we’ve outlined below.
Tips for phone interview and video interviews: Preparation
As with all interviews, be they in person or online, the most important thing you can do before you start your interview is to prepare yourself and your surroundings to deliver the best impression possible.
However, this preparation will be different depending on your interview type. For example, good tips for phone interview preparation include:
- Making sure you’re seated in an area with good signal and phone reception so you can hear the interviewer and be clearly understood.
- Making sure your phone’s battery is fully charged before the interview begins so it does not die during the call.
- Having any notes you need for the interview written down on a separate device or a piece of paper so you don’t need to look at your phone.
- Minimizing any potential distractions and outside noises that could interrupt the interview.
- Wearing clothes that make you feel work-ready. You don’t need to wear a suit, but comfortable work clothes will help to get you in the mindset for an interview.
- Having a pen and paper to hand that you can make notes on with questions you’d like to ask or notes you want to remember from the call.
- Taking your time to answer questions so that your answers are not rushed, allowing you to provide more detailed and thoughtful answers.
On the other hand, if you’re preparing for a video interview, then some excellent phone screening interview tips to follow include:
- Ensuring that you have a good internet signal that won’t go down or cause lag during your interview call.
- Checking that your camera background is appropriate for the interview, either by picking a professional space to take the call or by blurring the background through call settings.
- Positioning your camera correctly so that you are looking straight at the lens and are visible to the interviewer.
- Choosing a room with good lighting and no distractions that could get in the way of the interview.
- Dressing appropriately for the role so that you look at the part and give off a professional, polished appearance.
How to prepare for an Interview
Now that we’ve covered both phone screening interview tips and job phone interview tips, what about preparing yourself for interviews in general? Are there a few things you could be doing to make the process easier?
Well, even if your interview is over the phone or video, you should still do the same level of preparation that someone would do for an in-person interview, such as researching the business thoroughly, preparing questions to ask beforehand, etc…
However, there are a few additional things to consider, such as having a copy of your résumé and the job description to hand so you can reference them. As for video calls, you’ll want to log into the virtual meeting platform a few minutes early to make sure everything is working properly.
What to do after a job interview
Finally, once you’re interview is done and dusted, there are a few things you can do to leave a good impression on your interviewer, starting by thanking them for their time and then inquiring about the next steps in the process.
Hopefully, they will provide you with an idea of how long it might take to hear back from them, as well as any further interview stages that might be required. After the call, assess how well you did and note down areas to improve on before carrying on with your job search.
Need help handling interview calls?
Are you a business looking for help handling incoming interview calls? If so, then VoiceNation might be exactly who you need. Experts in live answering services, our virtual receptionists are trained to handle a variety of incoming calls, including booking in and organizing interview requests.
Get in touch today to find out more about what we can offer your business, and don’t forget to ask about our free trial period. We also have plenty of other guides on site, including tips for how to ask people to speak up on the phone, and what sorts of jobs fit different people’s sleep chronotype.