Katie Jackson from marketing recruitment agency Kindred Recruitment helps you prepare for a telephone interview.
About Kindred Recruitment
Kindred Recruitment is a specialist marketing recruitment agency in London. Experienced marketing recruiter, Katie Jackson is the owner and founder of the company.
Find your perfect marketing job in London on our website.
How To Prepare For A
Positive Telephone Interview
Katie Jackson from Kindred Recruitment takes a closer look
at telephone interviews and how to prepare for a positive
conversation with a prospective employer.
Telephone interviews are now commonplace in today’s
recruitment landscape, yet many candidates are interviewing
in this manner for the first time. In lots of ways, telephone
interviews present more challenges compared to meeting a
future employer face to face. Telephone interviews rely
almost completely on the sound of our voice. There is no
opportunity to use facial expressions or to make eye contact.
You can’t make that all important first impression with a
smart suit or firm handshake. We aren’t able to connect with
someone in the way that we can face to face, but you can still
make preparations to ensure the interview goes well and you
progress to the next interview.
Research
Prepare for a telephone interview as you would for any other
type of interview. Split your preparation into three key areas:
1. Research the company and the role.
2. Familiarisation of your own CV and why you are a good fit
for the role (skills and experience).
3. Questions you would like to ask – focus on the
company/brand, responsibilities of the role or team. Avoid
questions on salary, bonus, holiday and promotion.
Interview Day
It is important to get into the mindset of interviewing. This is
your opportunity to sell yourself and the skills and experience
you could bring to the role. I know someone who as a fresh
graduate wore a suit during all of his telephone interviews. It
got him in the correct mindset and today he is a successful
leader for a well-recognised global business. Consider where
you will have the interview. Find a quiet room where you
won’t be distracted and there is plenty of signal if using a
mobile phone. There is also no harm in having a copy of your
CV and the job spec in front of you, as well as two or three
questions.
During the Interview
Answer the phone in a positive and professional
manner, and speak clearly.
Smile! Whilst, the interviewer may not be able to see
your smile, they will be able to hear it in your voice and
this will project a positive first impression.
Think about the speed at which you are talking. It is too
easy to speed up when nervous so attempt to maintain
a steady pace.
It is important to not talk over each other so try and
anticipate when it’s your time to speak.
Finally, remember to thank the interviewer for their
time and the opportunity to learn more about the
company and role. If comfortable, clarify what the next
steps would be.
After the Telephone
Always follow up after an interview! If you applied directly
with the company why not send a short and succinct email to
the interviewer or the person who organised the interview to
thank them and tell them you are keen to proceed to the
next stage. If you are interviewing via a recruitment agency,
ensure you call your Recruitment Consultant with your
feedback who will then pass this on to the hiring manager.
If you have a telephone interview coming up but still have
questions on how to best approach it, give the team at
Kindred Recruitment a call on 0207 742 2266.
Positive Telephone Interview
Katie Jackson from Kindred Recruitment takes a closer look
at telephone interviews and how to prepare for a positive
conversation with a prospective employer.
Telephone interviews are now commonplace in today’s
recruitment landscape, yet many candidates are interviewing
in this manner for the first time. In lots of ways, telephone
interviews present more challenges compared to meeting a
future employer face to face. Telephone interviews rely
almost completely on the sound of our voice. There is no
opportunity to use facial expressions or to make eye contact.
You can’t make that all important first impression with a
smart suit or firm handshake. We aren’t able to connect with
someone in the way that we can face to face, but you can still
make preparations to ensure the interview goes well and you
progress to the next interview.
Research
Prepare for a telephone interview as you would for any other
type of interview. Split your preparation into three key areas:
1. Research the company and the role.
2. Familiarisation of your own CV and why you are a good fit
for the role (skills and experience).
3. Questions you would like to ask – focus on the
company/brand, responsibilities of the role or team. Avoid
questions on salary, bonus, holiday and promotion.
Interview Day
It is important to get into the mindset of interviewing. This is
your opportunity to sell yourself and the skills and experience
you could bring to the role. I know someone who as a fresh
graduate wore a suit during all of his telephone interviews. It
got him in the correct mindset and today he is a successful
leader for a well-recognised global business. Consider where
you will have the interview. Find a quiet room where you
won’t be distracted and there is plenty of signal if using a
mobile phone. There is also no harm in having a copy of your
CV and the job spec in front of you, as well as two or three
questions.
During the Interview
Answer the phone in a positive and professional
manner, and speak clearly.
Smile! Whilst, the interviewer may not be able to see
your smile, they will be able to hear it in your voice and
this will project a positive first impression.
Think about the speed at which you are talking. It is too
easy to speed up when nervous so attempt to maintain
a steady pace.
It is important to not talk over each other so try and
anticipate when it’s your time to speak.
Finally, remember to thank the interviewer for their
time and the opportunity to learn more about the
company and role. If comfortable, clarify what the next
steps would be.
After the Telephone
Always follow up after an interview! If you applied directly
with the company why not send a short and succinct email to
the interviewer or the person who organised the interview to
thank them and tell them you are keen to proceed to the
next stage. If you are interviewing via a recruitment agency,
ensure you call your Recruitment Consultant with your
feedback who will then pass this on to the hiring manager.
If you have a telephone interview coming up but still have
questions on how to best approach it, give the team at
Kindred Recruitment a call on 0207 742 2266.