Phone interviews have become more and more prevalent in recent years thanks to the ability of discerning legal recruiters to weed out potential hires before even meeting them in person. Phone interviews streamline the interview process and help recruiters increase the pool of people they are interviewing without adding time. Mainly, phone interviews serve as a method to cut costs early in the hiring process for any position.
The surge in over-the-phone interviews has completely altered the climate and culture of job hunting for applicants looking to dazzle a prospective firm. No longer can an individual rely on a winning smile and a great looking outfit to help them dazzle an interviewer, they need to show a recruiter they have substance with just their words, something that doesn’t come easily to everyone. Of course charisma still plays a big part in these interviews, but body language and facial expressions are removed from the equation.
If it seems like you are striking out with every phone interview you go up for and you need a nudge in the right direction, here are three tips to nail your phone interview and get the job you want.
1. Control Your Surroundings – Make sure you are in a quiet place where there will be no interruptions during the interview. A barking dog, crying child, or the sound of traffic in the car could be detrimental to how the interviewer views you. After all, if you can’t even prepare for an interview, how can you be expected to prepare for the daily responsibilities of the job? Attempt to create an environment similar to that of an in-person interview, a quiet sterile room with zero distractions.
2. Dress for the Job You Want – The most discerning legal recruiters can hear your clothing in your voice; it may sound crazy, but there is wisdom to this notion: it’s a known fact that when you are dressed well, you are more confident. This confidence is something that takes effect even when the person can’t see you. Try dressing as if you are going to be meeting the person you are interviewing with face to face and you will be surprised at how much more confident and clear you will be when answering questions. You may even want to print up a list of mock questions and spend some time practicing out loud before the phone call.
3. Follow Up – Don’t forget to follow up with the interviewer a couple days after the phone call. Basically, after the interview’s conclusion, treat it just like any other interview you may have gone on and send a polite, carefully worded email – this mentality will go a long way towards determining whether or not you get the job.
These all seem like simple things to do, but you might be surprised how many people fail to do them during and after a phone interview just because it doesn’t feel like the typical interview process they are used to. It’s easy to get sloppy when no one can see you, the key is to treat it as if you are in the room with the person. In fact, you might even need to overcompensate in this regard to get the best results.
