5 Foolproof Tips For Phone Job Interviews

Mar 22, 2015

5 Foolproof Tips For Phone Job Interviews

Use five tips to nail your next phone job interview.

By Angela Rose for Hcareers.com

With dozens of applicants competing for every hospitality job, it’s not unusual for employers to use phone interviews to narrow the candidate field. Unfortunately, many professionals—from food & beverage ambassadors to executive chefs and reservation coordinators to guest relations managers—underestimate the importance of this prescreening tool, dismissing it as a mere formality with little influence on their chances. They’re wrong. While a great phone call can lead to an in-person meeting, one that goes badly can quickly derail your job search. Consider these five foolproof tips to ensure your next phone interview doesn’t fall flat.

1. Choose a quiet location.

Background noise of any kind can be distracting when completing a phone interview. If you’re taking the call at home, find a quiet room away from pets and children. Arm yourself with a bottle of water and anything else you might need before answering the phone. Don’t try to answer questions and engage the employer while driving, shopping, dining or working. Instead, if you receive a phone interview call you are not expecting, express your appreciation and ask the caller if you can schedule a time to speak later. This will allow you to find an appropriate location where you can give the employer your undivided attention.

2. Minimize your chances of dropping the call.

A landline is almost always going to be your best option for a phone interview—though few homes contain landlines these days. If you plan to answer the call on your cell phone, choose a location with adequate service. If it’s likely the call might drop, apologize to the employer in advance and tell him or her you will call back immediately in the event of a disconnection. Skype is another viable option. A free voice-over-IP service, it allows you to make calls to landlines, cell phones and other computers from your PC.

3. Answer with your name (and a smile).

Answer the call with your name, for example, “This is Angela,” to eliminate any need for the employer to ask for you. Once the caller has given his or her identity as the employer, you can open with a pleasantry such as “I’ve been looking forward to your call” or “Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today.” Smile now and throughout the conversation. The act of smiling will make you sound more energetic and excited—a characteristic employers look for whether you’re an event operations manager at the Fairmont Hotel in London, kitchen manager at the local Red Robin Restaurant in Edmonton or a guest services manager at Hilton Hotels and Resorts in the U.S.

4. Refer to your notes.

Unlike a face-to-face meeting, a phone interview allows you to refer to previously gathered notes as you respond to and ask questions. Before your call, make sure you have a copy of your resume, the job description, questions you want to ask the employer and a list of points you want to discuss during the interview. Refer to these documents in printed form to avoid the distraction of navigating to them on your computer.

5. Follow up.

Treat the phone interview as you would an in-person interview and follow-up with a thank you email as soon as possible. In your message, mention a point or two from the interview conversation to show you were paying attention and remind the employer of your qualifications. You can also ask if there is any other information he or she needs in order to move you forward in the hiring process. While you shouldn’t become a pest, it’s acceptable to send more than one follow-up email—just make sure you space them at least one week apart.

A phone interview is more than a formality. It can make or break your chances of securing your next restaurant or hotel job. Remember the foolproof tips above and make the most of this valuable opportunity to impress a prospective employer.

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About the Author

Angela Rose researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for Hcareers.com.

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