Here's a few common mistakes that everyone makes in the telephonic interview
With the pandemic, telephonic interviews have become one of the most common interview methods. It also assists interviewers in narrowing down their choices to only those who are qualified and who they believe would be the best fit. And, as we move forward, we are already seeing an increase in remote working, so communicating over the phone or via video call have become one of the skills that the candidate must possess.
Everyone likes to talk on the phone with family and friends. It happens naturally; you don't prepare for it, so a phone interview appears to be simple to them as well. As a result, they might miss an opportunity. It was their moment to shine and stand out, and they wasted it by making mistakes that cost them their job.
Let us see ahead a few common mistakes that everyone makes in the telephonic interview:
1. Not being there in a noise-free environment:
You will be aware of the approximate time when you may be contacted by the hiring manager. As a result, it is best to be in an area where the signal is expected to be strong. It is ideal to find a noise-free zone with minimal disruption. Find a location where you know you won't have to repeat yourself. Repeating the same words and knowing that the person on the other end is unable to hear you lowers morale at the start of the interview.
2.Being unprepared for the interview:
Assuming it will be a phone interview, you believe it will be simple to read the about us page when asked about the company. But you know what, it would be very easy for the interviewer to determine that you are simply reading out. Additionally, sounding not confident or uncertain would indicate to the interviewer that you simply took the phone without making any effort to research the company. It is critical to conduct thorough research, including visiting the company's website, their vision, mission and social media pages. Make sure to take notes and keep them handy for your reference.
3. Fail to prepare common interview questions:
Most people take phone interviews lightly and leave preparation for the actual interview. They overlook the fact that a phone interview is a step between your resume and a face-to-face interview. To appear in the final face-to-face interview, you must first pass the phone interview. So, practice common interview questions like "tell me about yourself," "what are your strengths and weaknesses," and "why should we hire you." etc. This will assist you in not saying anything incorrectly, and moreover, when you prepare, you will sound confident and will be saying what the hiring manager wants to hear from you, and that increases your chances of moving on to the next round.
4. Forgot about the job applied:
It is not uncommon to have applied for 20 jobs on a job portal and have a few interviews scheduled. So, it's possible that you got mixed up and forgot which job it is. Make a note of the interview with so-and-so company on your calendar and have your notes ready. Because failing to remember the job almost certainly eliminates your chances of getting the job right away, they'll assume you're not interested because you can't recall what job you applied for.
5.Talking too little or too much:
During the interview, do not answer questions with a simple yes or no, as this will be insufficient. Also, do not give lengthy responses. Keep your responses brief and to the point. Select the appropriate words and express yourself in a clear and professional manner. Again, preparing for common interview questions and conducting company research would be beneficial in this situation.
6. Not being a good listener:
This is a common blunder made by the majority of people. You may have prepared well for the interview, but you become overly excited and do not wait for the interviewer to finish his question before answering it. For example, Interviewer might ask, "What are your strengths?" and "Can you describe a situation in which you demonstrated your strengths?" However, you do not give the interviewer a chance to finish his/her question and instead begin answering after hearing only half of it and begin talking about your own strengths.
Allow the interviewer to finish speaking before beginning to respond. Take some time to respond. Make an effort to sound professional. Prepare your response and know what you're talking about.
7. Lack of enthusiasm:
Most people, unknowingly, sound very dull on the phone call. They are unable to express their enthusiasm and show their energy over the phone. The call usually begins with the interviewer saying,
"Hello, I'm calling from ABC company, am I speaking with Anil?" Is now a good time to talk?
Anil :Yes, Anil here, we can talk now.
You must keep in mind that it is not your friend who has called you. It's a hiring manager from a company you'd like to work for in the future. Your response should demonstrate that you want to work for them. Always acknowledge the person who has called you, greet them. For example, “Hello, Good afternoon, yes I am Anil speaking. I hope you're doing well or hope that your day has been going well so far. Yes, it's a good time to speak”. They should understand from your response that you are interested in speaking with them and not make them feel like it was just another phone call they had to make.
8. You have no questions for interviewer
At the end of any interview, whether by phone or in person, the interviewer will ask the candidates if they have any questions. The majority of the time, the answer is no. Never, ever say no. The interviewer will believe that you are not interested or that you are relieved that the interview is over. So, while preparing for the interview, make note of any policies, products, or services about which you would like to learn more. You can ask them about it, or if you read the job description, if you come across any processes that you have only a vague idea about, you can ask them about it. This would demonstrate that you are genuinely interested in the position and the company.
As you have seen a few mistakes shared with you. You would have to keep a certain points in mind also. Here are they:
1. Do not keep your phone engaged. Also, do not keep it on vibration or silent mode. You may miss the call from the interviewer. If you have people calling you inform them before hand not to call you at the time of interview.
2. Do not put the interviewer on hold. Don’t take any other calls during the interview.
3. Make certain that you are not distracted. For example, if you were watching TV, you could turn it off or go to another room where you wouldn't be disturbed.
4. Keep the interview professional. Do not talk about your personal life. For example: if they ask you about your future plans, don’t say I want to get married next year. Make sure you discuss about your career goals.
Finally, keep in mind that this is your chance to shine with this given opportunity. Make the most of the 15-30 minutes you have available. Be focused and organized; take notes and keep them close at hand; and conduct thorough company research. Ask the interviewer about his or her experience; he or she will be surprised to hear this question from a candidate and may provide feedback that will help you in future rounds. Also, a small thank you email expressing your gratitude and appreciation for their time would be a nice gesture on your part after the interview.
