As summer rolls around, most are applying for jobs and internship. After applying, the next step is often a phone interview with someone. This interview determines if they want to meet you in person, a pivotal role in the job interview process. Follow this guide and you are almost positive to receive that in-person interview you want so badly.
1. Answer professionally
As obvious as this sounds, answering the phone with “what’s up” or “Hey” is not professional. People tend to say that within the first five seconds of a conversation someone forms an opinion on the person that is speaking to. Although, most of the time you are not expecting a professional call, treat every unknown phone number like a future employer.
Answer the phone in a quiet room with a steady calm voice. You don’t have to answer and state something as professional as “Hello this is X”, but really just saying “Hello” in a confident and clear voice works perfectly. Show you are not overwhelmed by a phone call and that you treat every moment in a respectful, adult manner.
2. Be honest and positive
Lying isn’t cool ever, especially to a future employer. Stating you have a master’s degree in mechanical engineering when you don’t have your high school degree is simply dumb and wrong. Answer the questions truthfully, stating how your past work experiences impacted you in a positive way. If you past boss was a complete a**, this is not the time to say that. Speak about how much you learned from the hard work placed on you or why you want to try a job you have never done before-even if you are just applying to a fast food place. Some of my best work experiences were at jobs as cashiers or a dishwasher, never underestimate the value of those moments. Take the time to think of thoughtful responses to the questions given to you. State things such as “let me think about that for a moment” or “can I take a second to think?” so your employer knows you are taking these questions seriously.
With all of this being said don’t say you want the job because you need money or your mom told you that you need a summer job. There has to be a reason you applied to the places you applied to instead of others and there has to be a reason the employer called you back and not someone else.
3. Be yourself
If you are normally a bubbly person, show that! If you are usually short with your responses, that’s fine!! You don’t want to pretend to be something you’re not or else you will have to fake your personality if you get the job. If they ask you a question you genuinely have no answer to, tell them you are not sure but you would love to learn more or figure it out.
At the end of the day, if you don't get a callback, it isn’t the end of the world. Everyone has been rejected by a job and others didn’t even receive a phone interview at all! You are a talented, smart, person who will KILL it at the job you receive, never forget that.
