I’m Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits.
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During your current job hunt, you may be asked to conduct a phone interview for the position you are seeking. Performing well on a phone interview can help you land the job you want. As unemployment grows, more organizations are using phone interviews to screen large pools of applicants. Here are some tips to make a good impression throughout the whole process:
Before the phone interview
1. Be strategic with your contact information. Let potential organizations know the easiest way to contact you. Suggest that you can best be reached at home or via cell if it’s awkward for you to take calls at work. More and more organizations do phone interviews without any advance notice, so you want to establish the best conditions.
2. Keep a contact log. If you’re sending out multiple applications, keep a contact log so you can keep them straight. You’ll be better prepared for impromptu phone interviews or any return calls if you know which organization and position are calling you.
3. Do your research. A phone interview requires just as much preparation as a face-to-face version. Learn all you can about the organization, position, and people you’re going to interview with.
4. Prepare talking points and questions. Write down talking points and follow-up questions that you can refer to. It will help you sound prepared and make it easy to remember everything you need to address.
5. Warm up your voice. Your voice matters even more, when your body language and facial expressions aren’t visible. Hum or read to yourself for a few minutes to get it into condition.
6. Clear away distractions. Let other calls go to voicemail. Ask your friends and family not to interrupt you and give the call your full attention.
During the interview
1. Be friendly and enthusiastic. Make a strong first impression. Smile and hold your head up. Focus on the positive aspects of the position, so you’ll sound excited to discuss it.
2. Record everyone’s name. If you’re interviewing with more than one person, write down everyone’s name at the outset. It’ll come in handy if you meet them for an in-person interview.
3. Adapt to the interviewer’s approach. Be yourself but be sensitive to the style of your interviewer. Adjust to their level of formality and the degree of detail they are seeking. Some employers may just ask a few preliminary questions, while others will go into great depth.
4. Deliver your summary statement. Have a brief summary statement prepared about why you think you’re the right candidate. It should be about 20-30 seconds long.
5. Avoid interrupting. It can be difficult to judge when someone is done speaking when you can’t see them. Pause for a second before replying to avoid any awkward interruptions.
6. Request feedback. If you sense any weak areas during the phone interview, try to revisit them. Ask the interviewer to clarify their needs so you can offer more information to strengthen your case.
7. Ask questions and show you’re a good fit for the position. Ask questions that demonstrate that you’ve done your research. It will show that you’re really interested in the job and give you another chance to discuss why you’d be an asset.
8. Clarify the next steps. Ask about their hiring process. They may want to schedule an in-person interview immediately or let you know when they decide on the meeting finalists.
After the interview
1. Send a thank-you note. Send a brief note of thanks by email or regular mail. It’s good etiquette, and you’ll get another chance to show you’d be a good employee.
2. Make follow-up plans. Hiring decisions often take longer than expected. Follow-up is needed with tactful persistence.
Phone interviews now play an important role in the hiring process. Learning the techniques to ace a phone interview will give you a significant advantage in your job search.
After you ace your job interview and are accepted the position, how will you go about negotiating your salary? Check out our blog here on how to handle salary discussions with confidence.
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I am Dr. Hassan, Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own independent practice so that they can achieve financial independence and live without limits. Please go to businessofrehab.com/contractnegotiations to pick up the free guide to help you negotiate the contract after you kill it during your phone interview.
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Attention, Physiatrists! Stop leaving money on the table. Sign up for the free video series: How To Build A Profitable Practice in 90 Days or Less: http://www.sixtytosuccess.com
