Times are changing, many companies now use telephone interviews to assess their candidates at the very beginning of the recruitment process. This method has many advantages: speed, time saving, efficiency and proximity. Discover the mistakes to absolutely avoid to maximize your chances of being retained in the company of your dreams.
Whether for an internship, a work-study program or even a first job, telephone interviews have become popular in many companies. Generally, it is one of the members of the HR department who calls you to carry out the first sorting following the screening CVs and cover letters. It generally allows you to review your skills and qualities. The objective? Judge whether the candidate can move on to the next step and meet the manager.
However, although this first step in the recruitment process is relatively short – generally it lasts 15 to 30 minutes – it should not be neglected! We give you all our tips for succeeding in this interview.
Mistake #1: Failing to anticipate technical problems and daily distractions
If you want to see your chances of joining the company disappear, nothing better than not foreseeing network problems or finding yourself in a situation where you will be unable to concentrate (driving, surrounded by your friends, etc.). From the moment you begin an interview, you are supposed to be in a calm place conducive to concentration. If this seems impossible to you, the best thing is to notify your recruiter in advance to postpone the interview. This will save you from deaf dialogue.
Before the interview, we recommend that you think about the different technical incidents that you may encounter (network outage, low battery, network problems, etc.) and thus avoid them. The recruiter will not always be understanding, it is mainly up to you to be preventive and take measures in advance.
Mistake #2: Not taking notes
The telephone interview has many advantages. It offers you the opportunity to have before your eyes key information and figures about the company and the position. During a face-to-face interview, it will be impossible for you to check your notes, this may even be perceived as a lack of professionalism. You must therefore take advantage of this advantage, without giving the impression that you are reading mechanically or reciting your text. We also advise you to print your CV in advance and underline the parts that you wish to develop during your exchange.
Mistake #3: Adopting a cold attitude
On the phone, we tend to seem much colder and distant, especially with people we don’t necessarily know. This is why it is important to pay attention to your attitude and be warm. Don’t hesitate to convey your enthusiasm and good humor through your voice.
A tip that works every time is to speak with a smile while paying attention to the tone you use. It is also essential to listen to the questions asked by the interlocutor. You can take some time to think before answering. This will prevent you from appearing distracted or from formulating short and not necessarily convincing answers.
Mistake #4: Monopolizing the floor or speaking too often
The recruiter will not be able to decipher your body language to learn a little more about your personality and your motivations for joining the company. We therefore advise you to only speak when your interlocutor has finished speaking. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that monopolizing the floor for ten minutes will earn you points. The recruiter will be tired of what you are saying and will inevitably lose track at some point. It is best to keep it short and concise.
Additionally, if you talk too often or monologue, it can be interpreted as stress. You obviously have the right to be stressed. However, you should not drown your interlocutor under your stress or under an uncontrollable flow of words.
Mistake #5: Being familiar
When speaking with your recruiter, it is important to keep in mind that they are not your friends. You must therefore adopt a professional attitude while remaining relaxed. Finding the right balance between the two isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either. Take the time to train and put yourself in a situation with your loved ones.
Another detail that very few people pay attention to is the answering machine. Adapt your greeting message so that it is sober, short and serious. If, on the contrary, it is too familiar, you risk losing credibility in the eyes of the recruiter. “ This does not give a very qualitative image and affects the credibility of the candidate », explains Romain Werlen, senior director at the Page Personnel firm, Keljob.
Mistake #6: Not preparing sufficiently for the telephone interview
If you are unable to provide precise and clear answers to the classic questions of a job interview (your motivations for joining our company, what attracts you in particular to us, what are the particularities of our sector? activity, etc.), you will probably have no chance of accessing the following stages of the recruitment process. Just because the interview is over the phone doesn’t mean you should take it lightly.
It is essential that you anticipate the questions that all recruiters ask in interviews and keep the answers in mind. Another point that recruiters particularly appreciate is the fact of bringing out elements of company news. This will show that you have a real interest in the sector and that you are ready to invest over time.
Mistake #7: Ending the interview in a hurry
At the end of the interview, it is important to take the time to thank the recruiter for their time and the interest in your profile. You can also take advantage of the end of this exchange to ask all your questions. If no relevant questions come to mind, you can simply say: “I am really delighted to have spoken with you. I had one last question, when do you think you will come back to me for the next steps in the recruitment process? »
You can also ask him what he thought of your exchange and if everything was clear to him. If the feeling went well between you, you can ask him for advice for your next interviews.
The telephone interview can be a very stressful exercise, given that you do not necessarily see the facial expressions of your interlocutor and you do not know if you are on the right track or if you are going the wrong way. But you shouldn’t be discouraged. So don’t hesitate to respond to your recruiter’s comments and show genuine interest in them.
