Telephonic Interview Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

When you have a telephonic interview scheduled, you are bound to be anxious and nervous about it. After all, appearing for an interview alone is daunting enough. You have to prepare yourself way ahead of appearing for one. And when it is supposed to be over the phone, it is additionally stressful. How do you make an impression on someone without having met them face-to-face? Body language, gestures and your expressions are all important parts of communication, and sometimes they speak louder than the words you use. When doing a telephone interview, the only thing you have is your words and tone of your voice to convey what you want to say. This is why it is extremely important to be fluent in English when appearing for a telephonic interview.





For you to convey exactly what you want to, you need to know the right words and phrases to express your thoughts. And if you are someone who is new to learning spoken English, it can be nerve-wracking. But don't worry, as usual, we are here to help you. Here are some helpful tips and also mistakes that you should avoid when doing a telephonic interview.


Helpful tips for a telephonic interview 


Make sure you have a good telephone connection:

The very first and basic requirement for a telephone interview is to have a stable connection where you can hear the other person clearly and vice-versa. If using a mobile phone, take the call in a good network reception area.


Don’t be afraid to ask the person to repeat their question:

If you did not hear something clearly, do not reply simply by assuming what the other person had asked. Be confident and ask the interviewer to repeat what he/she said and then reply.


Keep a notepad handy:

The most helpful tip is definitely this one – keep a notepad handy. You will feel the need to make notes, or even jot down your thoughts while the other person is speaking. A notepad is definitely life-saver during telephonic interviews.



Mistakes to avoid





Don’t be in a rush:

Yes, we understand that you want to make an impression, but rushing in to answer a question can backfire. When you are asked a question, take a few seconds to understand and contemplate your question, and then answer. Remember the golden rule – 'Think before you speak'.


Avoid fumbling:

This is an extension to the above mistake and you should avoid this also. You will fumble when you are not sure about what you want to say. Thinking in advance will help you avoid it. Also, the notes you make on your notepad can help you find the right words to speak.


Don’t cut in:

There is nothing ruder than cutting in when somebody is talking. Even if you need to say something important or urgent, do not cut in. If you worry that you will lose your train of thought, use a notepad to make a note.



Hopefully, these tips will help you ace your telephonic interview.


About EAgeTutor:

eAgeTutor.com is the premier online tutoring provider. eAge's world-class faculty and ace communication experts from around the globe help you to improve English in an all-round manner. Assignments and tasks based on a well-researched content developed by subject matter and industry experts can certainly fetch the most desired results for improving spoken English skills. Overcoming limitations is just a click of mouse away in this age of effective and advance communication technology. For further information on online English speaking course or to experience the wonders of virtual classroom fix a demonstration session with our tutor. Please visit www.eagetutor.com.

-By Chander Madan


Related topics:

1- Smart Answers to Tricky Job Interview Questions 

2- Smart tips to succeed in an interview 

3- 5 Things to avoid doing at an interview

4- How to introduce yourself impressively in an interview?

5- Simple tips to ace a job interview

Top mistakes during telephonic interviews and how to avoid them

Hunting for a job, are you? Well, best of luck to you. Finding a good job takes a lot of effort, and most of it is making a good impression during your interview. You know well that an interview is the most crucial part of the job process, and you must give more than your 100 percent. A lot of times, people prefer taking interviews over the telephone, as it is more time-saving and quick. If you have a telephonic interview lined up, avoid making the top common mistakes people make during telephonic interviews. Treat it with the same seriousness as you would in a face-to-face interview.





Common mistakes to avoid


Here are some common mistakes that people make in telephonic interviews.


Getting distracted:

Whether you are an amateur English speaker or not, distractions can cause you to lose your train of thoughts and you will end up fumbling and trying to remember what you want to say. If you have learnt to speak English only recently, or are still learning, you should avoid getting distracted during a telephonic interview. Focus on what you are saying, try to use the correct words and make your answers accurate and precise. 



Not focussing on the tone of your voice:

Spoken English is not only about knowing when to use the right words and having an extensive vocabulary, it is also about how you speak, the tone of your voice, which words you stress on and when you take a pause. For you to make a good impression solely based on your communication skills, you need to be alert about the tone of your voice throughout the interview. An ideal tone should be pleasant, clear and thinking pauses that aren’t too long.  


 
Not putting extra efforts at being polite:

When you have a face-to-face interview, there are many ways that you can show that you are a polite and well-mannered person. You will knock on the door before you enter, you will smile, shake hands, wait for the person to ask you to take your seat, etc. With a telephonic interview, you need to convey everything just with your voice. Therefore, start with greeting the person, and asking how they are doing. Example, “Good Morning. How are you doing? I am glad we could connect over the phone.’ Also, give the other person some adequate time to respond and wait for them to finish before you start speaking. Don’t cut them off mid-sentence if you need to state a point. Also, at the end of the interview, thank them for their time and say, “It was a pleasure speaking to you.”


 
Not paying attention to pronunciation:

On a telephonic interview, you need to be extra careful that you put forth your points precisely and say exactly what you mean. Just like the game of Chinese whispers, a lot can be misunderstood or conveyed incorrectly if you have, say, disturbance in the line, background noise, faulty phone connection, etc. So be careful to enunciate properly and confirm that the person has understood exactly what you want to convey. The key is to be very brief and to-the-point as possible, and to speak clearly and calmly so to avoid any misunderstandings.

 
Using too many filler words:

It is easy, and likely to happen, that you get distracted during a telephonic interview. And when that happens, you kind of lose a track of what you were saying, and then you either take pauses or use filler words while you try to catch your thought. The only way to avoid this is finding a spot and taking you phone there. Another tip for avoiding filler words is to prepare for your interview ahead. Read up on the topic and conduct mock interviews to prepare for the kind of questions you might get asked. When you know what you need to say, chances are that you won’t be using filler words.



Be prepared and give your best – that’s the only way of acing a telephonic interview. All the best!


- By Chander Madan


Related topics:

1. How to introduce yourself impressively in an interview?

2. Smart Answers to Tricky Job Interview Questions

3. Smart tips to succeed in an interview

4. How to conduct an ideal interview conversation?

5. Simple tips to ace a job interview

How to talk about your dream job?

After graduation, the first thing that comes in our mind is to get a job and enter corporate world. We hunt for jobs and prepare for interviews. Interviews make us nervous and anxious. No matter how much you prepare, at some or the other time we go blue. Interview is the first step to one’s career. It is important to prepare with adequate research and answer the interview questions with grace and confidence. Confidence is the key for every interview. Be confident and use fluent English to succeed in the interview. A key ingredient of a successful interview is excellent communication skills.



However, in every interview,the same  set of easy questions are asked which make people nervous. One of them is, “What is your dream job?” Answering this question might seem easy as everyone has a dream job/ company in their mind. But before answering the question, wait! The answer for this question needs to be articulated to the point. Below are few simple tips that can be used to impress the interviewer.

1. Highlight your skills

Start with the skills that you are good at and enjoy doing it.  At the same time, don’t hide your weaknesses. You can explain how and what steps are you taking to improve them and grow your career. You can use below responses:


Examples:

I have mentioned my experience with __. My dream job would have to relate to that. I would also love to grow my skills in __.


I have thought about this before, and I know I would want to keep enhancing my skills in __ as well as learn more about __.

2. Show your values

This is a great way of showing your career values and culture together with the current company’s culture and values.  You can make your responses like:


Example:

Based on my skills and interests, in my dream job, I would want to __ as related to __, ideally in a company where I could __ and __. These are both important to me, and I am thrilled to see that they seem to be equally important in this company.


3. Talk about your interests

In this point, you can say how you found an interest to a specific industry. Try giving some examples or any real-life experiences that might have happened in your school or college days. Build your response like below answers.


Example:

I have been interested in the __ industry ever since I first discovered __. That, combined with my interest in __ and __ means I have been enthusiastic ever since.


The above responses and tips show how to talk about your dream job in simple English. To gain confidence, you can practice them with the help of a friend or an English learning course online.

ABOUT EAGETUTOR:


eAgeTutor.com is the premier online tutoring provider. eAge's world-class faculty and ace communication experts from around the globe help you to improve English in an all-round manner. Assignments and tasks based on a well-researched content developed by subject matter and industry experts can certainly fetch the most desired results for improving spoken English skills. Overcoming limitations is just a click of mouse away in this age of effective and advance communication technology. For further information on online English speaking course or to experience the wonders of virtual classroom fix a demonstration session with our tutor. Please visit www.eagetutor.com.

- By Shailja Varma

Related topics:

1. How to introduce yourself impressively in an interview?
2. Grooming tips for a job interview
3. Avoid these nervous mannerisms in an interview
4. 5 Things to avoid doing at an interview
5. How to conduct group discussions for interviews?

Simple tips to ace a job interview

Interviews always make us anxious and sometimes nervous. Even with a lot of preparation one may never feels he’s completely prepared for the interview.  An interview is often the gateway to one’s career and hence, preparing for it well in advance is important. With adequate research and preparation, one can improve his confidence level and thereby succeed in the interview. A key ingredient of a successful interview is excellent communication skills. Polish your English communication skills and ace the interview with the following tips.



5 Smart tips to follow

1. Prepare for the common questions

Almost 70% of the companies ask common questions in order to know who you are, how well you handle different situations and pressures. Prepare for obvious questions well and you may most certainly move to next round of interview. The most common interview questions asked are,


”Tell me about yourself”

“Where do you see yourself in [2, 5, 10] years?”

“Tell us about an issue that you resolved on your own? How did you handle it and which resources did you use?”

Learn to answer them properly with suitable examples.

2. Tell stories

No, we don’t mean the bedtime stories. When interviewer asks any situational questions, you can think of any past scenario and answer it creatively. Using real stories from your past builds trust and credibility, and it supports your responses.


3. Ask questions

Often in an interview, interviewees don’t ask questions. But, this is the time you should use your communication skills and ask questions creatively. Do your research about the company and show that you have invested thought into the question. You can ask questions like:


"How will you measure the success of the person in this position?"

"Do you have a set of goals you want me to accomplish in my first 30/60/90 days on the job?"

Questions like these will make the interviewer think about an answer, which shows them you are creative and unique.

4. Know how to negotiate

When it comes to negotiation, people are very hesitant. Make sure you research the average salary of similar positions in your area with your education and qualifications. Also, keep in mind that if you ask for a higher salary, you might get it depending on your experience and skills.


5. Firm your handshake

Your handshake matters a lot. When you meet the interviewer give a strong firm handshake.


Hope the above tips will help you pass an interview with flying colors. Remember to keep an eye contact and be confident while answering the questions. Before you go for an interview, brush up your Spoken English skills to make a lasting impression on the employer.

About EAgeTutor:


eAgeTutor.com is the premier online tutoring provider. eAge's world-class faculty and ace communication experts from around the globe help you to improve English in an all-round manner. Assignments and tasks based on a well-researched content developed by subject matter and industry experts can certainly fetch the most desired results for improving spoken English skills. Overcoming limitations is just a click of mouse away in this age of effective and advance communication technology. For further information on online English speaking course or to experience the wonders of virtual classroom fix a demonstration session with our tutor. Please visit www.eagetutor.com.

- By Chander Madan

Related topics:

1. Grooming tips for a job interview

2. How to answer confidently in an exit interview?
3. Smart Answers To Tricky Job Interview Questions
4. How to introduce yourself impressively in an interview?
5. Smart tips to succeed in an interview

Grooming tips for a job interview

You will read a lot of tips that prepare you to face an interview. The kind of attire that you should wear, the mannerisms that are appropriate to use, and the attitude you should carry for success, but, not much is said on grooming tips for a successful job interview. Like it or not, you will be judged on your appearance as well, no matter how skilled and qualified you are. The most important aspect are your interpersonal skills, your conduct and your intelligence in replying to the questions.



Pre-interview tips

Wear your confidence and speak fluent English are the two key guidelines to crack an interview. In addition, let us look at a few grooming tips that will come handy to create a first good impression.


1. Shine your shoes

Interviewers notice your tidiness and one way to do is to  look at your shoes. If your shoes are messy or dirty, you may be the same in your job as well – this is a common notion. Therefore, make sure to shine your shoes before you head for an interview.


2. Wear neat clothes

Moving forward, your attire should be stain-free and odour-free. Wear a freshly ironed shirt and trouser. The more neat and suave you look, the better are your chances of making a positive impression.


3. Comb your hair

No matter how much you have travelled to reach the interview location, it is vital that you visit that you make your hair right before going in for the session. Brush and comb your hair and put them away from your face, don’t let it come on your face while you are in the middle of an interview.


4. Learn to pronounce key names

You can go through the company’s website and get a hang on their products and key personnel. Learn to pronounce the names rightly so as to not embarrass yourself in front of the interviewers. Besides, it will improve your chances of getting the job as you may come across as well-prepared.


10 Quick tips

1. Speak English fluently and with confidence

2. Trim your fingernails
3. Leave flashy jewelry at home
4. Never chew a gum
5. Carry a portfolio always
6. Arrive fifteen minutes early for the interview
7. Shake hands firmly
8. Maintain an eye contact throughout
9. Wear a smile and a positive attitude
10. Never interrupt or argue

 Hope the above tips will help you crack an interview with flying colors. All the best.


About EAgeTutor:


eAgeTutor.com is the premier online tutoring provider. eAge's world-class faculty and ace communication experts from around the globe help you to improve English in an all-round manner. Assignments and tasks based on a well-researched content developed by subject matter and industry experts can certainly fetch the most desired results for improving spoken English skills. Overcoming limitations is just a click of mouse away in this age of effective and advance communication technology. For further information on online English speaking course or to experience the wonders of virtual classroom fix a demonstration session with our tutor. Please visit www.eagetutor.com.

- By Chander Madan

Related topics:

1. How to Make a Fluent First Impression in English?

2. How to talk about a viral video you saw recently?
3. Avoid these nervous mannerisms in an interview
4. The Perfect body language at an interview
5. Phrasal Verbs with Take