Zen and the Art of Mastering the Phone Interview
For many, phone interviews are the hardest thing about the
pharmaceutical sales job search. Nearly every company uses an
initial "phone screen" in their process however so it's
important to know what you can do to ensure you perform well
during the phone interview process. Here are 10 ways to improve
your chances of success.
1. Use a land line. This doesn't take much explaining.
Interviews are hard to come by. The last thing you want to do is
drop the . . . hello. Hello? Can you hear me? I think you get
the point - and don't use a speaker phone.
2. Dress for success. Go through the normal routine you would
have if this had happened to be a face to face interview. For
instance, if you expect the call at 10a.m., don't roll out of
bed at 9:15 and expect to be ready for the call. Get up at your
normal hour - say 7a.m. Do a bit of studying over a light
breakfast, shower, shave and dress as if you were going to a
real interview. OK, you can lose the jacket and tie. But look
nice, will ya? It sounds silly but taking these steps will trick
your body into thinking it needs to be at the top of its game.
And your body will come through in the clutch.
3. Center down. Allow yourself a bit of time (15 minutes or so)
before the call to relax. Spend that time breathing deeply,
forcing the thoughts of the company, the job and the interview
out of your mind. With every exhalation, let the stress that has
built up in your neck and shoulders escape. This practice will
allow your brain to work free from stress when the phone rings
and will set the tone for your breathing during the interview
itself.
4. Talk with your hands. Allow yourself to use your hands while
talking. Studies show that your brain can think of the exact
words you want to use more easily when you allow your hands to
move freely as you would in normal conversation.
5. Smile. When someone smiles when your talking on the phone,
you can hear it. So will your interviewer. Do it and make
him/her feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
6. Hydrate. Keep some water handy. You don't want to keep the
interviewer waiting if you get choked up or your mouth gets dry
(and it will). By the way, "excuse me, I need to take a drink of
water" is always an acceptable way to stall if you need a few
extra seconds to think.
7. Check for agreement. If I've said it once, I've said it a
thousand times. The job interview is a sale and the product is
you. There is one question that is a salesperson's best friend
and it is, "Did I answer your question completely?" Questions
like this give the interviewer the opportunity to ask more
questions of you and take away the opportunity for him/her to
make excuses as to why you're not a good fit.
8. Close. You're a salesperson and salespeople close. Even
though you know the interviewer probably won't be able to commit
to moving you further in the process ask him/her to do so anyway.
9. Mind your posture. Sit up straight in a quiet place with all
your notes in front of you OR (even better) lay your notes out
on a desk or large workspace and stand up while you talk. You'll
also use your hands more if you're standing up.
10. Control. Your. Cadence. When we're nervous, we have a
tendency to talk fast. Make a concerted effort to slow your
speech and enunciate. You're interviewer will appreciate your
articulation and your brain will have more time to think about
the right things to say.
Can you hear me now? Good.