Proper etiquette for the telephone interview Answer the phone yourself. Listen carefully to the interviewer and don't start talking until the interviewer finishes the question. Don't worry if you need a few seconds to think of an answer, but don't leave too much dead air. When interview options are limited to the phone, it's crucial to make the most of the phone interview questions.
As a hiring manager or recruiter, it can be difficult to get the same results over the phone, as they hide important cues such as body language and interaction with other people in the office. When you schedule your interviews, evaluate the phone interview questions and estimate how much time you'll need with each candidate. It can be difficult to concentrate on the phone interview when the candidate isn't directly in front of you, but it's important not to be distracted. As in any interview, you'll want to “read the room” and go beyond your list of phone interview questions if necessary.
Many of the strategies you use during in-person interviews will also come into play as you figure out how to conduct a telephone interview. If the candidate doesn't pass those initial screening questions (which will vary depending on the organization), end the phone interview elegantly. While it may be easier to “trick” a candidate you haven't met in person, it's always a bad idea to ignore them after a phone interview. If this is new to your organization, you'll want to know how to conduct a telephone interview that gives you a clear idea of whether a given candidate is the right fit.
However, if done right, telephone interviews can reveal much more about a candidate than has already been deduced from their resume or social media profile. Once you learn how to conduct a telephone interview as effectively as possible, you'll be able to narrow down your pool of candidates more quickly. For example, standing up and smiling during telephone interviews can result in being more alert and authoritative, which would ideally be reflected in your voice. Just as you evaluate the job skills of candidates over the phone, they are also evaluating your organization.
