How Do I Prepare for a Zoom or Phone Interview?

Remote job interviews were a common occurrence long before 2020. In fact, they may be one of the few things that companies didn’t have to scramble to manage in the new way of doing business. It’s simply more efficient to screen several candidates by phone before scheduling significant time for in-person interviews. 

Now that so many businesses have embraced virtual meeting technology, you may find more interviews taking place over video rather than just audio. Whether your interview is by phone or video, I have four top tips for mastering it.

1. Do Your Homework on the Company

You most likely already did a little digging on the company when you applied, but now it’s time to really study who they are and what they do. Explore the company’s website, taking time to read staff bios, blogs, press releases, and resources. If the company has a LinkedIn profile, you may find even more current information about them. Search the company on Google, as well, to locate any relevant news articles about them.

Reflect on the following: Do the company’s values and priorities align with yours? Can you see yourself getting behind this mission?

It’s okay if you don’t have a strong sense of that yet. Sometimes, that’s easier to determine during the actual interview. For now, make sure you understand what the company does, because that may be one of your first interview questions.

2. Bring Your Personality to the Interview

The company reached out to you because on paper, you meet the qualifications they are seeking in a job candidate. While they will certainly ask you to expound on your skills and experience, they are more interested in meeting you as a person. Be ready to talk about yourself, and use what you learned in your research to convey alignment between the company and your own values.

Even if you are in an audio-only interview, be sure to dress as though people can see you, and smile! If you dress professionally and smile throughout the interview, you will have more confidence and exhibit your best manners. Trust me - people can hear a difference in your voice when you smile.

3. Make Conversation and Be Relatable

When your interviewer ends the call, what notes do you want them to make on your file? Since the interviewer may not even work in the department that’s making hiring decisions, the impression you make will carry more value than your actual job skills. It’s important to be as conversational as possible during your interview. This does not mean you should use slang, tell jokes, or go off topic. It does mean that you should answer questions thoughtfully with more than one word answers, ask questions at the end of your answers, and show genuine enthusiasm for the company and the work they do.

When the interview is over, you want the interviewer to be smiling. If they feel like they had a great conversation with a person they could relate to, they will make positive notes on your file and recommend you for the next round of interviews.

4. Be Confident and Take Ownership

Keep in mind that your interview is a time for you to make your own assessments. Do you like what you learned during the interview? Did you get a better sense of whether or not the company could be a good fit for your values? Do you feel that the job itself would be the right challenge for you? If you feel positive about what you’re learning from your interviewer, be confident in your ability to move forward.

Before the interview ends, ask for information about the next steps. Find out when you will hear, how the next interview will be conducted, and with whom you will be meeting. Ask at what point in the process do they bring candidates on-site and how those logistics are managed, especially if you would have to travel. By asking questions that show your expectations, you’ll give your interviewer important clues that you are interested, and that could make the difference in whether or not they recommend you for the next step.

Feeling uncertain about how to prepare for your big interview? Don’t panic. Putting yourself out there to a new company is hard, but don’t sell yourself short. Take control of that interview with confidence and enthusiasm to make a great first impression. Having trouble getting a second interview, or just need to brush up on your skills? Schedule a strategy session where we can talk about practicing for your next interview.