3 Tips to Shine During a Preliminary Telephone Interview

When your resume captures the attention of a company, you’ll be both excited and nervous. Sometimes, the company will conduct a preliminary telephone interview prior to an in-person one. Your call will take place over a conference call tool, such as Skype, or over the phone.

To be requested in-person, you have to wow them on the first call. Here are three tips to shine:

1. Show You Care and Know the Basics

The interviewer wants to know if your skill set meets the basic requirements of the job description during the phone interview. Will you fit in well? Do you meet the company’s needs and expectations?

As you’d construct your resume to fit the job description, you need to also address your responses similarly over the phone. Closely look at the job description, and think of concise but detailed responses that demonstrate each point.

Don’t pass over transferable experience, while you play up to your strongest talents reflected in each keyword. Print a copy of the job description for the call, and show your enthusiasm!

2. Do Some Professional Sleuthing

The interviewer wants to know if you’ll fit into the company’s work culture. Get to know the company with a little professional sleuthing. You’ll find everything on the company’s website and social media profiles:

  • Read the mission statement. What does it tell you about their values, and how does that match up with yours? Do the goals of the company traverse the same lines as your career goals?
  • What are big milestones of the company and their employees? Read up on employee successes to know more about the playing field.
  • On Twitter and LinkedIn, look up names of employees you’ve come across, that you might end up working for or with. How would you fit in among these personalities?

3. Don’t Overshare

Don’t say impolite statements about your previous employer, and don’t go into too many personal details about your life. At this point, you should only respond with relevant answers to the questions asked during the call.

Remember, if this call is a success, there’s more to come. So, leave them wanting more!  

Let yourself shine by showing that you know a lot about the company and that you care. Play to your strengths and only share timely and relevant information.

After you hang up, send a considerate email to thank the interviewer, and refer to a specific part of your conversation that revealed your mutual interests or professional strengths.

Let them know you’ll follow up after a week,that way, they’ll keep you in mind like the shining star you are! For more tips on showcasing your best professional attributes, follow the Nextaff blog. Here are some suggested blogs based on this article’s content: 5 Smart Questions to Ask During an Interview and Answer Those Awkward Interview Questions Like a Pro.

Nextaff is a staffing agency that offers employment opportunities in a variety of fields. We are most active with Temporary Staffing, though we also offer Temp to Permanent and Direct Hire opportunities as well. Nextaff currently has offices in Phoenix, AZ; Miami, FL; Orlando, FL; Overland Park, KS; Kansas City, MO; Ocean Springs, MS;  Harrisburg, PA; Raleigh, NC and Houston, TX.

 

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Meet Shane...

Shane’s journey with Nextaff began in 2019, when he established a successful franchise in the Kansas City metro area. His experience as a Nextaff franchise owner provides prospective buyers with a completely transparent view of the Nextaff Franchise Opportunity. Prior to his time at Nextaff, Shane led large sales teams in the Financial Services and Medical Device industries, further developing his expertise in leadership and business management.

Do you play sports?

Basketball! I was fortunate enough to play college basketball all 4 years and in 2013 we won the NCAA DII National Championship.

What do you love most about your current role?

Getting to know prospective franchise buyers. I love hearing about their goals and dreams they want to achieve through entrepreneurship.

What is your favorite color?

Orange! Yes, it is one of Nextaff’s main colors but it was my favorite before coming to Nextaff. In the franchising world, I’m known as “Orange pants guy”.

Meet Cary...

When it comes to operating a staffing firm, Cary has worn every hat.  From recruiting, to sales, to management, to ownership, he has been involved in every aspect of running a successful staffing business.  He has successfully led three separate companies to the Inc. 500 and Inc. 5000 lists, which puts him in an elite class of staffing entrepreneurship.  Combining that experience with a strong passion for entrepreneurs makes Cary an ideal leader for driving the Nextaff vision. 

Describe yourself in three words.

Loyal, Driven, Creative

Is there a mantra or affirmation you live by?

Do what you said you were going to do.

Do you have a celebrity doppelganger?

Back in the day, it was John Cusak.  “I want my two dollars!”