The 7 Worst Mistakes You Can Make During a Phone Interview

The 7 Worst Mistakes You Can Make During a Phone InterviewYou get a phone call out of the blue to interview you for a job. That means your interviewer will be totally forgiving if youre unprepared, right? Wrong. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) You do need to be preparedalways. Steer clear of unterstellung 7 common pitfalls and set yourself up for success. Here are the 7 worst mistakes you can make during a phone interview.1. bedrngnis being able to remember which job this isThe interviewer will say shes so-and-so from such-and-such company. That has to trigger for you exactly which position you applied to. The only way youre allowed to ask is if youve applied for two positions in the same company. Otherwise, make aya youre sharp and prepared to recall exactly which positions go with which companies.As far as she is concerned, her open position is the only one in the world. Dont give her evidence that her job isnt special for you.2. Talki ng in public/while driving /in the subwayIf you get surprised by a call while in public, politely state that youre in a less-than-ideal setting for a conversation and ask if you can reschedule or postpone until you can get to a quiet, private spot. If you have scheduled your phone interview and it does not come as a surprise, make sure youre going to be available to answer in ideal conditions.3. notlage knowing the formatIf youre scheduling a remote interview, make sure you know whether its via phone or Skype or FaceTime. Not to mention who is contacting whom, and whether all the relevant contact information has been shared.4. Botching the Who are you? questionYour interviewer starts with Tell us a little about yourself. Dont blow it. And dont just give a brief bio and a sense of your favorite taste in movies. Target this answer to include compelling reasons why you understand the companies needs and fit them perfectly. Prepare this in advance, for each position you apply to. Just i n case.5.Not asking questionsIf youve got em, ask em. Particularly if youve heard some scuttlebutt about the company. Now is your chance to find out. Take any insider gossip with a grain of salt, of course, but find a clever and nonspecific way of asking around it, particularly if you have concerns.6. Not having an answer to the salary questionYou may think youre not being pushy, but really you look unprepared and not confident or experienced enough to know better. Have a range in mind, for any and all positions, and be prepared to state it clearly. Dont aim too high or too low for the company or positiondo some research ahead of time. Weigh what you used to make, what theyre offering, and what you think you can get before coming up with a number. And its always okay to ask them what their budgeted range is before stating your requirements.7. Not identifying the elephant in the roomIf youre in the least bit under-qualified for a position, or lack a specific certification, you must n ot simply lean back and rely on charm. They know what your applications lacks and so do you. Its best to be honest and up front about this and provide practical solutions for your inexperience. Theyll see that youre mature enough to realize your weaknesses, but professional enough to have a plan to surpass expectations.