Seeking Employment Before You Relocate: Tips for a Successful Phone Interview

Businessman having a phone interview. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Relocating can be an exciting time for anyone; switching up your environment and going after new and improved opportunities is an excellent way to keep life fresh and new. On the other hand, looking for work while planning to relocate can be stressful, and many people try to find work before they move in hopes of setting their family up for the quickest adjustment period possible. This is a great strategy, but with it comes the dreaded phone interview, and for some reason, these tend to scare people more than a face-to-face one does. If you’re one of the many individuals who doesn’t know quite how to make a solid impression over the phone, here are a few things to keep in mind in order to help your interview go over smooth and painless.

Talk Clearly

Your interviewer isn’t going to have a chance to look at you, but that doesn’t mean your nervousness will be undetectable. Talking too fast is a common issue when it comes to phone interviews, so pace yourself; if you have to, do a couple mock interviews by yourself to help you feel a bit more prepared. It’s also extremely normal for your throat to dry up when you get nervous, so keep a water bottle handy during the interview. This will help keep your voice from cracking and allow you to sound as articulate and confident as possible.

Shut Out External Noise

Nothing is worse than engaging in a phone interview that seems to going pretty well only to have your dog start barking or your child barge into the room in a fit of rage. Do yourself a favor, and make sure that you keep the potential interruptions to a minimum before your interview. Drop the kids off at a relative’s, put your dog out in the yard, and make sure any other phone line you have won’t be loud enough to cause a disruption. It might seem like a miniscule thing, but a surprise disturbance in the interview can completely throw both you and the interviewer off.

Keep Your Resume Handy

Most employers will use your resume as a guide for knowing what to address in your interview, and it helps for you to keep a copy handy to reference as well. Even if it’s your personal information and all (or at least most) of it is true, remember you’re human and it’s natural to draw blanks in intimidating situations.  To help avoid an awkward pause, keep everything you sent to the interviewer right in front of you to help you stay on topic and keep the facts straight.

Take Notes

The person you’re interviewing with will almost certainly be taking notes on what you’re saying, and it’s important for you to do the same. Jot down the key points the interviewer makes, and use this for future reference in case you have more questions that come up later on. Also, unless you’re really sold on the specific position, you’re more than likely applying to more than one job, and having notes on each one will help you keep the important issues in mind if you have to choose between several positions.

Schedule it Like a Standard Appointment

Never think of a phone interview as something you can squeeze in between errands, during your lunch break, or on your way to another appointment. Not all phone interviews last the standard 30 minutes; some go under, some go over, so it’s important to work out a schedule that allows for some leeway. If for some reason the time the interviewer proposes doesn’t work for your schedule, be honest and try to reschedule. Having to keep your eye tightly on the clock can distract you from giving your best impression.

Follow Up with a Thank-You Note

Regardless of how you felt the interview went, always follow up with a thank-you note. This shows any potential employer that you’re actively pursuing the position, and it’s also a small way to leave a positive indicator of your character. Don’t overdo it in your thank-you note, but say enough that lets them know you’re grateful for their time as well as for the opportunity.

It seems hard enough to stand out to an employer in person, but when all you have to make a positive impression is a few minutes on the other end of the phone, it’s only natural to feel a little intimidated. On the positive side, however, phone interviews can be a great opportunity to get your foot in the door when you’re trying to find employment before you relocate, and by treating it like a real interview, talking clearly, being prepared, and showing your gratitude, you can at least have peace of mind knowing you’ve done all you can do; the rest is out of your control.

Arlene Chandler is a freelance writer who loves helping people face the uncertainty of the future. When she’s not taking her two yellow labs out into the hills, she writes about finance tips, career advice, and income protection insurance (Suncorp).