Before the call
There are many things you can do prior to your call to make the experience as slick and professional as possible. Thorough preparation will help make the FDM telephone interview far less stressful, which in turn will help you to perform to the best of your abilities.Do your research
Make sure you research the company and its history. If possible, it’s always useful to know about the person conducting the interview. Check out the company’s channels to learn about any recent company news and get a feel for the company culture. Find something interesting about them to bring up. By mentioning something that is specific to the company when you get this question, you’ll stand out from others who have generic responses, and it will show your interviewer that you’ve really done your research.Explore the role and match your skills to the position
You should have received a job description before your FDM phone interview. Your recruiter has read your CV, so you already know that your skillset is in line with what they are looking for. Make sure you have a firm understanding of exactly how your skills and experience align, as well as what transferable skills you may have that would help you in the role.Have a copy of your CV, notes on the role and notes on the company to hand
With the exception of your CV, you will want to keep your notes short and high level. Make bullet points from your research and use these as prompts to jog your memory. Try to keep paper rustling to a minimum so it doesn’t interfere with the quality of the call and make sure it does not sound like you are just reading everything from a script. We may not be able to see you but, trust me, we’ll know!Plan out where you will take the FDM phone interview in advance
Picking the best location for your phone interview may seem trivial, but it really is important. I once decided to take a phone interview in a park. It was a nice day, so I figured why not? This was a plan that clearly, I didn’t think through. Speaking over the traffic of the cars driving by, the sirens of an ambulance, a baby crying, and the dogs barking made it incredibly difficult to communicate properly. Here are some factors to consider when picking a location for a phone interview:- Noise – Make sure it’s quiet. You don’t want to have to yell over the surrounding noise or ask your interviewer to repeat a question because you couldn’t hear.
- Comfort – Don’t take an interview outside if it’s freezing cold. By the end of it you’ll be miserable and want it to be over so you can get back inside.
- Reception – Nothing will ruin a great interview faster than dropping a call.