How To Conduct an Effective Phone Interview

As social beings, not only verbally, but most humans also communicate with body language and non-verbal signals. When conducting interviews to identify and find out more about the candidate's skills, telephone interviews can be more difficult.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, phone interviews have become very common for HRD to do. Not only is it more flexible for both parties, namely HRD and the candidate, phone interviews allow you to be more prepared. Although it doesn't give the same feeling as a face-to-face interview, telephone interactions are still effective for assessing a candidate's abilities.

Benefits of Phone Interview

Currently the interview process can be done in several ways, such as face to face, video, and telephone. However, only with face-to-face and video interviews you can judge the answers they give through behavior and appearance. Unlike the telephone you can only rely on the candidate's answers.

This can actually be very profitable. Because it needs to be recognized that not a few candidates feel nervous when they meet face to face with recruiters. This allows the answers issued are not optimal. Phone interviews are expected to make candidates more comfortable so that the answers given are maximized. In order for the phone interview to run effectively, pay attention to the following ways:

1. Preparation

Failed interviews are not only caused by the unpreparedness of the candidate, but also by the recruiter. Contacting candidates without knowing their details or the details of the job being offered will create an unprofessional image.

When this happens, candidates may think that your company is not the right company, so they will leave. Therefore, prepare yourself and hone your skills as best you can.

2. Transparancy

It is important to remember that interviews are conducted to ensure that the candidate is suitable for the position being applied for. Meanwhile, you can't do this unless they are open and honest. Therefore, inform the candidate about how the interview will be conducted, the summary that will be asked during the interview, and the subsequent recruitment process. Also explain the intent and purpose of your asking. This is done so that the candidate feels comfortable and can give honest answers.

3. Choose a Quiet Place

Not only the content, the location of the interview is also important for you to pay attention to. Noisy places can make you and your candidate feel uncomfortable to the point of frustration. If this happens, there is a fear that a lot of information will not be conveyed, so that the evaluation of the candidate will be reduced. Therefore, choose a place that is quiet and away from distractions.

4. Avoid Excessive Talking

The interview process is conducted to find out the candidate's abilities more deeply. Therefore, it will be very difficult to get to know the candidate if you are the one doing the talking. Know the candidate's capabilities by asking a few questions that you have prepared.

Here you need to pay attention to the interview process as it goes. Because the answers they give can be influenced by the words and language choices you use during the interview. It is feared that the candidate will give a dishonest answer.

5. Make a Checklist

The last thing you want to do when interviewing is to call back on the candidate for answers you forgot to ask. Not only is it embarrassing and comes across as unprofessional, it can delay the hiring process.

Therefore, make a list of questions to ask and don't end the call until you have checked the entire list. By doing this you are also positioning all candidates equally, because you have given them the opportunity to answer the same questions.

6. Avoid Intervieweing While Eating and Drinking

Even though, it sounds trivial eating and drinking during a phone interview is a big no-no. If you do this, you will be seen as disrespectful and disrespectful to the candidate. To drink may still be reasonable.

If you do need a drink during the interview, ask the candidate for permission. This is done to leave a polite and respectful impression on the candidate. Before the interview takes place, make sure you have eaten and drank so you don't feel hungry and thirsty.

There are probably a few more ways you can make phone interviews effective. However, practicing these methods as a basic foundation can help you minimize mistakes and other unwanted things.