Author: Paul J. Bailo
Publisher: Career Press. 184 pages
Book Review by Ramu Nakliba
This is a handy reference handbook which should be read carefully at least once in a very quiet room so that the jobseeker absorbs and retains as much essential information as possible so that he thoroughly prepares himself mentally and psychologically for his phone interview.
Then he should refer to the important parts of the book every now and then, and more often, as the phone interview date nears. Being prepared for the all-important opportunity you are looking for, cannot be overemphasized.
In the Introduction itself, Paul J. Bailo gives the jobseeker five key points to remember in being a successful phone interviewee: be yourself; prepare, prepare, prepare; listen, think, speak; be confident, professional and assertive; and be brief, be bold, be done.
Paul J. Bailo has developed a package called Phone Interview Pro for jobseekers. It consists of the The Essential Phone Interview Handbook, an evaluation of the candidate, and an online education program.
Beyond mastering the five points or key elements of a successful phone interview, the author says that the phone interview is a like a first date. You want to make sure it goes well, so that you will be given the opportunity to the second step: a face-to-face interview. And when you have the first of successful in-person interviews, you could reach your goal of a good permanent job.
Paul J. Bailo also says that a phone interview is like a first dance. What this means is that the interviewer and interviewee need to be in step. Both must share information with each other to see if it is a fit, and if they can take coordinated steps. The question-and-answer session needs to flow smoothly. The phone interview needs to determine if you can interact well with. H will also make a judgment that you con interact well with the others you will be working with in the organization.
This is a small handbook but it has numerous to-the-point tips on how best to prepare for a phone interview, what to say, and what not to say, how to be comfortable in answering the questions and how to ace the interview.
It instructs you on how to control your surroundings, which type of phone and equipment to use for the phone interview, how to “warm up” by researching the company, the interviewer, and even the time to know what time it is in the location where the interviewer is.
Preparing yourself also means giving yourself thinking time before the phone rings, being well rested, eating something if you want to, checking your voice, and just being comfortable, not nervous. Avoid ums and ahs, set the tone and even dress up as if it is a going to be an in-person interview, so you feel good about yourself. As they say, when you look good, you feel good and you “talk good.”
On the phone interview itself, Paul J. Bailo suggests: that you keep a positive attitude, mind your conversation etiquette, be earnest, honest, humble and have a sense of humor to break up tension. He says to stay focused on the conversation, avoid distraction, and talk as if you were looking at the interviewer.
Don’t be tense, relax and have fun and have the expectation that it will be successful one in terms of having answered all of the interviewers’ questions and most important, he or she is left with a good overall impression of you. Of course you cannot read his or her mind, but you could ask a question or make a comment like: “I hope I have answered all or most of your questions.
