Keep It Simple!

Over the past few years, I have had several phone interviews, most of them successful . Here are the tips, some of them obvious, some of them not so much that have definitely helped me.

1. Nothing beats a great night sleep before the interview. Being fresh is absolutely critical.
2. Always brush up details about the company, the job description before the interview.  A dear friend of mine, in a Microsoft interview talked about how he would be a great fit to Myspace, thinking that they were a subsidiary of M$. Also, if you know who is going to interview you, look him/her up on LinkedIn and also Search for his/her professional skills, interests and prepare.
3. Know your resume like the back of your palm and keep a copy handy.
4. Go over this list of 50 common interview questions and be prepared with answers for each one of them. Customize the answers based on the job profile and the company.
5. Search the company’s  interview questions, recommendations from employees. Glassdoor is a great place to start.
6. Have a good breakfast on the day of the interview. One cannot emphasize enough the importance of having a great breakfast everyday of your life. It gives a refreshing start to the day and is a healthy habit.
7. Take a shower, dress formally and take the phone interview sitting in a chair. It definitely helps you get into the right frame of mind and your answers are definitely more polished and professional. Trust me, I have done interviews on my bed in shorts and there is a marked difference.
8. Watch something funny or listen to music before the interview. You feel relaxed and it also helps you focus better. I would recommend Seinfeld or Friends. Do not cram at the last minute. Always study beforehand and you will be much more relaxed during the interview.
9. Have ice cream/yogurt/chocolate depending on what you like probably 10-15 mins. before the interview.  You will feel calmer and cooler instantly.
10. Avoid clutter around you. Keep only a pen, paper, glass of water, good phone (headphones/mike or bluetooth) and a copy of your resume around you. You definitely don’t want to be distracted especially not when you are trying to find the order complexity of Towers of Hanoi.
11. Strike a balance between talking and listening. Let the interviewer do the talking, explain about the position and company. Listen carefully and reply accordingly.
12. Ask at least a couple of follow up questions after the interview. It shows that you are interested in the company and the job. Have a good idea about what you are going to ask so that you don’t ask something awkward during the interview. Keep the questions professional and related to the job/company.
13. Never discuss salary information with the interviewer unless asked specifically.   Make sure that you are not discussing confidential information and if at any time, you are in doubt and you cannot answer a question because of that, definitely let the interviewer know. It is totally OK to answer something that might violate your NDA.
14. Definitely send a thank you letter/email after the interview to the recruiter and also to the interviewer if possible. Helps you stand out and shows that you are genuinely interested in the position. Also, the recruiter would promptly follow up with the interviewer and your application process will whiz by.

Lastly, keep smiling and answer confidently. Believing that you are going to kick ass, is more than half the interview cracked.

Got something to add to these tips or have these tips helped you also? Share them and I would love to hear about it in the comments.