Make First Impression in Phone Screening

From pile of resumes, the hiring manager picks up 10 to 20 attractive candidates. Then these candidates are screened by telephone pre-interview conversation. Finally 5 to 10 candidates may be scheduled for formal interview. Passing telephone screening is so important in your long journey to the new job. If you can make a perfect first impression in phone screening, you not only get the interview, but also lead way to a job offer. After all, first impression is first impression, it comes with magic power.

How to Make the First Impression in Phone Screening?

First you should understand what the hiring manager wants to know and like to get from the phone screening. If they want to bring you to interview, they must make sure:

• You have confidence on your qualification.
• You have enthusiasm about the position.
• You are really available.

Here’s what you should do:

When on the phone, speak up! Convey energy. Stand up.

On the phone screening there will not be a lot of technical questions asked, but the hiring manager may want to check what job you are doing recently. It is a good opportunity for you to discuss how you can help companies improve their bottom lines. People are attracted to others who speak with excitement and conviction. Be yourself, but increase your volume.

Since the hiring manager cannot see you, the way you speak and the speech volume are critical, that’s where you make the first impressions. Make the way you talk deliver confidence and enthusiasm. A simple way to make it happen is to increase your volume. It may be as early as 8 a.m. in the morning and you are barely waked up, but still, you need to adjust yourself quickly and speak like a power-charged person. A few years ago, I called a prospective candidate at 9 a.m., and I still can’t believe this: He yawned twice during our 10-minute interview. Obviously, he made my decision very easy.