Why would you need body language tips for a phone interview when they can’t see what you’re doing? Because what you do affects your voice. Can you tell when you’re talking to someone on the phone if they are distracted, tense, or interested and enthusiastic? Well, your interviewer can, too—and it can make all the difference in whether or not you make it to the face-to-face interview. Related: How To Ace A Phone Interview
Here Are 7 Body Language Tips To Use In Your Next Phone Interview:
Before The Interview – Pretend To Be Superman
Harvard researcher Amy Cuddy recommends Power Poses as a way to build confidence before you go into a stressful situation (like a job interview). They may not work for everyone, but for some, power posing works wonders. A couple of minutes before your call, stand with your hands on your hips with your chin in the air like Superman. See if that makes you feel a little more powerful. If you do, that confidence will absolutely show up in your voice, and make you more attractive to the interviewer.Stand Up
Is your automatic assumption that you’ll sit down (maybe at a desk) for your phone interview? You may be missing out. If you stand, your voice will project more energy, and you may even feel more confident. Both of these are important to project to an interviewer.Walk Around (Maybe)
Walking around the room while you talk may be a great way to spend some of your nervous energy and be more comfortable while interviewing. Be careful—don’t walk too fast or too far and get out of breath.If You Sit, Sit Up Straight
Sitting up straight is important, because it will make you sound like you are interested in the job. Slumping will make you seem less interested, as well as tired. As a bonus, you will breathe more fully and your voice will sound better.Maintain A Relaxed, Comfortable Posture
Whether you sit or stand, make sure you are calm and relaxed. Tensing up or crossing your arms will make your voice seem tense and less friendly. It will be subtle, but it will be there and could have a negative effect on your conversation. Focus on being relaxed so you’ll feel more confident and friendly.Be Still (No Fidgeting)
If you have nervous habits such as tapping your pen or your foot, or drumming your nails on the desk, not only will they have a negative effect on your voice—they may even be audible to the interviewer. They will make it seem like you’re nervous because you’re unsure of your ability to do the job.Smile
It’s simple but it’s true: smiling makes your voice sound friendlier. You will seem more relaxed, more confident, and more interested in the job. See more advice for acing your phone interview in Career Confidential’s blog series, Phone Interview Tips.Related Posts
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