WK5 DQ1: 3- post Replies- ( Please Reply ONLY If You Have Access To This BOOK: Excellence In Business Communication Edition: 12th Authors: Thill, J. V., & Bovée, C. L. ISBN-13: 9780134319056

The purpose of this discussion is to examine the techniques advised by businessmen and women in the podcast “How to Conduct Yourself in a Job Phone Interview,” on the Real-Time Updates website.  Phone interviews are used by employers trying to cut travel costs and the demands on staff time (Thill, Bovee. 2017. P 520).  The author also explains the usefulness or impracticality of different techniques.

According to Thill and Bovee, one must treat a phone interview “as seriously as an in-person interview” (2017. P 520).  In a formal interview, the job seeker speaks, answers the questions concisely, smiles, and has resume information on hand.  The same goes for phone interviews; however, one relies solely on the voice to offer communication.  The podcast “How to Conduct Yourself in a Job Phone Interview” gives helpful techniques on how one can sharpen skills for the phone interview.  Of the many methods, the author finds smiling to be the most promising practice, while requesting to return the call of the employer to be the most detrimental.

In the podcast “How to Conduct Yourself in a Job Phone Interview,” the most shared technique is smiling (2017).  According to Alicia Johnson, humans can differentiate the vocal intonation between a smile and a non-smile (2015).  The act of smiling allows one to sound energetic and engaging while speaking on the phone.  The writer has received specific training on smiling when conducting direct sales or customer service over the phone.  By smiling, one built strong business relationships within her direct sales business.  The same applies for phone interviews.

Ellen Sodder from Wright Management advises the job-seeker to request a returned call to the interviewer when one is unprepared for a phone interview (How to Conduct Yourself in a Job Phone Interview, 2017).   The writer disagrees with this technique.  Would one request a new interview if the interview were in person?  According to Thill and Bovee, one must treat a phone interview “as seriously as an in-person interview” (2017. P 520).   Preparation is up to the job-seeker for interviews, not only at appointed times but in unplanned calls as well.  The writer suggests researching information about the company and building a binder with all job and resume information necessary for the discussion to be kept by the phone to avoid the embarrassment of being unprepared. 

In conclusion, an energetic vocal tone and continual preparation are the two best ways to conduct a phone interview.  A smile changes the tone of the speaker by adding energy necessary to sound engaged in the discussion.  Being unprepared is detrimental to the job-seeker, so it is important for the job-seeker to find a way to be ready at all times.  Michael Travis advises one to “do your homework” before an interview (2015).  By learning all one can about the company beforehand and having one’s resume close to the phone, a successful on-the-spot phone interview is possible.

 

References

How to Conduct Yourself in a Job Phone Interview, (2011, June 21). Real-Time Updates.[Audio     

     podcast]. Retrieved from http://rtu.businesscommunicationnetwork.com/2011/06/21/how-to-    

     conduct-yourself-in-a-job-phone-interview/ 

Johnson, A. (2015). The power of smiling on the telephone customer service. Fusion blog. Retrieved 

     from http://www.fusionbposervices.com/blog/the-power-of-smiling-on-the-telephone-customer-

     service.html

Thill, J. V. & Bovee, C. L. (2017). Excellence in business communication, 12th edition. Boston:

     Pearson.

Travis, M. (2015, April) 5 mistakes that will ruin your job interview. Living. Retrieved from

            http://time.com/3768133/biggest-mistakes-in-an-interview/