When you are moving abroad to New Zealand you will likely be applying for positions before you go, which might require you to do an interview over the phone. This can be a very tricky thing to do, as you won’t be able to see your interviews and interact with them in person. Conducting a phone interview requires a lot of preparation so that you can make sure that you make the best possible first impression.
So what mistakes should you avoid making when you are doing a phone interview? Here are a few important tips that you should keep in mind when you are emigrating to New Zealand from the UK and conducting phone interviews.
- Don’t wear your fuzzy onesie – Get dressed. Although you can technically do the interview in your pyjamas, it doesn’t mean you should. When you are dressed for the interview you will be mentally more focused and alert, even though the potential employer can’t see you.
- Don’t get caught without any questions to ask – Prepare in advance with some questions that you can ask the employer and some points that you want to mention.
- Don’t be clueless about the company- Before the interview you can do some research into the company to find out what they do and what big projects they are looking for.
- Don’t do the interview without practicing – Practice makes perfect, so give it a few trial runs. You can even practice beforehand with a friend or family member. Ask them to call you and ask you the types of questions that you are likely to be asked in an interview – such as “what skills can you bring to this position?” and “what is an example of when you resolved an issue successfully in the workplace.” Here are some examples of common phone interview questions – and their answers.
- Don’t let your phone run out of battery – Make sure that it is fully charged. Also, make sure that it will not be making any notification noises that will interrupt the phone interview.
- Don’t forget something to write with – Have a pen and paper in front of you, ready to take notes or write down any information. You don’t want to be scrambling around looking for a pen while the employer waits on the other line.
- Don’t do the interview in noisy surroundings – Make sure that your surroundings are quiet and you can hear the interviewer. Don’t try to do the interview in a busy coffee shop or with your dog barking in the background.
- Don’t let your attention wander – Remove anything that will distract you during the interview. Turn off the TV, don’t browse the internet and don’t play video games. Focus all of your attention on what the interviewer is saying.
- Don’t dominate the conversation –The interviewer should be leading the conversation and asking you what they want to ask you. This is an important opportunity to show them how you can be a good listener.
- Don’t focus on yourself – Remember – it’s not all about you. It’s about what you can do for the employer and how you can add to their company if you are hired. Focus on their needs and what you have to offer and you will go far.
- Don’t rush to answer – Sometimes people rush to answer questions in a phone interview because they are self-conscious about there being silence at their end of the line. However, it is much better to pause for a moment and think about the question before you answer it. You’ll come up with a much better answer rather than just saying whatever pops into your head.
- Don’t speak too quickly – Take your time and make sure that you are articulating and pronouncing your words clearly. It is important that the interviewer understands what you are saying – especially if your accent is different to yours.
If you can keep all of these tips in mind when you are doing a phone interview you will have a much better chance of impressing the employer. Phone interviews can be one of the most intimidating parts of applying for jobs in New Zealand, but they are so much less stressful if you are prepared.