One of the biggest mistakes engineering professionals make in their job search is blowing off a phone interview. This is the first step in the hiring process, and despite their casual feel, phone interviews should never be neglected. After all, if you don’t nail it, you won’t get called for an in-person interview. Use these tips to ace your next phone interview.

Confirm the Details

The day before your interview, reach out to your contact person and confirm who should initiate the call, the approximate length of the call and the names of the people you will be speaking to. If the call is a video chat or requires an app or software, make sure you have the correct links and logins the day before.

Conduct Research

Don’t wait for the interview to conduct research on the company. Research what they do, their recent achievements and if possible, look up your interviewer on LinkedIn. Then, review the job posting one more time and go over the specifics. It can be useful to print out the description and keep it next to you during the call.

It is also wise to print out a copy of your resume. The interviewer may reference it directly, and though you know your work history, you’ll want to be able to speak directly about their questions as they pertain to the document.

Prepare Questions

As with any interview, you want to come ready to ask great questions. However, the questions you ask during a phone interview will differ from those you would ask during a face-to-face interview. Skip questions about compensation unless the interviewer broaches the topic. At this stage, you want to clarify responsibilities and expectations as well as gather information on corporate culture. The objective of the phone interview is to simply assess whether you are a good fit for the role and vice versa, so it pays not to put the cart before the horse. Don’t forget to end the call by asking about next steps.

Sit Up and Wear Pants

If you are at home during your phone interview, it can be tempting to lounge on the couch with a cup of coffee in your sweatpants. However, it pays to get dressed and sit at a table or a desk. Treating the interview like the important appointment it is will put you in a professional mindset rather than a casual mindset.

Send a Thank-You Note

It is always good form to send a thank-you note after a phone interview. As soon as the call wraps up, compose a brief email thanking the interviewer for their time and reiterate your interest in the role.

If you are a professional looking for engineering job opportunities and you are ready to put a professional engineering recruiter to work for you, contact the experts at PEAK Technical Staffing today.