Phone Interviews Vs. In-Person Interviews

Phone Interviews Vs. In-Person Interviews via Pexels Phone Interviews Phone interviews are becoming more common, seeing as they are much more convenient to hold than in-person interviews. For one thing, they can follow a fairly flexible schedule; you could do a phone interview from the comfort of your own home in your pajamas if you wanted to! You also don’t have to waste precious time traveling back and forth to an interview destination; instead, you can spend that time preparing for the actual interview. Pros 1. Eliminates geographical barriers A convenient aspect of phone interviews is that, if you’re applying for a job that is geographically far away, you don’t have to travel far or at all to make the interview. As previously mentioned, you won’t have to spend time traveling to and from your destination. Instead, you will have the opportunity to speak to the interviewer from wherever you feel comfortable, without having to make the extra effort of traveling a far distance. 2. Eases anxiety and stress If you find in-person interviews particularly nerve-wracking, you probably won’t have to worry about all the same things with a phone interview. For instance, you don’t need to stress yourself out over your body language, if you’re making eye contact, how you’re sitting in your seat, etc. after all, on the phone, your interviewer can’t see you. As a result, talking on the phone frees you from worrying about extraneous things so that you can instead focus on the crux of your interviewing skills: how you answer questions and what you say to the interviewer. 3. Allows you to use your notes As already mentioned, the interviewer can’t see you while you’re on the phone which gives you an advantage in being able to use your notes during the interview. Whether you write your notes by hand, type them out on your laptop, or use any other note-taking method, you will have the chance to consult your notes while you talk to the interviewer. This can be a big help, especially if you’re concerned about forgetting what you say or stumbling over your words. Having something written out in front of you can help you stay on track with your thoughts and ease your nerves a bit. Cons 1. Less time to sell yourself As phone interviews are usually a bit shorter than in-person ones, you’ll have limited time to sell yourself. This just means you’ll have to devise a strategy for how you pitch yourself which should help you in the long run as you continue to practice and gain more interview experience. In-Person Interviews Pros 1. Meet the interviewer in person If you’re the kind of person who enjoys meeting people in person and thrives in situations where you get to showcase your interpersonal skills, then in-person interviews are a great fit for you. Not only will you have the opportunity to practice your body language, but you’ll also get the chance to actually put a face to the name of your interviewer and learn more about him or her in person. 2. Make a good impression. The way you present yourself is clearly a significant part of doing well in an interview. As a result, showing who you are in person is important for leaving a good impression on your interviewer. That may include cultivating your physical presence, such as dressing professionally and demonstrating confidence through your words and behavior. Cons 1. Scheduling The biggest difficulty of attending an in-person interview is the scheduling of it. Getting to the interview destination and back can definitely take up a lot of time and become a hassle, which is why you’ll likely need to clear out a large chunk of your schedule to make time for the interview. 2. Inability to use notes When you’re with the interviewer face to face, you won’t be able to consult any notes. That means if you’re asked some “hard” or “strange” questions, you need to be extra prepared to tackle those on the spot. Devote some time before your interview to researching and thinking about potential answers to any questions that you think you might be asked. In-person and phone interviews each have their pros and cons. No matter what mode of interview you get, it’s important that you spend the necessary time and effort preparing so that you’ll have the chance to ace your interview when the time comes.