In the digital world we live in, we can easily connect, communicate and stay in touch. Now more than ever, we will value the ability to stay connected, keep planning and strive for a positive future with the effective use of our phone, laptop, tablet and computer. Home working and the need for social distancing has impacted on our ways of working – for many employers, the annual recruitment cycle has also changed dramatically in 2020. Despite these changes, recruiters continue to value the potential of graduates and so are keen to change methods and recruit LJMU students and graduates.

Telephone interviews have always been a part of the initial recruitment process in order to reduce the number of applicants to a manageable first shortlist. Telephone interviews are now keeping the recruitment schedule flowing until a time when we can meet face to face again.

Top tips for a telephone interview:

Preparation is key for any interview: researching the company, thinking of possible questions, responses and the evidence you have to prove them and getting your mental and physical state in the right place in order to perform well. This is difficult when you are sitting at home, so how do you switch into a focused and energised person? See it as a challenge, the opportunity to express yourself and highlight your strengths and qualities. To help you do this we have put together eight top tips to help you succeed.

• Have an interesting and enthusiastic elevator pitch that gives a concise summary of who you are. This needs to be brief and persuasive to spark the recruiter’s interest. Include: what have you done in your life, interests, travel, what you are doing now, what are your future goals. Use this link to the Careers Zone 24/7 platform, where you can build your elevator pitch
• Know the content of your application (have it in front of you during the interview)
• Sell yourself – consider your tone of voice, levels of enthusiasm, sound energetic and passionate in your responses. Be professional throughout, think about your verbal greeting. You could stand up if it helps make you feel assertive, in control and dynamic
• Be confident – dress appropriately to feel the part
• Smile and stay positive
• Consider your surroundings – move into a quite space with no interruptions
• Have a pen and paper in front of you with a list of your qualities, strengths and the evidence to support what you are saying, just in case you mind goes blank
• An hour or two before the interview, find ways to energise yourself – go for a run, listen to some uplifting music or, if you prefer, take some time out to quietly contemplate what you want to get across to the employer

The Careers Team have comprehensive resources you can access to help you. Here are a couple to help you get started:

• How to answer interview questions – click here
• Mini-guide on how to succeed at interviews – click here

For more information about telephone interviews, or to book in for a practice telephone interview with one of our advisers, simply email us at careers@ljmu.ac.uk