Business English - Phone and Video Interview Excellence: Tips and Techniques

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! (Warm-up)

Think about this: Have you ever talked to someone for a job on the phone or on a video call (like Zoom or Skype)? What can be different or tricky about these kinds of interviews compared to meeting someone in person?

Activity 2: New Words (Vocabulary)

Here are some new English words. These words will help us talk about doing well in phone and video interviews.

Phone Call (Phone Interview): A job interview or talk that happens over the telephone.

Example: I have a phone call scheduled with the manager for my first interview.

Video Call (Video Interview): A job interview or talk that uses a camera on a computer, phone, or tablet so you can see each other.

Example: For the video call interview, make sure your room looks tidy behind you.

Quiet Spot: A place where there is no noise or distractions to disturb your interview.

Example: It is very important to find a quiet spot for your phone or video interview.

Clear Sound: When you can hear the other person well and they can hear you well during a call, with no internet problems.

Example: Always check your microphone and speakers for clear sound before the call starts.

Look Here (Look at Camera): To look at the camera on your computer or phone during a video interview, as if you are looking at the person's eyes.

Example: Remember to look here at the camera sometimes when you talk on a video call.

Nice Clothes: Wearing clean, neat, and professional clothes suitable for a job interview, even if it's online.

Example: You should wear nice clothes for a video interview to make a good impression.

Activity 3 (Reading)

Let's read about Maria. She is preparing for two different kinds of interviews: one by phone and one by video.

Maria has a job interview coming up soon. This time, it's not in an office building. First, she will have a phone call with the hiring manager. Maria knows it's important to prepare. She plans to find a very quiet spot in her house so no one will bother her and there will be no background noise. She will also check her phone before the call to make sure she has clear sound and her battery is full.

A few days later, if the phone call goes well, Maria will have a video call with more people from the team. For this online meeting, Maria knows she needs to wear nice clothes, just like she would for an in-person interview. It helps to look professional. She will also make sure the wall behind her is neat and tidy. During the video call, her friend told her it's very important to try and look here at the camera sometimes. This makes it feel more like she is looking at the person and shows she is engaged. Maria writes down all these tips. She feels that preparing well for these different kinds of interviews will help her do her best and show the company she is serious about the job. She will practice talking clearly on the phone and smiling when she is on video.

Think about the story:

What are the two types of interviews Maria is preparing for?
What two things will Maria do to prepare for her phone call interview to ensure it goes smoothly?
For her video call, what will Maria do about her clothes and where she looks while talking?

Activity 4: Role Play

Read this dialogue with a partner. One person is Alex (who has an upcoming video interview), and the other is Sara (his friend who had one recently).

Alex: Sara, I have a video call for a job next week! I'm a bit nervous. Do you have any tips for me?

Sara: Oh, that's exciting, Alex! Yes, first things first, find a really quiet spot in your house. You don't want any noise to interrupt you.

Alex: That's a good idea. What about my computer and the internet connection?

Sara: Definitely check that! Make sure you have clear sound from your microphone and speakers, and that your internet is working well. Maybe do a test call with a friend before.

Alex: Should I dress up nicely? It’s just going to be a video call from my room.

Sara: Yes, you should absolutely wear nice clothes! Treat it just like you would an in-person interview. It helps you feel more professional and serious too.

Alex: Okay, I'll choose some nice clothes. Where should I look when I'm talking to them on the video?

Sara: It's a good habit to try and look here, at the camera on your computer, sometimes. It’s like making eye contact with the interviewer.

Alex: That feels a bit strange, looking at the camera, but I'll practice that. Is a phone call interview very different from a video one?

Sara: For a phone call, having a quiet spot and clear sound are also super important. And here's a tip: smile when you talk on the phone! They can often 'hear' the smile in your voice and it makes you sound friendlier.

After reading, discuss: What is one thing you can do to make the space behind you look good and professional for a video call interview?

Activity 5: Let's Practice

Objective: Practice using the new vocabulary about phone and video interviews.

Scenario: Ben (the learner) is telling his teacher, Ms. Davis, about his preparation for two upcoming job interviews that are not in person.

Ms. Davis: Hi Ben, how are you preparing for your interviews this week? I hear they are online.

Ben: Yes, Ms. Davis. First, I have a with the manager tomorrow morning. We will just talk on the telephone.

Ms. Davis: Okay, that's common for a first step. What's the most important thing to remember for that kind of interview?

Ben: I know I need to find a very in my house so there's no noise from my family or the street.

Ms. Davis: That's crucial for them to hear you well. And what about the technical side of the phone call itself?

Ben: Yes, before the call, I'll check my phone to make sure I have so we can hear each other perfectly without problems.

Ms. Davis: Very good. And you said you have a second interview as well?

Ben: That one is a using my computer and a camera, so we will see each other. I need to get ready for that too.

Ms. Davis: What will you do differently to prepare for the video one compared to the phone one?

Ben: Well, for the video, I know I need to wear , probably a shirt. And my friend said I should try to remember to at the camera when I speak, not just at the screen.

Try to fill in the blanks with appropriate words or phrases from this lesson!