22 Phone Interview Tips To Help You Nail The Call And Move To The Next Round

Wondermind does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended Secretmeet real user review as a replacement for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health or mental health professional with any questions or concerns about your mental health.

Relax And Be Present In The Conversation

When I put my phone away, it’s like I’m telling the other person, “You matter. I’m here with you.” Small talk dies the moment I split my attention. But when I’m fully present, I notice the little details — the logo on their shirt, the book in their hand, the way they light up when they mention something. Those details become powerful questions and conversation starters.

When making small talk, start with something safe like the weather, says etiquette coach Jules Hirst. Ask open-ended questions and try to find common ground. When in doubt, ask questions about the other person—people love to talk about themselves. Avoid negativity, gossip, and heavy topics like politics. When you first meet someone, you can make it your mission to learn one unique thing about that person. You don’t only want to ask them questions but share a bit about yourself, too.

Not knowing where to begin when it comes to small talk is a fast-track to immediately feeling awkward. Your therapist may also recommend group therapy or support groups, which give you the chance to practice social skills and interact with other people who also have social anxiety. Of course, the best conversations aren’t one-sided Q&As.

Mastering The Art Of Small Talk: Conversation Starters, Powerful Questions & More

We’re all far more focused on and critical of ourselves than anyone else in the room. You might cringe for days after you mess up someone’s name or crack a joke that falls flat, but chances are, every other person will forget within two minutes. For example, joining Toastmasters was really helpful for me because there is a table topics section where we will use random word generators to give speeches about random topics. This helps you think on your feet and increase your creativity.

Done with intention and preparation, networking is a powerful way to build authentic relationships and open doors to future collaboration. Don’t be that person who makes the interviewer repeat their questions again and again—that’s annoying for everyone involved. Pay attention, practice active listening, and don’t multitask (a.k.a., don’t be working on something else, or even reading over your own notes, while the other person is talking). This means repeating relevant points (write them down if you really want to remember them) and using fillers like “hm,” “OK,” “yes,” and “right” to express that you’re taking it in. People love talking about their hobbies and where they invest their time and energy.

Small talk is your bridge into bigger, more profound conversations. It helps you get to know someone in a low-stakes way before deepening a relationship, which makes it an essential tool for romance, friendships, or even business settings. If you want to make small talk bigger, share something that’s very honest about a topic pertinent to you. When you let down your guard, you’re more likely to have more genuine and productive conversations that turn into meaningful connections and not just another business card for the drawer.

Therapy also offers a safe environment to practice navigating anxiety-provoking situations through gradual exposure. “Small talk is about being interested, not interesting,” Abrahams says. However, as Hinge incorporates AI features into its app, many users, especially Gen Z, are uncomfortable with the thought of using AI in their online dating experiences.

• Then ask great follow-up questions based on their response.
• If you want to make small talk bigger, share something that’s very honest about a topic pertinent to you.
• So before we discuss how to make it (and learn three, count ‘em three, handy acronyms to improve your conversational skillz), let’s talk about why it’s so crucial.
• One of the biggest mistakes people make in phone interviews is not sounding energetic and excited enough.

Listen (and Sound Like You Are)

So before we discuss how to make it (and learn three, count ‘em three, handy acronyms to improve your conversational skillz), let’s talk about why it’s so crucial. Small talk can be more than just a polite way to fill silence. It’s a stepping stone to deeper connections, a tool for building rapport, and an opportunity to learn more about the people around you. By implementing these strategies, you can turn friendly chit chat into meaningful conversations that leave a lasting impression. Making small talk is the act of engaging in casual conversation about non-controversial topics.

However, people with hobbies and interests always seem to have a topic or an opinion to share, and they can use that as a launching point to get someone else involved in the discussion. “The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when someone asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer.”– Henry David Thoreau, on the power of genuine and attentive conversation. Show that you trust people by assuming they have the best intentions and that anyone can be a potential friend. Let this be your default view of people unless proven otherwise. We are testing the communication waters and opening the door to others to see if they want to connect with us.

Ask thoughtful questions and aim to make one meaningful connection rather than trying to meet everyone in the room. – Hanneke Antonelli, Hanneke Antonelli Coaching, Inc. I despise small talk, but I love to connect with new people and learn about them because there is always something interesting to glean. Ask thoughtful questions and really listen to the answers. Then ask great follow-up questions based on their response.

Everyone has a story to tell and by assuming the best in people, you open yourself up to learning more about their unique experiences and perspectives. When people start talking to you, they don’t know anything about you. If you’re nervous, it might make you look tense and angry, even if that’s not your intention. Just like you don’t get married on the first date, small talk is your first attempt at friendship.

I’m still very interested in and excited about this opportunity, so please let me know if there’s anything else you need from me to help in making your decision. It was really nice speaking with you last week. If you don’t hear from the hiring manager in a week or so, don’t hesitate to follow up to see where they are in the process. They may still be conducting interviews and thus have no updates for you, but checking in keeps you top of mind when they go to narrow down candidates.

When I became a regular at church, I never expected that my home would one day become a gathering place for so many friends and community members. That all began because I was willing to say hello, to be curious, and to listen. I feel incredibly blessed that God gave me the curiosity to explore human potential and the courage to approach strangers who later became some of my closest people. When I bring positive energy, the other person opens up more. Even if I’m nervous, I focus on what I genuinely find interesting about them.

That might sting if you were hoping for a new connection, but not every chat turns into something more, and some people are duds (sorry not sorry). In these cases, you have full permission to exit stage left and take your presence elsewhere. Try saying something like, “I’m going to grab a snack! It was nice talking with you,” or “Excuse me, I’ve got to check in on _____”.

Consider trying a mindful drinking approach, which involves awareness of when and how much you drink, as well as how it makes you feel. A small amount of alcohol can help you feel more relaxed, but alcohol can also intensify feelings of anxiety. Practicing ways to overcome potential negative outcomes can help you feel more prepared to handle them if they come up. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. Your coworkers invited you to their monthly happy hour. You’d like to get to know them better, but you feel anxious that you might say or do something that affects their opinion of you.

The event will likely feel excruciating 20 minutes in. “You can also express gratitude by saying something like, ‘Thanks for meeting me—I know you’re so busy and I missed you! These small but thoughtful comments help open the door for an easy, authentic, and positive interaction. If your phone interview is actually with a recruiter who found you via LinkedIn or another source, that’s awesome!

If you jump in and disagree, it could damage your opinion of one another. It can, however, make for interesting conversations after you’ve gotten to know each other. Take this quiz and get a custom report based on your unique personality and goals.

They may also fear awkward silences, worry about saying the wrong thing, or simply don’t know where to start when it comes to initiating conversations. You don’t have to jump straight into business! Feel free to ask them how their day’s going, talk about the weather or your weekend, or try a conversation starter if it seems natural. Participating in small talk is a polite and easy way to keep the good vibes rolling and connect with your interviewer—just keep it brief and business appropriate. This goes hand in hand with finding your ideal phone interview location.

Have you ever shared a story with someone and they were obviously not paying attention and didn’t care? That probably made you feel horrible, kind of embarrassed, and like you never want to talk to them again, right? Yeah, that was rude as hell of them and likely didn’t help build a solid rapport at all. That’s what you’re definitely not going to do because nothing tanks a conversation or relationship like the feeling of being dismissed or discarded. If someone asks you what your summer plans are and you have none, instead of saying, “Hmm. Not sure yet,” try saying, “I’m not sure yet, but I’ve been researching a few places in Europe or Asia and am comparing pricing and timing.