Tips for Phone and Video Interviews
Featured Technology Jobs
Cloud Data Engineer (Azure)
You’ll provide business intelligence and data warehousing solutions across the organization. It’s a great opportunity to support key business imperatives by defining and building data integration processes, as well as conceptual and logical data models.
Cloud Data Architect (Azure)
You’ll coordinate and enhance data quality, integration and availability across the enterprise. You’ll also be responsible for designing and maintaining data processes and architectural designs for data systems.
Manager, Cyber Security Engineering
You’ll oversee a team of cyber engineers who are responsible for providing technical expertise and enterprise security solutions. You and your team will ensure the protection of Navy Federal’s brand, data and IT assets from cyber-based threats.
Microsoft Azure Solution Architect
You’ll architect, design and integrate Enterprise IT Systems—translating Navy Federal’s business visions and strategies into IT and business capabilities.
Phone Interviews
What You Need to Know
There are several ways to do well on a phone interview even without the benefit of body language, facial expressions or gestures.
The top tip: Stick to several key points. You want to make sure you convey your most important ideas, qualifications and supporting data points to the interviewer.
Before Your Phone Interview
- Be ready to answer the phone yourself.
First, be sure to let family members and/or roommates know you're expecting a call. When you answer the phone, respond with your name (e.g., "This is first name, last name"), so the interviewer knows they've reached the right person. - Be prepared to take notes.
Have a pen and paper handy for note-taking. If you’re taking notes on your computer, be sure to share that with your interviewer(s), so they don’t presume you’re multi-tasking during your discussion. - Don't get interrupted.
Turn off call-waiting so your call isn't interrupted. It may also help to silence your texts, so you don’t inadvertently read them during the interview. - Use a landline.
If you have a landline, use that instead of your cell phone. That way, you'll eliminate the possibility of poor reception or dropped calls. If you’re using your cell phone, be sure to stay in an area where the signal is strong and consistent, and make sure your phone is fully charged. - Use Bluetooth® or headphones.
Take advantage of technology to help you hear the conversation better and be clearly understood. Consider practicing using Bluetooth® or headphones before your interview to ensure everything goes smoothly. Lastly, avoid using the speaker phone to make sure you have the highest sound quality possible. - Practice.
You may need to speak more than you normally do to make sure all your key points are clear. Perhaps find a friend or family member to rehearse your responses to common interview questions. Ask them to give you honest, direct feedback about your content, tone, manner of delivery, speed of speech, choice of words and overall effective communication style. The interviewer is assessing that, so be prepared and assess yourself first.
During Your Phone Interview
- Smile.
Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and change the tone of your voice. Authenticity is key. - Try standing up.
It can be helpful to stand during the interview, since this typically gives your voice more energy and enthusiasm. If you’re on a video call, however, you may need to limit movement, so the interviewer can see you at all times. - Focus, listen and enunciate.
It's important to focus on the interview, and that can be harder on the phone than in person. Be sure to listen to the question, ask for clarification if you're not sure what the interviewer is asking and speak slowly, carefully and clearly when you respond. - Take your time.
It's perfectly acceptable to take a moment or two to collect your thoughts prior to answering. In fact, it may help you consider additional points to raise. - End on a high note.
End the call on a positive note. First, ask if there’s anything else you can share that would help the interviewer, such as clarification of a point raised or additional information about your background/qualifications. If you enjoyed the discussion, end by thanking the interviewer and expressing your interest in the job. For example, "Thank you for the call. I like what I heard, and I’m confident I could fill the role. I’m very interested in the position. What’s the next step?"
Video Interviews
What You Need to Know
It’s important to approach video interaction as a unique interview format. The goal for both you and the interviewer is to mimic a face-to-face discussion despite a limited range of view, audio and depth.
Before Your Video Interview
- Test your technology.
Ensure you’re set up for success. Check your internet connectivity and confirm your camera and microphone are working. - Set the scene.
Find a room with optimal lighting, preferably near a window or a blank wall to guarantee you’re the focal point of the conversation. Make sure the room is neat and tidy. Consider the backdrop, such as wall art or furnishings. Having degrees or similar indicators lends unspoken credence to your qualifications. - Minimize distractions.
Turn off the TV, silence your cell phone and close any nearby windows to muffle outside noises. Similar to telephone calls, video interviews will amplify unintended noise, even in the background. Also, don’t use your computer unless you’re adept at taking notes and maintaining eye contact with the camera. This behavior is exaggerated during a video session.
During Your Video Interview
- Dress the part.
Dress as you would for an in-person interview. A video interview is a formal interview, and you should plan to dress accordingly. - Monitor your body language.
The main way to communicate confidence is to sit up straight, smile and keep the camera at eye level. Keep your focus on the camera when talking, not on the image of the interviewer. And, if you tend to use your hands to express yourself, be aware of how it may be viewed. It may help to practice the video interview with a friend to get feedback on your appearance, demeanor and composure. - End on a high note.
Follow the same tips for ending a phone interview when concluding a video interview. Be sure to wait for the video connection to end before standing up, walking away or turning off your camera.
Disclosures
Navy Federal values and celebrates diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Answers to most questions about our process can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page. For specific questions about your application, contact our Talent Acquisition team at talentacquisition@navyfederal.org.
If you need accommodation or assistance to complete the online application (or during any stage of the hiring process), you can contact Navy Federal's ADA Analysts at 703-255-7338 or medicalaccommodations@navyfederal.org. Please let us know what type of accommodation or assistance you need so we can assist you promptly.
Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.