Phone interview =0

Chessala

Hello again,

I got a call today from one of the firms I applied to and was offered a phone interview on Thursday(as they are in Cork and I live in Wexford) and, obviously, accepted. Now I have been to interviews before but never had a phone interview. Any tips or hints? Things that would be different? Do's and don't s?

Glad for every advice I can get.

Chess

Delancey

Best advice I can give is to sit in a place which is private and gives you peace and quiet - crying babies , loud T.V's , barking dogs , etc will not only make you appear less than professional they will also distract you terribly.

KarlDrake

http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&discussionID=24778222&gid=2348315&commentID=19945392&trk=view_disc

Not sure if you can see this but Paul Mullan's excellent Measurability LinkedIn Group had a great discussion on this. You may have to be on LinkedIn, but if you're not you should be:)

Congrats on the telephone interview!

K

Chessala

Thank you for the replies.

I will try to join the group, not very familiar with LinkedIn tbh....I don't like it a lot.

Nothingbetter2d

make sure you are near a landline phone

EverEvolving

I'm not sure if this is stating the obvious but make sure you have a pen and paper to jot down important things they mention on the call, things like names and details that can easily be forgotten when you are under interview pressure.

Chessala

Unfortunately I don't have a landline phone available to me but calling my mobile number didn't seem to pose a problem.

And also, thanks for the tip with writing down. I actually didn't think about taking notes as it is my first phone interview...I guess making notes beforehand for myself would be a good idea too.

Sorry about sounding silly. I am pretty nervous as I need the job pretty badly and I don't want to screw up.

yeahimhere

You're actually better off without them, but if you decide you need to write down notes to reference during the interview - make sure they're laid out in front of you so you're not rustling though paper. It really does come across on the phone. Make sure they're only bullet point reminders rather than full answers. It's tempting, but can actually make you sound rehearsed or you end up focusing on what you've written rather than adapting your answers to the question.

Also a phone interview is very different than a face to face interview as you don't have the benefit of body language to tell you if you're on the right track or not with an answer to a question. So really listen to what they're asking and their follow up questions to make sure you're on the right track. I wouldn't be afraid to ask "does that answer your question, or would you like me to elaborate in another area? if you're not sure"

If you tend to get nervous and talk fast when you do, make sure you talk slowly so they can hear what you're saying and how you say it. Phone interviews are all about the tone of your voice and the words that you're saying. If they're only catching every second word and it's in a rushed, shrill nervous voice it may not come across well. So relax even if in your mind you may think you're talking really slow, you're not.

Lastly..........GOOD LUCK!!!

fret_wimp2

Like was already said, and to add a few more.

Ensure you are settled in a quiet place free from distractions. I have done phone interviews where the candidate was sitting on a bench on a busy street! Couldnt hear a word!

Speak clearly.

Have a pen and paper ready in case you need to work stuff out, or just for notes.


Dont be afraid to ask for a question to be repeated.

Be more verbose, and sound professional, happy and optimistic. Most people dont realize but body language plays a huge part in an interview. as that aspect is removed on a telephone interview, all the interviewer has to go on to determine your personality is your tone.

Im sure others can add more points but this is enough for me.

yeahimhere

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

Be more verbose, and sound professional, happy and optimistic. Most people dont realize but body language plays a huge part in an interview. as that aspect is removed on a telephone interview, all the interviewer has to go on to determine your personality is your tone.

+1

I've had years of experience talking on the phone so comfortable with it but understand others might find it more difficult so forget some of the smaller points.

It may be an odd point but perhaps try to listen to some of your favourite happy/upbeat songs beforehand to put you in the mood. They may help put a smile on your face. It may seem silly, but if you're smiling it comes across in your voice as a happy tone.

rivalius13

Have a glass of whatever you want handy in case you get parched. The great thing about a phone interview is you really can have whatever you want. I'd suggest a nice Weissbier. Or water, whatever.

Make sure you have walking room, no one likes to stand still on the phone. Have everything open in front of you, CV, details on the company/job, photos of loved ones, etc.

Chessala

Thanks a lot for all the hints!

Will just make a few key notes and CV and company info in front of me. I find a phone interview kinda ironic as I am applying for a call center job, so I guess they are likely to look at my phone manners in general too.

Being nervous is actually a huge factor here, always extremely nervous in an interview. Noise won't be an issue as it's just me and my housemate in the house. well...and 2 bunnies but I doubt they'll start barking about.

Hope my reception will be ok....it's not extremely great in the whole house but no other phone here....

Anyway, thanks again!

EverEvolving

Oh and make sure your phone is fully charged!!

Good luck and let us know how it goes

Chessala

Hahah yeah, would be bad if the battery runs out suddenly!

Will charge it tonight, would even keep it charging during the call but cord is so short and no extension (and no money to get one)

Chessala

Short update here. Interview was supposed to take place at 3 but person never called. So I contacted my Recruitment agency as I had no contact number and seems the interview will be rescheduled (she said the person got hold up in a meeting.

A bit worried I was too rush in contacting them...I waited for about an hour...any idea if that can have a negative influence?

keane2097

Chessala wrote: »

Short update here. Interview was supposed to take place at 3 but person never called. So I contacted my Recruitment agency as I had no contact number and seems the interview will be rescheduled (she said the person got hold up in a meeting.

A bit worried I was too rush in contacting them...I waited for about an hour...any idea if that can have a negative influence?

The recruitment person has no influence over whether you get hired and doesn't even work for the company that you'll be interviewing for, so no.

Chessala

keane2097 wrote: »

The recruitment person has no influence over whether you get hired and doesn't even work for the company that you'll be interviewing for, so no.

I think I was a bit unclear here. I contacted the recruitment agency and they contacted the possible employer. She said she'd write the person that was supposed to give me an interview a mail about it for the reschedule as I had no contact details.

keane2097

Chessala wrote: »

I think I was a bit unclear here. I contacted the recruitment agency and they contacted the possible employer. She said she'd write the person that was supposed to give me an interview a mail about it for the reschedule as I had no contact details.

Sounds pretty standard tbh.

donfers

if you get nervous and most people do at job interviews, especially phone interviews where there is little to reassure you things are going well, then have three or four quick shots before the phone interview, it'll put you at ease and relax and animate your tone, don't get completely bladdered, just enough to get you a bit tipsy - it works a treat, i've succeeded in every phone interview when i've done this, although for a on site interview it is slightly more risky as they can smell the booze on you and of course they can see your body language so perhaps have a quick slug of listorene if you do it on site and try not to fall over, hiccup or be generally unsteady

Dave!

Chessala wrote: »

I think I was a bit unclear here. I contacted the recruitment agency and they contacted the possible employer. She said she'd write the person that was supposed to give me an interview a mail about it for the reschedule as I had no contact details.

You're fine, don't worry about it

Msking

PC and internet on! Google a question if you get stuck?

Chessala

To be honest I feel a bit made fun off with the whole phone interview. I haven't heard anything ever since. Neither from the agency nor from the employer itself....it's frustrating >.<