Calling all DUers....need some advice...

[Baclava]

Shit - I just got a call from a prospective employer...have to do a "phone interview" tomorrow. I've never had one of these. What should I expect?

I already researched the job requirements and they picked me from the resume I sent to their website. I talked to their HR person - she's the one that set this up and will be doing the interview.

[TrustingDog]

1. have notes, and make sure

you don't have barking dogs or screaming kids in the background.
Take a few good deep breaths when the phone rings. ummmm, keep an even and clear tone to your voice.

Hell, I dunno.
but best of luck to you.

[0007]

2. Make the call, do your best, and don't lie or embellish.

Be yourself!

[NMDemDist2]

3. relax, this is SOP---

suggestions, get dressed before the call (if you look professional, you'll "feel" professional)

just relax and talk to the nice lady. She called to give you a chance to be prepared to give her 10 minutes

I do phone interviews usually too, before calling people in for a face to face

[Baclava]

5. Thanks...yes...

Face-to-face will be PartII.

[donco6]

4. I've done them

What I look for when conducting a phone interview:

1. Does the person answer hesitantly or confidently?

2. Does the person have a sense of humor? Honestly - being able to get along with coworkers is a big part of my company. But have good balance between being professional and pleasant.

3. Accuracy in answers - does he/she know what he's talking about?

4. Eagerness - have they done their homework? This can really be impressive if the interviewee knows some basic facts about the company, and seems to have ideas on how to do the job or make improvements.

5. Impressions. Sometimes I ask myself, "Can I see this person in this position?" Not very objective, I know, but it's been accurate in the past.

Just some ideas. Good luck!

[Baclava]

7. Thanks a bunch

Everything you said makes sense to me.
Good vibes!
Ciao!

[mistertrickster]

6. I've never had one either. Probably the best strategy is the same

as for a regular interview--

try to anticipate the questions

get somebody to run through the questions with you for a trial run

try to talk to someone for 45 minutes or so right before the interview so you're warmed up and in a sociable mood

be sure to have some intelligent questions of your own to ask

don't mention salary or perks--you can always find that out later before you accept

make it clear that you are serious about the job and that you'd like to get an offer so you could accept it

don't get rattled by questions that seem pointed or confrontational--some people ask tough questions just to see how you'll react

my own piece of advice--be enthusiastic but be yourself. Yes, you're selling yourself and that means being "on" whether you feel like it or not. On the other hand, you're interviewing THEM too, to see if you want to work with them. Don't tell them what you think they want to hear if it goes against what you really think.

Good luck . . .

[Baclava]

8. Good points...

I do so enjoy good feedback.....

[bobbyboucher]

12. Throw in at least one

"I'm glad you asked that, that is an area at which I think that I excell" or some derivative of it.

[noiretextatique]

9. this is a screening to weed out the undesirables

phones interviews seem to be the new thing in my profession, at least.
your goal is to get an in-person interview.

my suggestions:
be prepared to make a BIG impression. as i mentioned, they are probably doing phone interviews to limit the number of in-person interviews,
so make sure you make the cut by being personable and memorable.

in my profession (accounting), people always make the mistake of being TOO stiff and serious. you should be familiar with your resume, but also be engaged with the person doing the interview. sometimes i get the job simply because i have a personality :D

they asked for what they wanted in the ad, so make sure you use that information in your responses. i'm fairly shameless in regurgitating ad information when talking about my skills.

good luck :hi:

[havocmom]

10. Just make sure the company is on the up and up

There was a story in the Billings Gazette last week about a woman who accepted a job and it was a front to get her SS#, and bank checking account and routing # 'for direct deposit of her paychecks'. She had only online and phone contact. Showed up for 'work' and they never heard of her at the place she was told to go. The phone # she had been given to contact was new just before she was 'hired' and then disconnected.

Meanwhile, newly printed checks with her correct account and routing number were presented to her bank to the tune of over two grand. Big mess when you are expecting to be employed and end up being robbed.

Good luck, but be careful. Lots of scams going on from what this newspaper article said.

[drdigi420]

11. find out everything you can about the company

then bring up how you can specifically enhance their operation

[Chescher]

13. No worries! They're working off a list of questions, too.

Usually phone interview is done by an HR person talking from a list of questions (typically general, in my experience). They want to make sure you sound like you're human and have a clue about the job... that's all.

NOTHING BUT A THING! YOU'LL DO GREAT!!!

(*(*good luck*)*)

[Baclava]

14. Human???

Uh-oh...

I only came to this planet because they said Earth Girls were easy...

[Noodleboy13]

15. Ask what they're wearing.

:bounce:



Really tho, good luck. Be yourself and you should do fine.

[UrbScotty]

16. Don't spend time "thinking" about what you are going to say.

Do not let more than 1.5 seconds elapse between when the interviewer finishes the question and when you begin to answer it.

[Baclava]

17. All done

Thanks guys/gals - I survived.
She must have been using the same canned questions you posted - I had my answers waiting.

The only thing that threw me - she wanted to talk $$$, like, right now.

They only offered me $38,000 though- I can make more than that selling love tools from my porch.

I need a job where I can sit in front of my computer and drink beer.

[mistertrickster]

18. That doesn't sound too bad--you can always look for a better job

while you're making a living with them.

Glad it went well.