Comments on: How to Do a Phone Interview http://cashmoneylife.com/telephone-phone-job-interview/ Money Management, Small Business, Career Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:08:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ryan http://cashmoneylife.com/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-29364 Ryan Tue, 15 Feb 2011 02:13:38 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/2008/04/01/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-29364 Keith, You should be ready a reasonable amount of time before the scheduled call. I think 15-20 minutes should be plenty. Any more than that and the interviewer should contact you in advance to reschedule the call. They can't assume an interviewee will be waiting by the phone at all hours. As far as "fault" goes, I would hesitate to place blame. The best course of action is to contact the other party and explain that you thought the interview was scheduled for "x" time and you were unavailable at other the time they called. Then politely ask to reschedule. If the interviewer is reasonable, this shouldn't present too much of a problem. If it does, then you probably don't want to work there. Keith, You should be ready a reasonable amount of time before the scheduled call. I think 15-20 minutes should be plenty. Any more than that and the interviewer should contact you in advance to reschedule the call. They can’t assume an interviewee will be waiting by the phone at all hours. As far as “fault” goes, I would hesitate to place blame. The best course of action is to contact the other party and explain that you thought the interview was scheduled for “x” time and you were unavailable at other the time they called. Then politely ask to reschedule. If the interviewer is reasonable, this shouldn’t present too much of a problem. If it does, then you probably don’t want to work there.

]]> By: Keith http://cashmoneylife.com/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-29363 Keith Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:40:51 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/2008/04/01/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-29363 If you have a specific time for a telephone interview (and you don't have the specific interviewer's telephone number), how much earlier should you be ready to take the call? If you miss the interviewer's call because they called a little early, who is at fault? Thanks. If you have a specific time for a telephone interview (and you don’t have the specific interviewer’s telephone number), how much earlier should you be ready to take the call? If you miss the interviewer’s call because they called a little early, who is at fault? Thanks.

]]> By: Ryan http://cashmoneylife.com/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-25120 Ryan Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:41:40 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/2008/04/01/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-25120 Kim, It sounds like they caught you off guard! I don't like the idea of doing an interview without advance notice because it doesn't give either side time to prepare, and could really catch you off guard. I hope the practice worked well for you and will hopefully help you be better prepared for the next phone interview! Kim, It sounds like they caught you off guard! I don’t like the idea of doing an interview without advance notice because it doesn’t give either side time to prepare, and could really catch you off guard. I hope the practice worked well for you and will hopefully help you be better prepared for the next phone interview!

]]> By: Kim P http://cashmoneylife.com/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-25117 Kim P Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:28:41 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/2008/04/01/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-25117 I just had my first phone interview last week. I had received a call from the HR department of a company I had submitted my resume to. I was asked if it was a good time for us to talk. I replied yes, still not knowing that I was about to begin a very unexpected phone interview! Immediately I was asked questions such as why I wanted to work for them, describe my previous work experience in detail (job title, duties and responsibilities, and why I left the company). I was also asked about what type of position I was looking for (full-time/part-time) and what my salary requirments were. I was so nervous and caught off guard that my throat was dry, I was stumbling and fumbling over my words. I was so embarrassed. When all was said and done I was told by the HR department that these notes would be sent over to the Hiring Manager and if they were interested in meeting me for an interview, I would receive a call. I thought for sure I would not hear back to them after my initial phone interview. Sure enough, the next business day, I did receive a call from the Hiring Manager. I was asked similar questions pertaining to my work experience, type of position I was looking for and salary requirements. I was then told I would receive a call back, the interviewer received a page and had to take another call. I'm hoping that I will receive a call back but this time to set up the "actual" interview. I just had my first phone interview last week. I had received a call from the HR department of a company I had submitted my resume to. I was asked if it was a good time for us to talk. I replied yes, still not knowing that I was about to begin a very unexpected phone interview! Immediately I was asked questions such as why I wanted to work for them, describe my previous work experience in detail (job title, duties and responsibilities, and why I left the company). I was also asked about what type of position I was looking for (full-time/part-time) and what my salary requirments were. I was so nervous and caught off guard that my throat was dry, I was stumbling and fumbling over my words. I was so embarrassed.

When all was said and done I was told by the HR department that these notes would be sent over to the Hiring Manager and if they were interested in meeting me for an interview, I would receive a call. I thought for sure I would not hear back to them after my initial phone interview. Sure enough, the next business day, I did receive a call from the Hiring Manager. I was asked similar questions pertaining to my work experience, type of position I was looking for and salary requirements. I was then told I would receive a call back, the interviewer received a page and had to take another call. I’m hoping that I will receive a call back but this time to set up the “actual” interview.

]]> By: tina http://cashmoneylife.com/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-20333 tina Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:33:58 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/2008/04/01/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-20333 Thanks for the GREAT post & all the insightful comments. I have my 1st of 2 phone interviews this week. I know this information will help me prepare for them more effectively. Thanks for the GREAT post & all the insightful comments. I have my 1st of 2 phone interviews this week. I know this information will help me prepare for them more effectively.

]]> By: Ryan http://cashmoneylife.com/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-8422 Ryan Thu, 08 May 2008 00:34:35 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/2008/04/01/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-8422 Robin May, Since your interview is tomorrow, the most important thing you can do is prepare for the interview. Research the company, the job position, go over your resume, and review sample interview questions (just use a quick Google search and you should find a few things). Practicing by speaking a few answers aloud might be helpful. Don't stay up too late though, because just like a test, you can get burnt out by trying to force it. Tomorrow when you call the company for your interview, make sure you are in a quiet location and have the ability to speak freely. Answer confidently and honestly, and you stand a good chance of being remembered. Even though they may be calling multiple people, they will likely make a quick decision on those people they either want to call again or see in person. I just received a job offer from one company that I had two phone screens, then an in-person interview. So be prepared to do this more than once. Good luck! Robin May,

Since your interview is tomorrow, the most important thing you can do is prepare for the interview. Research the company, the job position, go over your resume, and review sample interview questions (just use a quick Google search and you should find a few things). Practicing by speaking a few answers aloud might be helpful.

Don’t stay up too late though, because just like a test, you can get burnt out by trying to force it. Tomorrow when you call the company for your interview, make sure you are in a quiet location and have the ability to speak freely. Answer confidently and honestly, and you stand a good chance of being remembered.

Even though they may be calling multiple people, they will likely make a quick decision on those people they either want to call again or see in person. I just received a job offer from one company that I had two phone screens, then an in-person interview. So be prepared to do this more than once. Good luck!

]]> By: Robin May http://cashmoneylife.com/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-8421 Robin May Wed, 07 May 2008 23:22:35 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/2008/04/01/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-8421 I have a phone interview tomorrow and jumped on the computer hoping to find suggestions how to handle such an interview and was really happy to find all these suggestions. With the economic situation as it is right now, employers are getting hundreds of applications and this particular company has someone from HR probably whittling down the applications they have received. Their job was just posted yesterday, on which they stated that expecting a huge amount of applications they would only respond to those they feel really qualify. I was gratified to get a response within hours of having sent my resume to them so I guess I said something right. But what worries me now is if I am one of the first to be called, what do I say so they won't forget me by the time they have interviewed maybe 25 other people after me? That has concerned me with face to face interviews when I have been told they will be interviewing more people over the next four or five days after me. By the time they are at an end, I have become just a vague memory! I have a phone interview tomorrow and jumped on the computer hoping to find suggestions how to handle such an interview and was really happy to find all these suggestions. With the economic situation as it is right now, employers are getting hundreds of applications and this particular company has someone from HR probably whittling down the applications they have received. Their job was just posted yesterday, on which they stated that expecting a huge amount of applications they would only respond to those they feel really qualify. I was gratified to get a response within hours of having sent my resume to them so I guess I said something right. But what worries me now is if I am one of the first to be called, what do I say so they won’t forget me by the time they have interviewed maybe 25 other people after me? That has concerned me with face to face interviews when I have been told they will be interviewing more people over the next four or five days after me. By the time they are at an end, I have become just a vague memory!

]]> By: Broke Grad Student http://cashmoneylife.com/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-6959 Broke Grad Student Sun, 06 Apr 2008 07:38:20 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/2008/04/01/telephone-phone-job-interview/#comment-6959 Excellent tips. I've had a few phone interviews for jobs and internships, and I agree with all of the tips. However, I'd add a note to the "Dress Professionally" tip, because depending on your industry, the dress code will vary. I'd suggest wearing what you would wear to an on-site interview, which could be anything from shorts and a t-shirt to formal business attire. Excellent tips. I’ve had a few phone interviews for jobs and internships, and I agree with all of the tips. However, I’d add a note to the “Dress Professionally” tip, because depending on your industry, the dress code will vary. I’d suggest wearing what you would wear to an on-site interview, which could be anything from shorts and a t-shirt to formal business attire.

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