phone interview advice

yabbobay Posted: Feb 22, 2004 06:26 PM

phone interview advice

has anyone had a phone interview? I have never, but have one early tuesday morning.

I will be at home so I don't have to worry about hiding anything...

DH had one, but he is IT and has a very different approach to interviewing...

what is the main thing to concentrate on? my voice? demeanor? vocabulary? answering questions? asking questions?

I have a feeling it will be speaker phone...

I just hate the unknown...any advice would be appreciated!!

WithThisRing Posted: Feb 22, 2004 06:31 PM

Re: phone interview advice

First I want to say best of luck in the interview.

Here are some things I have learned from them.

Turn off all distractions, (tv, radio, computer, etc..)

If you have call waiting, dont pick it up. Whoever it is will call back

Have your resume in front of you (this way you can refer to it for anything)

Have some questions in front of you

Take notes (this way if you get a call back for a face to face interview refer to your notes as a cheat sheet before the interview)

Sit straight up. It will make you feel more confident, more awake, then just laying on the couch or in bed

Most importantly, smile. I know its over the phone but people can tell when your are smiling

cluelessbride Posted: Feb 22, 2004 06:34 PM

Re: phone interview advice

Ditto everything WithThisRing said, I just wanted to add that you might want to disable your call waiting if you can.

jenny2penny Posted: Feb 22, 2004 06:35 PM

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jenny2penny Posted: Feb 22, 2004 06:37 PM

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WithThisRing Posted: Feb 22, 2004 06:38 PM

Re: phone interview advice

Jenny good points. Try and be near the phone a little earlier then planned.

I had a scheduled phone interview for 1pm and the woman was calling me called me at 12:50.

So treat this as it was a real face to face interview

Maribelle7777 Posted: Feb 22, 2004 07:38 PM

Re: phone interview advice

I can't really add more here but to say GOOD LUCK!

Library job???

yabbobay Posted: Feb 22, 2004 07:49 PM

Re: phone interview advice

thanks everyone...I am even telling DH to go to work early so that I won't be bothered - just by feeling self conscious if he is listening...

don't stop the advice!!! ( I love that I can have a cheat sheet in front of me!!)

Posted by Maribelle7777

I can't really add more here but to say GOOD LUCK!

Library job???

no but I won't have my degree until Dec - this is for Sept...but its a new school - so I am hoping that once the school is at full capacity...they would hire me over to librarian

peeweesgirl Posted: Feb 22, 2004 08:35 PM

Re: phone interview advice

I had one, about two years ago and it was great (I got the Job), But what I was told to focus on was my pitch , and dead air, make sure I sound confident, make sure the conversation is flowing and (obviously how you answer). Since i was @ home when the conversation took place I made sure I was comfortable. , and basically focused on how I spoke.

ETS: good luck I am sure it is not needed knowing what i know about you from here, you will do great!

yabbobay Posted: Feb 22, 2004 11:05 PM

Re: phone interview advice

thanks Miss Yvonne...

good point about dead air...maybe I'll make a list of things to have in front of me...

I would much rather go in person

michele31 Posted: Feb 22, 2004 11:26 PM

Re: phone interview advice

A phone interview is like an open book test..you can help yourself if you know where to look for the answers ahead of time. Keep a list of your good points and what you are looking for. Relax, remember your voice is all that these people will know. I would get up and get dressed so you feel the part.
Good Luck.

peeweesgirl Posted: Feb 23, 2004 12:09 AM

Re: phone interview advice

GOOD LUCk and let us know!

ss2002 Posted: Feb 23, 2004 08:56 AM

Re: phone interview advice

I've had a few phone interviews...

Be up and dressed, of course no TV, radio

Put the pets in another room

Have pen and paper to take notes

Have resume, cover letter, etc. to refer to

Know where your mute button is, just in case you need it quickly

***Have a mirror in front of you, look at yourself when speaking and SMILE***

Don't worry about short bits of dead air...you don't have to jump in and speak to fill a silence (my worst fault!). Stop and think out your response, just as you would in a face to face interview

GOOD LUCK!!!

shelzyp Posted: Feb 23, 2004 09:34 AM

Re: phone interview advice

Good Luck, I have never had one an over the phone interview, but my brother had, and he siad he got so comfortable on the phone with the interviewer that he blew it. He forgot he was on an interview, he got so comfortable.

Niecey Posted: Feb 23, 2004 11:21 AM

Re: phone interview advice

Good Luck!

I have done phone interviews and I interview people on the phone as well for work. I use phone interviews to kind of get a feel for the person and ask some basic questions. I have wasted a lot of time bringing people in who were not right so the phone interview is a great pre-screening. I usually ask basic questions like why are they leaving, what they found interesting about the ad (if it was an ad they replied to), salary range. I also like to give people an idea what the job is about to see if it is something they would be interested in.