Telephone Interviews

[RSoles]

Telephone interviews

1) large empty room, floor littered with notes. Avoids the giveaway thumbing through manuals (or clicketty-clack of a keyboard on Google ) noises prior to answer.

2) get someone who knows what to say to do the interview for you.

- Hang on... I'm not interviewing you tomorrow am I?
Ah no, Italy...OK

RS

[tim123]

The worst thing about telephone interviews is having a w*nker at the other end who insists upon using his speaker phone, even though there is only him in the room.

This cuts the audio in and out and you are continually asking them to repeat what they have said, which looks bag (IMO). I don't know if this is worse because the receiving end is a mobile, but I do wish that people would learn not to conduct interviews this way.

tim

[RSoles]

I've done a couple of 'phone interviews lately and so far I've spoken to two guys in canteens and one in a stairwell.
None of these guys got the job.
If they can't plan ahead for an interview (an interview for God's sake!)
what are they going to be like on the project?

RS

[Vito]

Get a speaker phone and get some experienced pals in the room...make sure there is some backround noise (i.e. you are working in a busy office because you wouldn't possibly take time off from your client to speak to another one) to justify the fact that you will mute the phone when he speaks...then get your mates to give you the answers...sorted!

To be honest, I find phone interviews a bit off-putting but have always got the job from them...so...5 serious tips:

1. Be courteous...too easy to speak over someone on the phone because you are worried about pauses...don't

2. Smile throughout (too cheesy to do in a face-to-face)...it makes you sound upbeat and conscious

3. Pace the floor whilst talking...gives your voice a vibrant energy (don't walk too quick though because puffing and panting is not so clever)

4. Stay clear of humour...face-to-face its fine, over the phone its impossible to guage them

5. Put a suit on...we are conditioned to doing interviews with a suit on...subconciously it makes us more professional and gives us confidence...may sound silly, but do it...

Good luck...i remember you thinking you weren't gonna get this...we're all rooting for you

[lukemg]

Got one of these today as well. 2nd interview and it's with someone from HR. I have arranged a meeting room at current client with a proper conference phone. From teleconf experience they are much better than using a normal handset.
Not sure what to expect but will have my CV + jobspec in front of me. Very difficult to check understanding and no feedback is the hardest thing. Good advice about humour, play it strictly business.

[tino]

Cheers folks, lots of good advice here - ill take it all on board.

I've done this role several times in the last couple of years though generally on a troubleshooting / get the plans telling the truth type of scenario so hopefully I would hope I have enough knowledge to carry me through this

Still no mention on when it is though so ill let you all know how I get on.


Thanks again folks


ciao

[tino]

Well guys - all arranged for 10.00am on Monday.

Wish me luck

Ill find out if im the man on Monday afternoon

[cojak]

Have you got a website?

You can walk them through that - prepare special pages, include presentations.

It's always worked for me...

[ratewhore]

I always find myself walking around the room on telephone interviews...


don't know why.

[Churchill]

I always find myself walking around the room on telephone interviews...


don't know why.

It's psychological - it places you in a position of power and does enable you to come across more confidantly over t'phone!

Also aids in breathing etc.