Reply to: Phone Interview

[PAH]

I take it all back, yesterday I landed a gig with a telephone interview only.

Currently prancing around the house in just my boxers, smug as f***!

Ironic that when I did the telephone interview I was at the other end of the country, having driven there for a face-to-face interview, only to find they're not really looking for someone with my skills-set, and that's after a supposed technical test via a phone interview I had the day before.

[SueEllen]

Yeah, never understood why they want us to know some picky things... Are they really from IT, cus anytime anybody has a question, he googles it, a person doesn't have to know everything on the tip of the tongue, that's the way our job is done.

They're trying to show that their recall memory and ability to learn stuff parrot fashion is better than yours.

[expat]

Tempted to make sure I'm down PC World next time and hand the phone to the biggest geek I can find. Should pass no problem.

You think?

[Grolubao]

i.e. too much effort. Rather just blag it.

Both phone interviews so far have been on my mobile. Tempted to make sure I'm down PC World next time and hand the phone to the biggest geek I can find. Should pass no problem. I just hope the interviewer really wants that overpriced piece of junk they buy, and doesn't expect me to support it when I'm on site.

Yeah, never understood why they want us to know some picky things... Are they really from IT, cus anytime anybody has a question, he googles it, a person doesn't have to know everything on the tip of the tongue, that's the way our job is done.

I always did my job responsibly and without any of these geek questions, it's more of what techologies am I aware off.

I remember a couple years ago I had a phone interview and they asked me what is the purpose of a method in a pretty unknown class in Java. C'mon...

[PAH]

Also hired someone myself a couple of weeks ago based on a strong CV and a 15 minute phone call.

Give me a bell next time you're hiring.

[tim123]

Are contracts on phone intrerviews common, or is it not the norm in the UK?

This is why I'm not going to answer the question.

Every European gig has been as a result of a Phone interview only. None (except this one) of my UK gigs has been.

tim

[Cowboy Bob]

I voted sometimes as I have got a position based on a 15 minute phone interview. Also hired someone myself a couple of weeks ago based on a strong CV and a 15 minute phone call.

[shelby68]

Last 2 interviews have been phone, got both gigs.

[PAH]

edit: Obviously the cheatsheets on the wall idea also requires either phenomenal eyesight or a cordless phone, and to take the client's call in your home.

i.e. too much effort. Rather just blag it.

Both phone interviews so far have been on my mobile. Tempted to make sure I'm down PC World next time and hand the phone to the biggest geek I can find. Should pass no problem. I just hope the interviewer really wants that overpriced piece of junk they buy, and doesn't expect me to support it when I'm on site.

[PAH]

with current oil prices that must have been the most expensive youtube clip ever

Turned out to be the intro to a particularly tasty diy cannibal cookery lesson.

[Spacecadet]

Got distracted by a video of a couple of bints wrestling in oil.

with current oil prices that must have been the most expensive youtube clip ever

[Marina]

Yeah, the best bit about doing phone interviews is you can google the technical questions if you're stumped.

For one phone interview I made sure my mouse was wrapped in a towel so they couldn't here me clicking away. Still failed though. Got distracted by a video of a couple of bints wrestling in oil. I think there were up Scotland to keep the strikers entertained.

Maybe what you need is a large blank wall, covered with cheatsheets, so when some stupid "either you know it or you don't" question comes up you can simply creep to the right area (which you'd need to memorize up front) and silently look up the answer.

Course that wouldn't work so well with timed on-line multiple choice tests, which I've had a couple of times in the last few years. I think these are getting more popular for pre-screening use by agencies.

edit: Obviously the cheatsheets on the wall idea also requires either phenomenal eyesight or a cordless phone, and to take the client's call in your home.

[PAH]

My last four were phone interview only, and two before that were pretty much formality meetings following technical phone interview.

That said, I have also completely failed several phone interviews. But I was grateful for being on the phone, so they couldn't see me sweating and cringeing as I tried to bluff my way through whatever geek bollocks they were firing at me.

Yeah, the best bit about doing phone interviews is you can google the technical questions if you're stumped.

For one phone interview I made sure my mouse was wrapped in a towel so they couldn't hear me clicking away. Still failed though. Got distracted by a video of a couple of bints wrestling in oil. I think there were up Scotland to keep the strikers entertained.

[dang65]

My last four were phone interview only, and two before that were pretty much formality meetings following technical phone interview.

That said, I have also completely failed several phone interviews. But I was grateful for being on the phone, so they couldn't see me sweating and cringeing as I tried to bluff my way through whatever geek bollocks they were firing at me.

[PAH]

Went to the Middle East with the whole family based on 12 minute phone call

I did the same to butlins once. Travel agents aren't all bad.