Telephone Interviewing
Telephone interviewing has some compelling advantages. It is cost
effective and often convenient and expedient. As an added benefit it is free
from appearance-based bias. Often telephone interviews are used as
one of the series of steps leading up to a face-to-face interview. In
particular common uses include initial candidate screening, to differentiate
similar applicants and to obtain missing or more in-depth information, often
of a technical nature. Some organizations use the phone interview to ensure
complete understanding by the job candidate of the job description.
Applicants should be sure to set-up a properly
created interview space for the interview:
- Secure
a quiet area and a cleared, uncluttered space
- Have
the job description, your resume and transcript in front of you
- Create
prompting cards and key phrases you hope to use
- Dress
professionally (this affects your attitude and demeanor)
- Take
notes when needed including the names of those interviewing you (so as to be
able to follow-up and call them by name).
- You
may prefer to also have your computer present with the organizations website
accessible.
What Employers Want to Hear in a Telephone Interview:
- Clear
Greeting (Hello, Mary speaking…)
- Appropriate
Conclusion (Thank you for interviewing me…)
- Enthusiasm-excitement
about the job and the company
- Knowledge
of the position and the organization
- A
few substantive questions for the interviewer (not salary, benefits…)
Employers Don’t Want to Hear:
- An
unprofessional message on your answering machine
- Eating,
chewing gum, smoking, sniffling, typing or background noises
- Being
placed on Hold
Don’t forget to keep a log of job titles and organizations to which
you have applied. This way you will be better prepared if you are called
unexpectedly. Usually, when a call is unscheduled it is best to try to
arrange a scheduled time so you can do your homework in the mean time.
Finally, if you would like to schedule a mock interview with Career
Services you can do so by calling 410-543-6075 or Emailing
careerservices@salisbury.edu . Indicate if you would like a mock
interview of a phone interview
Back To Top
|
