Phone Interviews?
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- freshdude
Anyone had one?
Looking for all tips. What traps to avoid, how to keep smooth conversation, and so on.
What kinds of questions will be asked?
- bjladams0
"hello, who is this?"
- nthkl0
Just be optimistic. It's an interview, doesn't matter if it's in person/phone/teleconference/webc... have your portfolio ready to review and be clear and concise when you are walking them through it. Say, "ok, please click on link #1. Let me know when it is open and in front of you... I'll wait till you confirm it is..." "Everyone ready? Cool, (Insert pitch here)..." "Any questions about that one?". Repeat.
- Impress them by using 'Go to Meeting' to run through your portfolio.ETM
- or use http://www.mikogo.co… for freewhatthefunk
- Adobe Breeze is excellent too... Just don't leave it open cause they charge by the minute. ;)nthkl
- freshdude0
Good tip.
- whatthefunk0
I've had several and I've also read and tried, with great results, standing while talking and getting dressed as if you're going to a real interview. Be prepared for 2 way accidental interruptions, you'll talk over them and they'll do the same - just ask them to repeat themselves if necessary.
Take notes on the conversation and let them know you're doing so - this way you can backtrack and refer to various points brought up. Don't forget, this is your chance to interview them about the team, history of the team, past and future projects, team/company goals, benefits, etc.
- utopian0
bad idea...
- akrokdesign0
^
depends how slick you are.
- freshdude0
They want it.
- seed0
Everything whatthefunk said was great advice. I'd say also review your own resume and experience beforehand to keep important tasks, topics and achievements at the top of your mind. Have plenty of questions for them. You want to know what kind of work environment your getting yourself into. The phone is going to be a little clumsy with interruptions or akward silence and they know that too. I had a phone interview for my current job and I thought it didn't go well at all. They called the next day with an offer.
- Mr_Right0
They just want to talk with you to make sure you're not a nut-job. You'll do fine, just don't mention you're a member of QBN: see nut-job statement.
- vaxorcist0
I had an interesting phone interview that went on and on once, it seemed they loved me, and I was learning more and more about how they do things.... then I called my headhunter who arranged the call and he told me they thought I was treating it like a consulting gig and they had no idea why I kept asking questions instead of tooting my own horn about the fabulous technologies I'd used in the past...
????? So, somehow I got the idea wrong..... this came after I got a couple of gigs precisely because I asked good questions and demonstrated knowledge and enquiring mind, and all those things like that...
- well, we ARE not salespeople by nature, those people can feel the vibe of tone of voice better than I can,....vaxorcist
- freshdude0
Thanks
- Hombre_Lobo_20
standing whilst talking for me is a must, i feel a lot sharper and awake and confident.
maybe its my latest self book of 'how to be a strong confident woman in the workplace'.
no but really, standing helps.
- comicsans0
It's a screening process not an interview, if you don't fail they may call you in for an interview. So treat it seriously.
- vaxorcist0
NOTE: I was once in a phone interview where it seemed that there was a second person there, asking rather strange questions... really out of flow of the conversation with the person who was actually interviewing me... later I learned they "had to be fair" and they had what looked like a "checklist" of things I was supposed to mention without being "prompted" but by the time they interviewed me, they realized this list was crazy and they had to "slightly prompt" me, hence the strange questions....
- they essentially offered me the gig,but I got a better gig elsewhere... & didn't love their vibe either...vaxorcist
- MSTRPLN0
Just make sure you don't have random people in the background that don't know you are on the phone come walking in.
- good point, walk in "freshdude you big homo mother fucker...wha? phone?..oh sorry" oops!Hombre_Lobo_2
- deathboy0
open up by asking them what they're wearing and to describe themselves for you
- NONEIS0
Know your own work like the back of your hand, know a project you can spit out when they ask you what you are most proud of (you will be asked that), and avoid using fall back statements over and over like – "like", and "um", and "stuff like that", don't be afraid to crack a joke if it's tasteful / in context, and enunciate!
Keep a bottle of water for the vocal shakes, and consider walking around while you talk, it will help you stay in the zone.
- freshdude0
thank you.
- herzo0
If you've applied and sent in material have whatever you've sent in front of you. Also have a copy of your resume in front of you too.
- fiver0
so, what happened?