# Has anyone ever had a phone interview? Need advice **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 13, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-had-a-phone-interview-need-advice/459896 "2008-08-13T21:31:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-had-a-phone-interview-need-advice/459896/21 "2008-08-14T13:00:53Z")
[QUOTE=Red Stilettos] snip Also, try to take the call on a land-line. Worrying about cell reception during a phone interview isn’t going to help you make the best impression. [/QUOTE] I second this. My one and only phone interview was on my cell phone. :smack: Half of the time I couldn’t hear exactally what was being said, so I’m sure I sounded like a complete moron when I answered their questions. I was also in the car (although parked), so it was not a good physical place for me. Needless to say, I didn’t get the job (or even a face-to-face interview). ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-had-a-phone-interview-need-advice/459896/22 "2008-08-14T13:11:34Z")
[QUOTE=Full Metal Lotus] Have a clock with a second hand in plain sight. Limit your responses to under 45 seconds. 20 seconds is best. 20 seconds is a long time when you are talking, but it seems much longer to the listener! [/QUOTE] Hee he he he. I skimmed and I thought you said “Have a cock in your second hand.” He he he he he he he he… Sorry, still on that first pot of coffee. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-had-a-phone-interview-need-advice/459896/23 "2008-08-14T14:18:47Z")
[QUOTE=Full Metal Lotus] Dogs/cats can generally live for at least 20-40 minutes in the freezer. Additionally it is soundproof. [/QUOTE] Be warned; Sprinkles might leave claw marks in the frozen french fries. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-had-a-phone-interview-need-advice/459896/24 "2008-08-14T15:22:54Z")
[QUOTE=Full Metal Lotus] Use the interviewer’s name at least once every 3 responses “Well, Bob, that’s a great question - my basic experience with banana juggling began when I was with an apocalyptic saucer cult in the 80’s!” [/QUOTE] This may be tricky if you have half a dozen people interviewing you on a conference call. Ok, so when I’ve had a conference call phone interview, they’ve generally traded off saying things like “Bob here, Stupid Rote Question with a Paragraph of Generic Text I Must Read” So I guess one can respond with “Well, Bob, etc. as you suggest”. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-had-a-phone-interview-need-advice/459896/25 "2008-08-14T15:57:38Z")
No heavy breathing (as in exhaling smoke or well, heavy breathing) No gum chewing No eating No drinking of iced products that can clink against the glass or get in your mouth where you’ll want to chew the ice up. No kids around. No pets–lock em up (I like the freezer idea) You want a quiet background–do NOT be tempted to go put clothes in the dryer, puree those soft tomatoes or the like. Ditto the loo (plus the acoustics in a bathroom sort of give it away). Try not to say um or huh or any other verbal tic. Don’t be online when you interview. If you need to stall for time, rephrase the question and repeat it back to the caller. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-had-a-phone-interview-need-advice/459896/26 "2008-08-14T15:59:02Z")
[QUOTE=Jelymag] I had a phone interview once that was automated. It was a weird experience. Example: Press 1 if you strongly disagree, 5 if you strongly agree. “It is okay for an employee to use drugs or alcohol if it does not impede their ability to do their job.” “If you know another employee is stealing, you should tell your supervisor.” etc. [/QUOTE] I had one with questions like this that I _wish_ had been automated. The stupidity of the questions eventually got to me and I’m sure the interviewer could tell from the tone of my voice. I did not get any further with that company. On second thought that’s probably a good thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-had-a-phone-interview-need-advice/459896.md?page=1)