However, two of them will be telephone interviews. I’m imagining they’ll be something like the interview I had last month, in which 3-4 people crowded around a speaker phone and asked me questions. It was one of the more excruciating experiences in my life. I’d say the whole thing had been a disaster, except that I was offered the job. I’ve had in-person interviews with multiple interviewers, but this was more difficult in that I couldn’t make eye contact, read body language and facial expressions, etc. I felt like I was shooting in the dark, wriggling like a worm on a hook, to (badly) mix metaphors.
Can some of you Dopers offer some tips to make these next interviews run more smoothly? I’d like to hear from both interviewers and interviewees, if possible. If it makes a difference, both of these interviews are for government jobs; one federal, one state agency.
Hmm. I don’t understand why they had several people interview you at once. That would be tough in person, and it’s even harder on the phone.
I’ve phone screened people, but never really interviewed anyone on the phone. Remember, lots of meetings are held on the phone these days, so they have a lot of practice in doing this, and are also aware of the limitations.
My advice would be to take it slowly, restate questions if you have any doubt about them, and, in the case of interviews with multiple people, try to write down the names at the beginning. Then you can check who the speaker is when you are asked questions, and respond more personally. Don’t worry about checking who is speaking - sometimes you need to do that in normal conference calls too. You have an advantage - you can jot down notes about the questions without them seeing you do it, and refer to cheat sheets if you need them. (For instance, you can ask questions about their department based on the research you’ve done on them - of course you’ve done your research, right?) So, just relax, and don’t have expectations that this will be the same as a face to face interview. I assume that you are too far away to interview in person, so their budget problems are the cause for the phone interview.
BTW, why did you think your phone interview was a disaster? It sounds like you did fine anyhow.
I think my last phone interview was a disaster because I wasn’t prepared to be speaking to several people at once. When I set up the interview, it sounded like I’d be speaking to one person, and then one other person. I was caught off gaurd and sort of rambled on too long, said “umm” every other word and a couple times had to ask if I’d answered their question, since I didn’t have the facial cues to clue me in. Gah. I hate talking on the phone anyway, so this isn’t my idea of a good time, but I suppose I’ll get better with practice (or better yet will get hired and won’t need more practice).
You’re correct that the jobs are both a couple states away and travel expenses are out of the question, at least for the first round of interviews. For one of the jobs, I’ll have an in-person interview if I’m among the final candidates.
I’ve done rather well at phone interviews, including a technical one, so here’s my advice.
Preparep For the interviews I’ve had which have involved technical matters, I’ve had reference books spread out on the table in front of me to refer to if I have a brain fart. If you can, read up on the company or the industry, make notes, and have them in front of you.
Make sure you have no distractions. Put people on notice that you’re expecting this call and won’t be available starting at least 15 minutes before it.
Relax. I know. It’s almost impossible during an interview, but for this one they can’t see you. That means you can sit however you feel comfortable and wear whatever you feel comfortable and competant wearing. I think I’ve been barefoot for pretty much every phone interview I’ve had, something I would never do if they could see me. While you’re waiting for the interview, read a book, watch television, listen to music, or do something else which will keep you from worrying while remaining alert.
Breathe. Take a deep breath before you answer the phone and take one more moment to compose your thoughts.
Good luck! I still remember one phone interview when, after hearing I’d have to travel some distance for the next phase, I asked the person interviewing me what the odds were of me getting the job. He told me I had it. I put the phone down, turned to my parents, and said, “That was Hawaii! They want to hire me!!” A few weeks later, I was on my way to paradise. Here’s hoping you get the job, and it’s better than that one was!
I don’t have many tips for you, other than what’s already been said, other than this:
Folks can hear you smile. And they like when you do. So smile, dammit. And listen for when they’re smiling. That’ll give you some indication as to how you’re doing.
And, somebody, somewhere in some article (how’s that for a site?) once suggested that instead of saying “Umm…”, try to replace it with “Now…”. If you have to fill in the spaces while you’re talking, at least it’ll sound like you’re about to say something really interesting.
Thanks, I will try to relax. The lady I talked to for my interview on Tuesday sounded pretty personable, so I’m hoping it will be a more comfortable situation. And I will smile!
The best thing about phone interviews is that you can use notes. Make a list of everything that you want them to know about you so you are sure to cover it all. Make a list of intelligent questions to ask for when they say, “Do you have any questions for us?” You should have your papers all laid out so that they don’t hear the crinkling sound of papers being shuffled.
Early last year, when I was applying for jobs in Germany (while still in India), I received a totally unexpected call from one of the companies I had applied to. What should have been (IMO) an introductory chat, to be followed up with a scheduled telephone interview, turned into the interview before I realised it! Worse, the call came in the middle of a rather hot afternoon, when I was not exactly wide awake!
Anyway, to cut a long story short, the interview went on for about 45 minutes, at the end of which, the chap asked me to email him copies of my certificates, etc. A few days later, he called with an offer!
All of which doesn’t really help with your query, but what the hoo! Maybe you can take heart my experience!
I recently had a series of phone interviews for two different positions. I nailed them all. I’m now weighing competing offers from two companies. I have two pieces of advice for you.
As Elephant Shoes suggested, smile. Pause, and smile. It is weird how effective that is on the phone.
I like to stand, not sit during a phone interview. I stand up straight, shoulders back, for interviews, as well as client discussions. I keep my vision focused on a far off spot outside my window. I keep my head up. I don’t look down at my desk. I feel confident, capable, and in control.
Yikes! I brought a list of intelligent question to my latest face-to-face interview - was that a bad idea ? (I got the job anyway, hehe!) I thought I was demonstrating a structured approach, now you’re telling me I just signalled “bad memory” ?
To the OP: I had two phone interviews before the face-to-face one, and I found that I was most comfortable standing up - improved my voice! - plus I could cover my notepad with stickers saying “Talk slowly, clearly!”. But yeah, take it easy - be alert and have it together. You’ll do fine.
Hi all. I just wanted to bring this back up. I did quite well (very well, according to the interviewer) on my phone interview last Wednesday, due to tips here and in Job Interviews for Dummies*. To make a long story short, I have an unofficial job offer from them! Their recommendation just needs to be approved by the state office, which is normally a formality.
I have another phone interview today, and after two of these leading to two job offers, I’m feeling much better about the prospect (though trying not to be overconfident).
So, a big THANK YOU for everyone’s advice and anecdotes, they really helped!
for anyone who has only been interviewed, and never done the interviewing, remember that the interviewer really wants to find a good person. They might be doing the job they are interviewing you for as well as their own. They may get rated on how well they hire. (That was a harder job three years ago than today.) So, come at the interview thinking you have something that they want, and not just hoping for a job.
I agree with the people who said smile. Someone who is animated comes across better than someone who speaks in a monotone. Turn yourself on, since you are performing, just like an actor does.
One thing to watch out for the the guerilla phone interview. I recently had someone call me about a job (they had my resume but we hadn’t talked yet), and BLAM went right into a phone interview with a second person there. It was a bit disconcerting, but I pulled through.
I was talking with a new employee in my lab about phone interviews right before my interviewers called, Riboflavin. He said one night, he’d just returned from the bar at almost 1 am, when a company he’d applied to called. They insisted on interviewing him right then, asking questions about circuits, engineering, etc. Their reasoning was that their company operates 24/7, so they need people who are sharp working graveyard. :eek:
I was quite grateful when my interview rang a few minutes at the exact scheduled time of 3pm.
