Apparently, a memo went out recently to writers in the career space, declaring this the Week of the Phone Interview. OK, not really. But I've seen two excellent posts on the topic this week, so I'm hopping on the bandwagon.
The phone interview (more aptly called a phone screen) is becoming more and more popular as the first step in the hiring process. If you haven't had one yet, you will, so it's essential to get yourself primed and ready before the phone rings.
A phone screen is similar to a regular interview. A lot of the questions are the same. Both help employers judge how well you communicate and whether you've done your homework. But there's one big difference: Phone screens are meant to screen people out; regular interviews are meant to screen someone in.
It's much faster and cheaper for an employer to phone 10 or 15 "maybe" candidates than to meet them all in person. The phone-screening process weeds out the people who sound good on paper but—for whatever reason—don't strike the screener as a good match for the job.
Only the short list of candidates who survive the phone screen will get to interview face to face. And as we all know, you can't get a job without an interview.
Anyway, as I mentioned, the two recent posts I read about phone interviews were excellent. If you want to be a survivor, rather than a casualty, of your next phone screen, I highly recommend you read them (click the title to see the full post):
- Don't wear pajamas for a phone interview, from Fortune.com's Ask Annie.
Fifteen handy tips for making a great phone impression—everything from "use a landline and disable call waiting" to "eat a cough drop before the call."
- How to prepare for a phone interview, from Ask a Manager's Allison Green.
Step-by-step instructions for doing your homework before the call, plus typical questions to expect, and what to ask in return.
If you have any phone interview questions, observations, or horror stories to share, please leave a comment below!
RELATED LINKS
Talk is Cheap, Except in the Phone Interview
Phone Interview: Tips and Tricks
How Do You Handle the Salary Question?
What NOT to Say at the First Job Interview
I couldn't agree more with the sentiment "Phone screens are meant to screen people out; regular interviews are meant to screen someone in"
Interviews are costly and time consuming so more and more companies are resorting to this in more recent times.
As indicated, treat the phone interview with the same respect of a face to face interview and you will do as well.
DS
I appreciate the phone screen. I don't have a lot of time to waste and I don't like having my time wasted by others. I can tell within 5 minutes into a phone screen if I am really interested in the position. It sure beats taking time off work to go to an interview, spending a few hours doing that, and then deciding you're not interested. By that time you've blown sick or vacation time for nothing.
The only down side of the phone screen is, if doing it by cell phone, you need to be in one place so you don't drop your connection. Find a spot where you get a really good signal. Otherwise you'll spend a lot of time misunderstanding things, asking the screener to repeat themselves, etc.
Whatever you do, do NOT do a phone screen on the Commuter Rail near Boston. You'll drop your connection five times every two miles! Plus, the person screening you will know every stop the train is about to make as they announce it LOUDLY over the speaker system.
@ Doug (DS) Yup, respect the phone interview!
@ Peter Rabbit You make a good point, phone screens can save job seekers a lot of time and effort, too. And you're right that a cell phone interview (anywhere) is potentially risky.
Unless the phone screener insists on speaking to you at that moment, you're much better off scheduling a time when you can be at home, well prepared, on a landline.
Take care.
~ Julie O.
This article really helps especially handling cold calls.