this week I wrapped a solid round of phone interviews for a current opening and realized that people need training on how to interview by phone. although we moved forward a few qualified candidates I can tell you I wasn’t ‘WOWed’ by anyone. in general these candidates lacked good phone interviewing skills. so today I’m going to let you in on what a recruiter is hoping to hear on the other end of the line.
more often than not employers today are using the phone interview as another tool to screen candidates; meaning your phone interview impression can often times be your first and your last if you’re not adequately prepared. phone interviews by nature are designed to achieve a few specific goals. they are short, they tend to focus your resume but, ultimately their used determine if you’re worth bringing in based on what you say and how you say it.
phone interviewing is a skill and, like baseball, your success relies on knowing, practicing and executing on some core fundamentals. read below to knock it out of the park during your next phone interview.
Fundamental 1) pay attention – I can’t even begin to tell you how annoying it is to have an individual multi-tasking. it’s like that scene from whether it’s driving or cleaning your house no one does two things well simultaneously. period. if anything this will convey the message that this job isn’t worth your time.
Fundamental 2) make the catch - and by catch I mean make the 'connection'. all too often candidates miss the true intent of a question because they focus on a particular word or are wracking their brains for an exact work-related example to provide. the truth is, when you answer a question based on its perceived intended purpose the example provided becomes insignificant. the best example that I can provide is this:
tell me about a time that you had a conflict at work. what I often hear in response is: ‘I’ve never experienced a conflict at work’ but, that doesn’t answer the question. interview questions are designed to make you think critically. if you aren’t, maybe you should start.
Fundamental 3) practice your pitch – any interview is your time to shine. that said, know what you want to sell about yourself and practice doing so without sounding overly confident. and for love of the game (;o)) annunciate!
Fundamental 4) swing level with intent - know what you want to accomplish during this phase in the process; this isn't the time to discuss benefits or your hire date, etc. at this point both of you are feeling out the other so have a plan for what to ask and when.
Fundamental 5) have fun – when candidates are nervous and stressed about an interview they come across the same. sure the interview may be a formal step in the process but, that doesn’t mean you need to be boring and dull. it’s okay and honestly, welcome to crack an appropriate joke or laugh at the interviewer's jokes. think of it as the seventh-inning stretch of an interview, a way to break the tension, a time-out of sorts. a little humor and joking demonstrates personality and can help in determining cultural fit.
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| ESPN Poll 10/2014 |
go Royals!
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