Telephone Interviews...I've got one tomorrow - Advice pls!

[bridgdav]

I have a Telephone interview tomorrow afternoon, for a Mechanical Design Engineer position.

I've never had one of these before, having been in the same company for the past 14 years...


What can I expect..? What level of detail should I go into when answering questions..? Surely the call is a step towards a face to face interview..?

I know Google brings up lots of advice sites, but from the horses mouth is always better.

Any advice would be most appreciated.
TIA - Dave

[spikeyhead]

Treat it like a real interview, let them lead the direction of conversation but have a decent back up plan. Be bright, cheery, enthusiastic and interested in the position. Make sure you know your CV back to front and can spend 10 minutes talking about it and where you want your career to progress,

Know what questions you want to ask in advance and have them noted in front of you before the call starts.

I like telephone interviews, mostly as it saves me driving for two hours only to discover that the position isn't suitable.

[anonymous-user]

Look at what the job needs. Take advantage of them not actually being able to see you and have a lot of notes available. Make sure you can answer any questions they throw at you about your CV or previous employment.

I think phone interviews are to get a grasp of what the candidate is like as a individual instead of questioning them about there skills...(well all mine have been)

Anyways good luck

[Nobody You Know]

From my interviews and feedback in engineering there is one thing that is more important than anything else:

Know what you want.

I have been told by a couple of bosses that they don't want flip-floppers/drifters/dreamers/directionless people. They want people who are confident and know what they want from the job and career.

My previous boss told me that when he employed me he knew that he would probably lose me to a better paid job within a year but would rather have someone motivated and driven for a year than another directionless dead wood employee.

When they ask you what you want from the job or your career - make sure you have an answer and can talk passionately about where you want to be.

[ShadownINja]

What they said, but for novelty value, do it naked.

[shirt]

nothing to add, but would you mind posting after the event with some feedback?

cheers

[trooperiziz]

I personally use the 'just wing it' technique. If you prepare in advance, that is equivalent to cheating.

I also took the same approach to my degree...

[bridgdav]

Its now been and gone..

Spent half the day researching the company, getting myself prepared - CV history and skill list at the ready.

The interviewer was an OK chap, took his time, didn't really ask too many difficult questions, gentle introduction.

1. Explain in your words your career progression and why.
2. Best Bits
3. Worse bits
4. Personal achievement at work, relevant to position I'm applying for.
5. Very specific technical question about their products...! (I had no Idea - But told him so..! If they wanted someone with that experience, they'll struggle..(I didn't say that))
6. Genaral questiona about travel, location commuting etc


What I found strange strange was.. He didn't go through his Job Spec, to see if I had experience in their requirements list. It was difficult to get a Vibe from him about going forward.

I have another one tomorrow, It was really difficult not to Waffle on.. A couple of uneasy silences, I'm sure they get easier and better the more you do.

Thanks for your help.

[spikeyhead]

bridgdav said:

What I found strange strange was.. He didn't go through his Job Spec, to see if I had experience in their requirements list. It was difficult to get a Vibe from him about going forward.

I have another one tomorrow, It was really difficult not to Waffle on.. A couple of uneasy silences, I'm sure they get easier and better the more you do.

Thanks for your help.

Use the uneasy silences to ask about the job. He's now got the impression that you're not that interested as you didn't ask.

[bridgdav]

spikeyhead said:

Use the uneasy silences to ask about the job. He's now got the impression that you're not that interested as you didn't ask.

That's exactly what I did do cheers.. He enjoyed talking about his company.

In a strange way I felt more comfortable quizzing him on the prospects and future product development.

Fingers Crossed.

[trooperiziz]

bridgdav said:

4. Personal achievement at work, relevant to position I'm applying for.

Ugh, one of those...

Did he also ask you to point out your strengths and weaknesses, and where you see yourself in 5 years time?

[Funk]

1) Stand up when you're on the phone - you'll come across better the other end. It really does work.

2) It's easy to interrupt on the phone - if they start talking, be the one to be quiet.

You'll be fine.

[bridgdav]

Funk said:

1) Stand up when you're on the phone - you'll come across better the other end. It really does work.

I did and ended up pacing around the room..!

[trooperiziz]

bridgdav said:

I did and ended up pacing around the room..!

I do that when i'm at home on the phone anyway. Put the phone down and realise i've just done 50 laps of the sofa

[ShadownINja]

trooperiziz said:

bridgdav said:

I did and ended up pacing around the room..!

I do that when i'm at home on the phone anyway. Put the phone down and realise i've just done 50 laps of the sofa

I end up practicing kung fu moves if I stand up when I'm on the phone.

[aspen]

spikeyhead said:

bridgdav said:

What I found strange strange was.. He didn't go through his Job Spec, to see if I had experience in their requirements list. It was difficult to get a Vibe from him about going forward.

I have another one tomorrow, It was really difficult not to Waffle on.. A couple of uneasy silences, I'm sure they get easier and better the more you do.

Thanks for your help.

Use the uneasy silences to ask about the job. He's now got the impression that you're not that interested as you didn't ask.

I wouldn't worry too much about silences, on phone interviews, its often because the interviewer is writing notes.

[Healey73]

ShadownINja said:

trooperiziz said:

bridgdav said:

I did and ended up pacing around the room..!

I do that when i'm at home on the phone anyway. Put the phone down and realise i've just done 50 laps of the sofa

I end up practicing kung fu moves if I stand up when I'm on the phone.

Me too and I can't even do King fu!

[Healey73]

aspen said:

spikeyhead said:

bridgdav said:

What I found strange strange was.. He didn't go through his Job Spec, to see if I had experience in their requirements list. It was difficult to get a Vibe from him about going forward.

I have another one tomorrow, It was really difficult not to Waffle on.. A couple of uneasy silences, I'm sure they get easier and better the more you do.

Thanks for your help.

Use the uneasy silences to ask about the job. He's now got the impression that you're not that interested as you didn't ask.

I wouldn't worry too much about silences, on phone interviews, its often because the interviewer is writing notes.

Yes he's right, I have done a few telephone interviews and I just can't write quick enough but I did apologise and let the candidate know I'm not ignoring them. Sometimes to help the mood if I could tell they were nervous I would say they could sing whilst I'm busy writing, most took it as a joke which of course it was until one day a very nice but very tone deaf girl started howling Abba's Dancing Queen - never again did I ask for singing!

Edited by Healey73 on Friday 23 January 10:45

[evolution666]

Have a glass of water to hand in case of dry mouth, sounds daft, but if you get pressured, it may well happen then you wont be able to speak to easily whilst peeling your tonuge off the roof of your mouth

good luck