Telephone Interviews

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Bman

Guru
Location
Herts.
My CV has managed to grab the attention of a new prospective employer. They have asked me to be available for a telephone interview. :becool:

After seeing the thread on interviewing Graduates, I thought it would be a good idea to pick your brains.

Any Telephone Interview tips?
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
Yes...
make sure you are sitting in the nude...:becool:
 

just jim

Guest
If stuck for an answer tap the receiver on the table a few times and make some whistlings sounds. Then hang up.
 

bauldbairn

New Member
Location
Falkirk
I had my first phone interview last year(X2) - only advice I can give you is re-read the exact CV you sent them(I have four), re-read your covering/application letter and gen up on the Co you've applied to - Oh and just relax / be yourself. :becool:

Good luck.
 

philipbh

Spectral Cyclist
Location
Out the back
BrumJim said:
Smile. It does make a difference.

Apparently, also standing up whilst in the call helps too :becool:

Good luck!
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
Many years ago when I attended a sales and marketing course. They actually taught us this and it's something that has stuck with me to this day.

philipbh said:
Apparently, also standing up whilst in the call helps too :wacko:

Good luck!
 
You now have 5 options...

Press 1 if you would like to accept the job
Press 2 if you would like to accept the job, but want more money and a nice big desk near a window with a view of the ducks on the river
Press 3 if you aren't sure which button to press and would like more time to think about which button to press before pressing a button
Press 4 if you don't want the job
Press 5 if you have lost the will to live while listening to this menu
Press 6 to hear these options again (and again, and again...)
 

ChrisKH

Guru
Location
Essex
ianrauk said:
Many years ago when I attended a sales and marketing course. They actually taught us this and it's something that has stuck with me to this day.

Agreed and if you really want to lord it over them, stand on your chair.
 

Greedo

Guest
Could crack jokes but will give you some serious advice.

A telephone interview takes place to save time and hassle. If they have loads of applicants it will save time whittling out the idiots and timewasters rather than getting them in for a face to face. It's not ideal but sometimes a must. Especially if it's a telephone based job.

You therefore should:-

Have your CV in front of you
Have the job spec in front of you
Have any specific questions prepared you may want to ask about the role
Have your reason for applying for the job prepared
Some one mentioned dress smart. You can do this. Dress smart think smart and all that
Do stand up when on the phone. You'll sound more confident and alert
Be polite obviously and friendly but draw the line at being over familiar
Answer each question clearly and as concise as possible
Don't hum and haw, eh, uh etc.. as a lot of people have habits on the phone they don't have in a face to face conversation
If you ask a question wait for the answer, don't just ramble to fill a silence

Also make sure your mobile is off if they are calling you on the house phone, no tvs or radios in the background or noisy pets.

All that and you should get a face to face. Only if you're keen on the role too though!

Good luck

Hope this helps
 

snapper_37

Barbara Woodhouse's Love Child
Location
Wolves
Bongman said:
Any Telephone Interview tips?

Do a bit of research on the Company. IMO, one of the favourite questions is 'What do you know about XYX?'. Nothing worse than someone who has applied for a job yet knows sweet FA about who they may start working for.

Good luck BTW.
 

swee'pea99

Squire
If at any point you're stumped and need time to think, just start talking and then cut the call while you're in the middle of saying something. No-one would ever think you would cut yourself off mid-sentence. Then you can ring back, saying 'don't know what happened there, but'...
 
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