Oh my . . Got 3 days to prepare for the biggest telephone interview of my life!

DarkShadow

DarkShadow

DarkShadow

Soldato
Joined
14 Apr 2004
Posts
11,898
Location
UK
As per thread title,

Following on from my recent thread: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17826593

In a nutshell, BMW have offered me an interview for my Student Placement in a few months.

Now I was originally going to go to Oxford for the interview, however today morning I received a call and they all agreed it would be more convenient to do it over the phone :(

He also said it would be this Thursday at 1pm. So, I'll be using the land line. Now it's possibly a good thing doing it over the phone, however I have to prove myself to a panel of 3, over the phone, where I can't see them, nor can I see their facial/body expressions, and one of interviewers is the Big Boss! :eek:

To make matters worse, I've been told it should last about an hour :\

Now I'm going to prepare really well, and stick up a number of sticky notes all over my desk for prompts. I never expected the interview to so soon, I had put my preference dates for 28/01 til 26/02. That said, I think it will be good to finally get it over and done with. A friend who knows one of the interviewers and he thinks that I have a good chance.

I'd really appreciate any advice as I could do with some.

Thanks :)
 
I wouldn't make sticky notes. Just prepare for it like you would a normal interview and concentrate properly whilst your on the phone rather the looking through notes everytime a different question is asked. They'll be able to tell I'm sure.
 
Plus side: You can do an interview in your boxers / naked if you so wish.

Downside: you'll not be able to see what they express through body language - but that too, can be a plus side, depending on how you view it.

Anyway, seriously though - have all your "prompts" and "likely interview questions" written on preferably a postcard / cue card and stick'em on your wall with bluetac, when they cue it, you can grab it and answer your "model" / ideal answer.

Get a family member / friend to practice with, speak to them back to back to give a little practice of not actually seeing that person's expression - you can still hear if they're satisfied or in disagreement with your answers, unless you're really really not in tune.

Also, have a couple of questions you want to ask them, relevant of course, this comes in handy for your own benefit and also, allows you to stretch the interview time abit longer and give them a clue on what you're seeking - interview such as yours are not just all about what they want from you.

Anyway, good luck and hope it all goes well for you :)
 
dark_shadow said:
As per thread title,

Following on from my recent thread: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17826593

In a nutshell, BMW have offered me an interview for my Student Placement in a few months.

Now I was originally going to go to Oxford for the interview, however today morning I received a call and they all agreed it would be more convenient to do it over the phone :(

He also said it would be this Thursday at 1pm. So, I'll be using the land line. Now it's possibly a good thing doing it over the phone, however I have to prove myself to a panel of 3, over the phone, where I can't see them, nor can I see their facial/body expressions, and one of interviewers is the Big Boss! :eek:

To make matters worse, I've been told it should last about an hour :\

Now I'm going to prepare really well, and stick up a number of sticky notes all over my desk for prompts. I never expected the interview to so soon, I had put my preference dates for 28/01 til 26/02. That said, I think it will be good to finally get it over and done with. A friend who knows one of the interviewers and he thinks that I have a good chance.

I'd really appreciate any advice as I could do with some.

Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Don't forget to wear your suit! :D
 
^^ above; i think the title states it's a telephone interview.

from my experience, make sure you somewhere quite, and relaxed.

also think thru a few questions and answers first - remember it's about expanding your questions.

also it's polite when they say 'hi how are you' to ask them it back - be relaxed.
 
Good luck :)
My only small piece of advice is have a glass of water nearby, really easy for your throat to go dry if you're nervous.
 
If possible use a headset phone, it removes one more distraction from the interview. If you do, make sure you test it first to make sure you can be heard and can hear.

Prepare for the interview location, so make sure the room is quiet and that you have no chance of being interrupted.

Have a drink on hand and make sure you go to the loo before the start of the interview.

This might sound like an odd one but dress smart if you are one of those people that are affected by what you wear (some people feel more confident in a suit for example).
 
Don't be too tempted by an advantage that a phone interview gives you - notes. They won't be able to see you looking at notes, but it will affect your voice. It is usually quite clear if someone is reading a prepared answer from notes. I suggest having notes as reminders, as you do have that option, but not as answers.

Try to keep in mind that it is an interview just as much as if you were in the room in Oxford with the three interviewers on the other side of a desk. After a while on the phone in your own chair in your own home, it might be easy to forget that.

Personally, I'd dress as I would for a face to face interview. It might not be directly relevant, as they can't see you, but it would affect my mind. You might say "Telephone - Serious Business." :)

Make absolutely sure that anyone else who might be around knows that you are having an interview, that it is as if the three interviewers have come to your home to interview you. If the house is burning down, it's fine to interrupt your interview. Otherwise, no.

Turn off your mobile phone, speakers on your PC, etc, during the interview.

Don't tell them if you always buy Mercedes :)
 
Thanks for the advice guys.

I've spent a whopping 9-10 hours prepping today, it's been a very long day, I'e had 3 practice runs, all of which I've failed :D

I've learnt a lot, I sounded like a bot reading scripts according to a few people, so I've decided to come back to earth and speak slow and normal. I feel fairly relaxed :)

A huge thanks to Raymond for distracting me in making me play my guitar tonight :p

Thanks for the support mundo :)
 
Last edited:
Ripper said:
I wouldn't make sticky notes. Just prepare for it like you would a normal interview and concentrate properly whilst your on the phone rather the looking through notes everytime a different question is asked. They'll be able to tell I'm sure.
Click to expand...
I agree really - you'll be "ermm"ing and "argh"ing all over the place :p
Good luck ;)
 
dont use sticky notes otherwise you will spend too much time looking for the right answer - just revise what you think they will ask ask any friends that work there that will be helpful.

just be natural and it should come through. they chose you for a reason, you didnt lie on your application so you got nothing to worry about.
 
I had a telephone interview with BMW recently - what a small world! :)

Mine was for the graduate scheme and the telephone interview was nowhere near as serious as yours - just someone asking questions and copying them down for someone higher up to read later.

Preparation is key, I thought i'd messed it up because although I knew all about myself and my "core competencies" and experiences and the company at the moment, I didn't know enough about the companies history. You don't want to sound like you're reading a script however.

I have an assessment centre with them in a week and a bit. Just be grateful you don't have to prepare a 10 minute presentation on "your greatest achievement to date" - a good experience though.

Keep us up to date with how it goes!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom