First phone interview.... what to expect ?

[-Ad-]

Well ive seen plenty of posts on here asking for help with regard to phone interviews, now it's my turn. After graduating from uni this summer i have finally managed to land myself an interview in the engineering field i soo passionately want to go into. Well, im stuck working for a market research firm atm on the phones

Right, the phone interview is either tomorrow or friday and is for a graduate scheme working with one of the companies that manage, maintain, and upgrade the underground in our fine capital.


A few things i noted down that might come up:
- Why have i applied to the graduate program.
- Don't ask about benefits really, especially pay etc.
- My strengths - learn examples.
- My weaknesses - use positive weaknesses, e.g a bit too much of a perfectionist rather than lazy graduate slob.

- Standout examples of things i have done, positions of responsibility, relevent projects e.g. uni project.
- Olympics.
- Ask questions about chartership, location of office/s, night shift work.


Also know my cv and covering letter back to front.

cheers

 

[Morba]

have a glass of water by you, it will help
give verbal nods while the other person is talking, you have to make up for not being there in person, so you cant just look at them and nod your head, you need to verbally do it.

 

[Spyhop]

- My weaknesses - use positive weaknesses, e.g a bit too much of a perfectionist rather than lazy graduate slob.

Stay away from that one - it's the ultimate cliche!

 

[-Ad-]

Stay away from that one - it's the ultimate cliche!

Haha, didn't know that, just thought about myself. Il phrase it differently

 

[Morba]

Haha, didn't know that, just thought about myself. Il phrase it differently

that is just as poor.
think of something that is relevant to you, not what every other spanner has also said.

 

[-Ad-]

woops i didn't explain in my last post. When i said 'o i didn't know that' i meant to say that it's very relevant to myself and didn't know that other people used it. Ive got a few others so im sure il be fine.

 

[jimmy the fish]

- My weaknesses - use positive weaknesses, e.g a bit too much of a perfectionist rather than lazy graduate slob.

As someone who interviews quite regularly, and asks the "weakness" question, i'd recommend not using this.

The reason behind the question is to find an actual weakness, rather than regurgitated rubbish.

Whenever I get a cliched answer, I just ask for another one until they come up with a real one.