Phone Interview

tidusjar

tidusjar

tidusjar

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Joined
11 May 2011
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Location
Farnborough
So I have a over the phone interview with quite a large company. Now i've never had to have an interview over the phone before and I dont want to mess it up.

Advice please? I really want this.


Thank you so much for your interest in the Development Support/ Test Analyst role.

We would like to do a telephone interview with you, the interview will only be approx 20 minutes just to go through your CV and for us to explain more about the role.

Are you available tomorrow morning for a telephone interview? A slot between 10.00 and 12.00. If you are please can you confirm and send us the telephone number we can contact you on.

Kind regards,
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Main duties/ responsibilities

1. Liaising with the business and providing advice and software support.
2. 3rd line support of BCA’s online web applications
3. Defect tracking and management, working with development teams to identify root cause and resolve issues
4. Working with other Development Support Analysts, you will perform testing of software fixes in that will be released in live production environments
5. Identifying test, developing test cases and test scripts to cover those conditions.
6. Prepare data fixes using SQL
7. Smoke testing applications after live deployments
8. Daily performance monitoring of our online systems
9. Update other Development Support analysts and Development Support Manager with status of testing / issues on a regular basis and advise on prioritisation of issues.
10. Prepare weekly metrics and reporting documents for stakeholders with regards to raised and resolved issues in the live production environments
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Required skills

1. Ideally undergraduate with a Computer Science degree
2. Knowledge of SQL 2005/ 2008
3. Basic coding or programming knowledge in one of the following: C#, ASP.NET, MVC
4. Keen interest in testing software and testing methodologies
5. Good understanding of common technologies such as Internet applications, databases, browsers etc.
6. Ability to communicate effectively at technical and business levels, negotiation skills.
7. Thorough and accurate with good attention to detail
8. Able to work effectively and to tight deadlines.
9. Passionate about quality
10. Enthusiastic and quick learner
11. Methodical and structured approach
12. Ability to analyse and solve problems
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I've had quite a few of these, and know a few people who have conducted them too. They go pretty much the same as a face to face with the same style of questions and things, so I would just approach it in the same way. Just make sure that anything you would normally express with a physical reaction (looking interested, nodding, etc) you replace with something vocal instead.

Other than that, good luck.
 
Make sure you have your CV and any other related documents in front of you, laid out neatly so that you don't have to make a noise moving paper looking for info.
 
verbal nods, lots of them. Silences can be more uncomfortable when it's across a call than across a table.
 
It might sound a bit odd but for some people it helps to actually put on a suit and tie (or at least dress reasonably smartly) as if you were actually going to a "proper" interview. The theory being that you will behave more professionally than if you're just lounging around in whatever you normally wear on days off. On a similar note if you remember that there's no visual clues to convey context so your verbal utterances will have to make up for that - again some people find it helps convey warmth better if they smile as they speak. Those things may or may not apply to you but they're unlikely to do any harm.

I'd suggest it's worth having a think about when you might have demonstrated examples of the required competencies - it might be in a work environment but equally if you're just out of university then it may be from there, think about group projects and other similar situations or extra-curricular activities such as sports clubs that you've helped with etc.
 
1. Answer the phone when it rings.

You'd be amazed (or not) at how many people don't answer, or aren't there, or have to "give us a call back in 5 mins" as they get somewhere convenient.

2. Copy of your CV to hand, with notes for anything that stands out - like date gaps, etc...

That's about it. Be friendly, but not "chummy" and please do not end the call with "have a nice day".
 
semi-pro waster said:
It might sound a bit odd but for some people it helps to actually put on a suit and tie (or at least dress reasonably smartly) as if you were actually going to a "proper" interview. The theory being that you will behave more professionally than if you're just lounging around in whatever you normally wear on days off. On a similar note if you remember that there's no visual clues to convey context so your verbal utterances will have to make up for that - again some people find it helps convey warmth better if they smile as they speak. Those things may or may not apply to you but they're unlikely to do any harm.

I'd suggest it's worth having a think about when you might have demonstrated examples of the required competencies - it might be in a work environment but equally if you're just out of university then it may be from there, think about group projects and other similar situations or extra-curricular activities such as sports clubs that you've helped with etc.
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Very useful information. I planned to get myself ready as I do with a normal interview but without my interview clothes. Was just going to wear something smart as I know it would make me feel better and maybe more confident. I shall be having a list of achievements etc. infront of me now when the phone rings :)

Mr^B said:
1. Answer the phone when it rings.

You'd be amazed (or not) at how many people don't answer, or aren't there, or have to "give us a call back in 5 mins" as they get somewhere convenient.

2. Copy of your CV to hand, with notes for anything that stands out - like date gaps, etc...

That's about it. Be friendly, but not "chummy" and please do not end the call with "have a nice day".
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I plan to answer the phone! Yeah I'm going to have all details and stuff with me when the phone calls. 10:30 tomorrow morning. Can you expand on what you mean by friendly but not "chummy"? Haha.
 
tidusjar said:
Yeah I understand but I don't think I am one of the best people to talk to on the phone :/
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And you are applying for a telephone based support role?

Will be a simple call to get to know you and go through your CV. Nothing too complicated.

My only advise, as has been said above, is have your CV to hand and stand up during the call. If you want a little boost there is nothing wrong with drinking some energy drink before the call. It will make you a bit more chatty.

Best of luck. :)
 
I've had two phones interviews in the past. Both were fairly straight forward. Nothing to worry about!
 
tidusjar said:
Very useful information. I planned to get myself ready as I do with a normal interview but without my interview clothes. Was just going to wear something smart as I know it would make me feel better and maybe more confident. I shall be having a list of achievements etc. infront of me now when the phone rings :)



I plan to answer the phone! Yeah I'm going to have all details and stuff with me when the phone calls. 10:30 tomorrow morning. Can you expand on what you mean by friendly but not "chummy"? Haha.
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Say "hello, how are you?" but not "how was your weekend? any plans for this one? You have a lovely accent." That sort of thing.

If it's a female do NOT flirt with them. At all.
 
PapaLazaru said:
And you are applying for a telephone based support role?

Will be a simple call to get to know you and go through your CV. Nothing too complicated.

My only advise, as has been said above, is have your CV to hand and stand up during the call. If you want a little boost there is nothing wrong with drinking some energy drink before the call. It will make you a bit more chatty.

Best of luck. :)
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Nope it's not a telephone based support role, I'm guessing there will be some 3rd line support but not much. Stand up during the call? I'm going to practise later.

DAIR said:
I've had two phones interviews in the past. Both were fairly straight forward. Nothing to worry about!
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Thanks for the advise

Mr^B said:
Say "hello, how are you?" but not "how was your weekend? any plans for this one? You have a lovely accent." That sort of thing.

If it's a female do NOT flirt with them. At all.
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Ah I understand! Yeah I didn't plan to make them my best friend as soon as I answer the phone! Haha.
 
They have already said they will only talk about your cv and it will take 20mins. It will be brief to make sure you are worthy of a face to face interview as someone will have to get on a plane for that!

Know your cv inside out. If you worked on projects think of any problems that arose in the project and how you helped fix it.
At the end of the interview ask 1-2 questions, including the next stage of the recruitment process. Thank them for taking the time to speak to you.
 
I find it's best to take full advantage of the fact you can sit on the loo dropping the kids off AND get a job at the same time, two birds with one stone and all that.
 
Showboat said:
They have already said they will only talk about your cv and it will take 20mins. It will be brief to make sure you are worthy of a face to face interview as someone will have to get on a plane for that!

Know your cv inside out. If you worked on projects think of any problems that arose in the project and how you helped fix it.
At the end of the interview ask 1-2 questions, including the next stage of the recruitment process. Thank them for taking the time to speak to you.
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Ok, thanks for the advice. I shall be putting a lot of key information about me in bullet points.
 
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