Tips with phone interviews

BlackDragon

BlackDragon

BlackDragon

Soldato
Joined
9 Jun 2006
Posts
2,642
Hi all,

Will be having a phone interview for an computing related placement (for next academic year) next week, and as I've never had a job before and have only had 1 in-person interview, I'm lacking experience in doing well in interviews.

So any tips in how to do well for these? Any industry specific tips? Do i need to wear a suit for this? :p
 
As they can't see you, then you can easily have lots of post it notes with tit bits of crucial stuff....what you are studying, why you got into IT, your positives etc...
 
Have your covering letter, CV and application form all easily to hand.

I had a phone interview with Microsoft a few days ago and I had everything reading on the PC then he said I had a bad signal (I had full bars, but never mind) so I wandered off into another room in the house and he said it was better (his phone was playing up actually, loads of static as the mic was not in the right place on his headset).
I then had none of the stuff I wanted in front of me. This kind of made me worried, but I figured there was no real point in worrying and to just get on with it. I think it went well, the only question I had and answered badly is the one everyone asks 'So why should <employer name here> employ you?'. I messed it up a bit, but I think I did ok.

I find out on Sunday/Monday how well/badly it went, as if it went well I get to go to an assessment centre, and if badly, then I don't get to go. :(

This was for my placement year as well. :)

InvG
 
Not for Cisco is it?

Anyway, speak clearly, it may well be a conference call so don't sound like your in the middle of a traffic jam either.

Sitting in front of a PC is a good idea, I have my CV and any other info they have on me open, as well as a window open in firefox for every topic i may get asked techical questions on.

Have a page open on their company profile as well just in case.

Hell, do the whole thing in your birthday suit if that helps :cool:
 
Mr.Stu said:
Not for Cisco is it?

Anyway, speak clearly, it may well be a conference call so don't sound like your in the middle of a traffic jam either.

Sitting in front of a PC is a good idea, I have my CV and any other info they have on me open, as well as a window open in firefox for every topic i may get asked techical questions on.

Have a page open on their company profile as well just in case.

Hell, do the whole thing in your birthday suit if that helps :cool:
Click to expand...

Do not sit in front of a PC, you'll be tempted to look up any technical questions you don't know. Which is not only screwing yourself but it's really really obvious to the interviewer when you're doing that and for me it's an instant rejection if I think somebody is...
 
bigredshark said:
Do not sit in front of a PC, you'll be tempted to look up any technical questions you don't know. Which is not only screwing yourself but it's really really obvious to the interviewer when you're doing that and for me it's an instant rejection if I think somebody is...
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is true. Personally I would have the PC up, solely for the fact that the printer here is pants and I'm not going to print off my CV/Covering Letter/Application and sit elsewhere.
I only use the PC for flicking through my documents to bring in relevant things and not to search the internet.
They will be able to tell you are tapping away looking for an answer...well if my missus was on the other end she would...often get told off for typing when on the phone to her. :p

InvG
 
Speak clearly and concisely

Make sure to have things around you of use, but as said above, don't cheat or you'll cheat yourself.

Don't make bad/cringeworth jokey comments as ice breakers.
 
If you don't know the answer pretend it's breaking up, hang up, find the answer then ring them back.
 
1. - USE A LANDLINE

2 - Close the door of the room you are in, so no one disturbs you.
3- be confident, they are interviewing you as they think you are employable, prove them right.

I would not have a PC in front of you, the sound of tapping keys after a question has been asked would lead me (if i was interviewer) to think you didn't know the answer, no matter what you ended up answering.

Have notes around you, but don't rustle through paper.

Remember they can hear what you are up to, phone receivers are v.sensitive.

Prepare examples of things they may ask questions for.

Ask them when the next interview stage is, - confidence verging on arrogance, but it worked for me!!
 
rossyl said:
1. - USE A LANDLINE
Click to expand...

On my one I said about above he called my mobile, claimed I had bad reception, phoned my landline, said it was a really bad line and the mobile was better, then called back on the mobile.

My landline at my home address is really quiet and rubbish so using that was a bad idea. Obviously if you have a good landline you should use that over a mobile. :)

I don't see what is wrong with having windows open and clicking around on them if they are all information you might like to use on a PC. But I do strongly agree with no typing. :)

InvG
 
Sinque said:
If you don't know the answer pretend it's breaking up, hang up, find the answer then ring them back.
Click to expand...

thats the worst advice ever, it's even more obvious than looking it up while your on the phone.

Just don't try to cheat, if you don't know say "i'm sorry I don't know, it's been a while since I worked with x" - there's nothing wrong with that, if you say it a couple of times I wouldn't hold it against someone, if you end up saying that every question the job was never right for you anyway...

You'll get found out in a face to face interview and even if you don't, what use is getting the job and getting fired after two months cause you can't do it?
 
Collect your thoughts before speaking.

Don't just launch straight in not knowing what you are going to say.

say something like "can i have a moment to think about that"

or even write down the question so you keep focussed.
 
Don't be worried if the interviewer goes quiet for a while after you've stopped talking (they should tell you this anyway) as it's only because they are writing down what you've said, and it's easier to talk than write. :)

InvG
 
bigredshark said:
Do not sit in front of a PC, you'll be tempted to look up any technical questions you don't know. Which is not only screwing yourself but it's really really obvious to the interviewer when you're doing that and for me it's an instant rejection if I think somebody is...
Click to expand...


I'm not advocating typing the question in to google, that would just be silly (and damn obvious), but having pages of summarised bullet points helps, especially if your memory is not that hot.

Bunka said:
I take it you applied for the job with a years training in Amsterdam as well?
Click to expand...

I applied for the ANCE role, based in Brussels :)

Also for a different role based on their NSITE dept in Reading, UK.
 
Well if you were to hire someone, why would you hire them.

I find that if you dont know how to answer a question, pretend you are the one asking it.

Majority of people want the same things and assuming you're normal, there is a 99% chance that you would want the same things they want :)

Oh and its a given they will ask you that question, almost every interview I have had has included that question.
 
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