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By Darla Mayse, Sourcing and Recruitment Marketing Specialist
You’ve turned your potential energy into kinetic energy to creatively conduct a job search and focused that search to find the right job for you and your qualifications. You’ve submitted your resume or resumes. Lucy Recruiter has contacted you to conduct a phone interview to determine whether or not you should move forward in the process. Are you prepared for the phone interview? The phone interview provides recruiters with pertinent information about the candidate’s experience as it relates to the job opening. A good phone interview places you a step closer to that ideal position. A poor phone interview will allow you to continue searching for that ideal position.
I believe candidates tend to take the phone interview lightly, because the interview is over the phone. I was always amazed by how little most candidates prepared for the phone interview. First things first – please remember the names of the companies to which you have submitted your resume. Many times, I would follow up with a candidate only to find myself explaining what company I’m with and reminding them that they applied to XYZ position. Or get five minutes into conversation and the candidate asks “what company are you with again and what is this about??” Needless to say those candidates continued to search for their ideal position. Granted, candidates are applying to multiple opportunities given today’s unemployment environment. However, that is no excuse for not being prepared, ready and confident to handle telephone interviews whenever they come. Take time to organize your submittals and keep them handy so that you are prepared when the call does come. Sodexo’s career site makes it easy for you. Once you create a profile, you are able to track you submittals and review your status in the hiring process anytime.
Candidates sometimes feel an obligation to drop whatever they are doing to conduct the phone interview at the time of the initial call. Now is not the time to show off your multi-tasking skills. You may come across as distracted and disengaged. If it is not a good time, say so. It is okay to ask to schedule the call at a more convenient time for you. Make sure it is reasonable, within a day or two if possible.
A phone interview is a second impression (the resume and cover letter are the first) and should be treated just as an in person interview. Preparation. Preparation. Preparation is a must. Research the company. A phone interview should not be the first introduction to the company itself. However do feel free to ask questions about the company and the position that may not be easily answered by a visit to the website.
Take advantage of the fact that it is a phone interview. Have your resume and notes nearby. This is not a substitute for being able to answer questions about your experience and accomplishments freely; however, if stumped by a question, the notes can assist in getting back on track. I have actually created prep sheets containing potential questions that may be asked and scenarios for those all too common behavioral interview questions. The practice also helps for the in person interview and calms the nerves.
Lastly, get dressed! I know it sounds weird. Getting dressed will set the tone. Dress for success and your attitude will reflect it. Dress in your pajamas and your attitude may reflect that as well.
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After more than 10 years of sourcing and recruiting top talent for Sodexo as a Sr. Recruiter, Darla Mayse most recently accepted the role of Sourcing and Recruitment Marketing Specialist. She looks forward to continuing to brand Sodexo as an employer of choice through exciting and innovative marketing initiatives. Connect with Darla via Twitter (@
3 comments:
Most of your recommendations are fairly obvious -- I have observed most of them and progressed to the next stage one time (alas, not to have received an offer).
I like the idea of dressing for your phone interview. I've not phone interviewed in my pajamas, but did try to dress nicely yesterday for a potential employer who insisted that my style of dress was unimportant. As it turns out, he was right. What he had wanted from me was something very different, and something I had missed because of my concern with my appearance. The truth is that it is very hard to generalize about what is expected of you in applying for work. You have to tune in to your intuition in each and every case.
Thank you for the good tips!
I never really thought about the phone interview in this way. Thanks for the good information.
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