Don’t mess up your phone interview
I have done some 20 000+ phone interviews when I was a recruiter. Honestly, it was the least favorite part of my job. I prefer to see people face-to-face when I talk to them.
But what has to be done, has to be done. It was impossible to invite everyone whose resume looked like a match, to the face-to-face interview.
Thus, the phone interview. 10, sometimes 15 minutes.
If you get a call from the recruiter, it means your expertise fits the company's expectations.
Sometimes it went smoothly, however, the majority of applicants made the same 3 mistakes:
They were not in a proper place to talk: they talked to me while driving, grocery shopping, waking up from a nap, or standing next to their boss
They didn’t remember the advertisement and made up generic answers on the spot.
They mention only personal benefits when asked about their motivation, like growth opportunities or the location of the company.
You can nail your phone interview or mess it up.
If you mess up, you may lose your chance to get invited for the interview and get the job, even if you are a great match.
Here comes my pro tip.
The first thing to do, when you get a call from a recruiter: tell them, that you are not available right now.
Suggest talking an hour later. Or two.
When I mention it to my clients, they feel unsure. Will the recruiter call me back? Won't I come across as rude? As not having interested enough?
No, you won't. The recruiter needs you. They are praying that you are reasonable, motivated, and matching. They will call back!
Take your time to
check advertisement,
read it carefully,
recall your motivation,
check out the requirements,
write down your matching experience
and do some research about the company.
When you are back on the call, you will stand out. That's how you nail the phone interview!
Do you have any other tips for a successful phone interview?
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I am Inuta Sert, a Career Coach and Former Executive Recruiter, supporting mid-career professionals to get the right job.
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