Phone Interviews 101
November 3, 2018 4:53 PM Subscribe
How can I improve my phone interview technique? Seeking tips and advice.
So, I am now looking for a position in an industry that relies on phone screens to weed out candidates. So far I have had a few phone interviews that seemed to go okay, but no calls from any hiring managers yet. I am always nervous at interviews and prepare for them ahead of time, but all my interviews in the past have been in-person. So even when I wasn't offered a job, it made it easier for me to go over the interview in my mind and figure out what it was that they didn't like. The difficulty I am experiencing with phone interviews is not being able to read the interviewer's body language. The long pauses after I answer a question disturb me particularly, since I do not have a visual cue from them that they think I'm rambling, or if they would in fact like to hear more. This affects my performance because I get even more nervous and I start to sound really rehearsed and tense. The tension comes because I am very worried about saying the wrong thing and I just can't tell from their voice alone if they like what I am saying or not. I have tried preparing myself by researching the company's interview style, thinking what questions they might ask and preparing myself for them. This hasn't been working as well as it normally does for in-person interviews. For example, during one screening, the interviewer threw me for a loop by asking me if I had questions right after they called and introduced themselves. I... have never had that happen, have never read that it might in any of the many books I've read on how-to-interview-successfully, so I clumsily said I wanted to ask my questions after she had finished asking hers, horribly concerned I was trashing my chances but thinking it was still better then blurting out a stupid question then and there. There was this horrible long pause, and then they went on. I thought I had tanked it right then but figured I should give it my best shot anyway. I have no idea if I made it through to the hiring manager or not, and, of course, had no facial expressions to go by. This last sentence applies to all the phone interviews I have done.
I am here to ask for tips on how to improve my phone interview technique. Please tell me what I might do to improve. Thank you.
So, I am now looking for a position in an industry that relies on phone screens to weed out candidates. So far I have had a few phone interviews that seemed to go okay, but no calls from any hiring managers yet. I am always nervous at interviews and prepare for them ahead of time, but all my interviews in the past have been in-person. So even when I wasn't offered a job, it made it easier for me to go over the interview in my mind and figure out what it was that they didn't like. The difficulty I am experiencing with phone interviews is not being able to read the interviewer's body language. The long pauses after I answer a question disturb me particularly, since I do not have a visual cue from them that they think I'm rambling, or if they would in fact like to hear more. This affects my performance because I get even more nervous and I start to sound really rehearsed and tense. The tension comes because I am very worried about saying the wrong thing and I just can't tell from their voice alone if they like what I am saying or not. I have tried preparing myself by researching the company's interview style, thinking what questions they might ask and preparing myself for them. This hasn't been working as well as it normally does for in-person interviews. For example, during one screening, the interviewer threw me for a loop by asking me if I had questions right after they called and introduced themselves. I... have never had that happen, have never read that it might in any of the many books I've read on how-to-interview-successfully, so I clumsily said I wanted to ask my questions after she had finished asking hers, horribly concerned I was trashing my chances but thinking it was still better then blurting out a stupid question then and there. There was this horrible long pause, and then they went on. I thought I had tanked it right then but figured I should give it my best shot anyway. I have no idea if I made it through to the hiring manager or not, and, of course, had no facial expressions to go by. This last sentence applies to all the phone interviews I have done.
I am here to ask for tips on how to improve my phone interview technique. Please tell me what I might do to improve. Thank you.
I think there are a few different kinds of phone interviews, including ...
- Recruiter calls, where the recruiter needs to confirm the hits they've found on your resume and may be prepped with a basic checklist of specific questions they can report back on, but they're also interested in really pragmatic things like your availability for further interviews, what else you've got going on, what you're really looking for in a job (including salary requirements), and so on.
- Technical / subject matter screens, where you're talking to someone who needs to confirm your skills, will definitely ask some technical questions, may want to know about projects you've worked on and what hard things you've done, and may want to know how up-to-date your knowledge is and how you maintain it.
- Soft interviews in search of something subjective often called "fit," where the interviewer wants to have an easygoing conversation, hear some enthusiasm and dedication, find some connection between things you've done in the past and things they like to see in their organization, and maybe check your thoughts on some really unpredictable hobbyhorses (likely influenced by things that have happened in their organization recently).
The process doesn't have to be broken down like that, but for any given question you might try to decide which of these boxes it seems to check. Basic recruitment questions aren't really serious challenges, except be very prepared to talk about an appropriate salary. For subject matter questions, go ahead and unload on details that come to mind. For soft questions, which I'm guessing pose you the most difficulty, remind yourself of something cheerful and try to tell simple relevant stories that reaffirm the importance of whatever the question seems to presuppose as important, by turns treating the interviewer like a nice new acquaintance and like someone you're interviewing yourself when you hand the question back.
posted by Wobbuffet at 6:00 PM on November 3, 2018
- Recruiter calls, where the recruiter needs to confirm the hits they've found on your resume and may be prepped with a basic checklist of specific questions they can report back on, but they're also interested in really pragmatic things like your availability for further interviews, what else you've got going on, what you're really looking for in a job (including salary requirements), and so on.
- Technical / subject matter screens, where you're talking to someone who needs to confirm your skills, will definitely ask some technical questions, may want to know about projects you've worked on and what hard things you've done, and may want to know how up-to-date your knowledge is and how you maintain it.
- Soft interviews in search of something subjective often called "fit," where the interviewer wants to have an easygoing conversation, hear some enthusiasm and dedication, find some connection between things you've done in the past and things they like to see in their organization, and maybe check your thoughts on some really unpredictable hobbyhorses (likely influenced by things that have happened in their organization recently).
The process doesn't have to be broken down like that, but for any given question you might try to decide which of these boxes it seems to check. Basic recruitment questions aren't really serious challenges, except be very prepared to talk about an appropriate salary. For subject matter questions, go ahead and unload on details that come to mind. For soft questions, which I'm guessing pose you the most difficulty, remind yourself of something cheerful and try to tell simple relevant stories that reaffirm the importance of whatever the question seems to presuppose as important, by turns treating the interviewer like a nice new acquaintance and like someone you're interviewing yourself when you hand the question back.
posted by Wobbuffet at 6:00 PM on November 3, 2018
Rather than load on yet more things for you to obsess about during a phone interview, look at it this way. Your purpose in the interview is really to determine if there's a good match between you and the company. It's really not in your best interests to simply tell them what they want to hear so they move you to the next step in the process. You truly don't want to end up at a company that isn't a good fit for you. Nothing kills the forward momentum in a career path than a disastrous job experience.
When I was starting my company, I recited this mantra on my way to meet with a potential client: "I don't need your business and what's more, I'm not sure I want you for a client." It put me in the perfect frame of mind and I won more than my fair share of clients.
posted by DrGail at 6:05 PM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
When I was starting my company, I recited this mantra on my way to meet with a potential client: "I don't need your business and what's more, I'm not sure I want you for a client." It put me in the perfect frame of mind and I won more than my fair share of clients.
posted by DrGail at 6:05 PM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Phone interviews are kind of nerve-wracking for the candidate, since as you say, there’s no body language, visual cues, or verbal cues of encouragement to use for feedback.
In case it would be helpful for you to picture what phone interviews look like from the other end, here’s what we do at my organization. The hiring folks meet in a room and put the phone on speaker. We each have a printout of the interview questions with blank spaces for notes below. We have to ask each candidate the same questions. The hiring manager dials the phone and introduces herself, and if there are other people in the room, they might introduce themselves or she might just state their names. At this point the hiring manager should tell you the process; I usually say something like “We have ten questions and time at the end for you to ask questions of us. We will take turns asking questions. Don’t worry if there is silence during your answers or after, we are just taking notes and we will be sure to let you know if we can’t hear you. If you are ready, we will get started” and then begin on the questions.
Once the questions begin, we are listening intently and writing notes of what was said so we can remember the conversation (we usually do about ten phone interviews or so, often spread out over a week, this helps us go back and recap). It feels unnatural but because we don’t want to interrupt the candidate, no one on the hiring end does the “mm hm” “uh-huh” “right” noises that you usually do to indicate that you’re listening. But we are listening! And specifically listening for people who answer the question asked in a thorough but concise way. It’s like Goldilocks; don’t give one sentence answers, but don’t spend twenty minutes on one question, either.
At the end of the phone interview, we’ll always ask if you have questions. That’s the time for you to ask about the position, the company, etc. We do notice and appreciate when candidates have done some homework on the organization and their questions show that they are interested in us. To conclude the interview, I usually give a timeline for when we will be making a decision and thank the candidate for talking to us.
From doing phone interviews as an interviewee, I always did the best when I dressed up, stood up to talk, smiled when giving my answers, and had notes easily at hand, with pre-developed questions for me to ask at the end.
I hope that’s helpful; I bet you’re doing well already, the nature of them is inherently awkward but it was way easier for me when I could picture what the people on the other end of the line were doing!
posted by stellaluna at 6:10 PM on November 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
In case it would be helpful for you to picture what phone interviews look like from the other end, here’s what we do at my organization. The hiring folks meet in a room and put the phone on speaker. We each have a printout of the interview questions with blank spaces for notes below. We have to ask each candidate the same questions. The hiring manager dials the phone and introduces herself, and if there are other people in the room, they might introduce themselves or she might just state their names. At this point the hiring manager should tell you the process; I usually say something like “We have ten questions and time at the end for you to ask questions of us. We will take turns asking questions. Don’t worry if there is silence during your answers or after, we are just taking notes and we will be sure to let you know if we can’t hear you. If you are ready, we will get started” and then begin on the questions.
Once the questions begin, we are listening intently and writing notes of what was said so we can remember the conversation (we usually do about ten phone interviews or so, often spread out over a week, this helps us go back and recap). It feels unnatural but because we don’t want to interrupt the candidate, no one on the hiring end does the “mm hm” “uh-huh” “right” noises that you usually do to indicate that you’re listening. But we are listening! And specifically listening for people who answer the question asked in a thorough but concise way. It’s like Goldilocks; don’t give one sentence answers, but don’t spend twenty minutes on one question, either.
At the end of the phone interview, we’ll always ask if you have questions. That’s the time for you to ask about the position, the company, etc. We do notice and appreciate when candidates have done some homework on the organization and their questions show that they are interested in us. To conclude the interview, I usually give a timeline for when we will be making a decision and thank the candidate for talking to us.
From doing phone interviews as an interviewee, I always did the best when I dressed up, stood up to talk, smiled when giving my answers, and had notes easily at hand, with pre-developed questions for me to ask at the end.
I hope that’s helpful; I bet you’re doing well already, the nature of them is inherently awkward but it was way easier for me when I could picture what the people on the other end of the line were doing!
posted by stellaluna at 6:10 PM on November 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
Try doing a mock phone screen with a friend. If you have a friend in the industry, all the better. Or give a list of questions to your bestie. Or try phone interviewing them. It might just help reduce the tension around what the person/people on the other end is/are thinking.
Hints for how to make up for the lack of visual cues: pause regularly, to make it easy for them to cut you off if they want to. When you come to a point where you could stop or you could go on, ask expressly if they would like you to say more about x.
Based on the "do you have questions for us?" question, it sounds like the people in your industry want you to have researched the workplace thoroughly and be prepared with questions. They don't want to make a job offer and be turned down, or have a new hire leave after a short time. They want to make sure you know what you're getting into and that you'll be somewhere between content and enthusiastic to do this job at this company for a long time to come.
Prepare two or three questions specific to each job with the purposes of showing off your research about the company and knowledge of the industry, and hopefully setting up the screeners to be able to brag about their company. Like, "I see on your website that you've created an amazing blah, and I wonder if it was a one-time project or if there's a sequel in the works?" or "some companies in our industry divide up tasks like x and others like y. From the job description, it appears that this position is much more like y, which is my preference. The y division of tasks is supposed to lead to increased efficiency and productivity compared to x. Have you found that to be true?"
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 6:43 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hints for how to make up for the lack of visual cues: pause regularly, to make it easy for them to cut you off if they want to. When you come to a point where you could stop or you could go on, ask expressly if they would like you to say more about x.
Based on the "do you have questions for us?" question, it sounds like the people in your industry want you to have researched the workplace thoroughly and be prepared with questions. They don't want to make a job offer and be turned down, or have a new hire leave after a short time. They want to make sure you know what you're getting into and that you'll be somewhere between content and enthusiastic to do this job at this company for a long time to come.
Prepare two or three questions specific to each job with the purposes of showing off your research about the company and knowledge of the industry, and hopefully setting up the screeners to be able to brag about their company. Like, "I see on your website that you've created an amazing blah, and I wonder if it was a one-time project or if there's a sequel in the works?" or "some companies in our industry divide up tasks like x and others like y. From the job description, it appears that this position is much more like y, which is my preference. The y division of tasks is supposed to lead to increased efficiency and productivity compared to x. Have you found that to be true?"
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 6:43 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
The pauses are probably them taking notes, if that helps you feel better about them.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 7:42 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by pseudostrabismus at 7:42 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
DrGail and stellaluna have some great advice, particularly about standing up to talk and smiling when giving answers. These things truly do make a noticeable difference in your state of mind and how you audibly present yourself to others. Preparation is very important, make sure you're taking notes, and maintain the perspective that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
I would add one more bit of advice, that has helped me prepare for job interviews and other similarly stressful situations. Immediately before your interview, stand in a Superman pose. Feet shoulder-width apart, arms bent slightly with your hands in fists at each of your hips, chest out, chin up slightly. Hold this pose for at least 90 seconds. It sounds silly, and it will certainly feel silly at first, but stick with it. I've noticed it a definite effect on my confidence level - more clarity of mind, I'm calmer, I feel better about advocating for myself and my abilities. It has worked well for me and for the several people I've given this advice to.
posted by hootenatty at 3:03 PM on November 6, 2018
I would add one more bit of advice, that has helped me prepare for job interviews and other similarly stressful situations. Immediately before your interview, stand in a Superman pose. Feet shoulder-width apart, arms bent slightly with your hands in fists at each of your hips, chest out, chin up slightly. Hold this pose for at least 90 seconds. It sounds silly, and it will certainly feel silly at first, but stick with it. I've noticed it a definite effect on my confidence level - more clarity of mind, I'm calmer, I feel better about advocating for myself and my abilities. It has worked well for me and for the several people I've given this advice to.
posted by hootenatty at 3:03 PM on November 6, 2018
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posted by masquesoporfavor at 5:07 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]