Now a days, employers use telephone interviews as a way of identifying and recruiting candidates for employment. Phone interviews are often used to screen candidates in order to narrow the pool of applicants who will be invited for in-person interviews.
While you are actively job searching, it is important to be prepared for a phone interview on a moments notice. You never know when a recruiter call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk. When there is a call for you from company then you need to clear your head and shift your focus from family to your career. When you pick up the phone, ask the recruiter to repeat his or her name. Verify the spelling and write it down. Use the recruiter's name in your response. You are now ready to make a good impression during your first five minutes. There are three basic types of telephone interviews: You initiate a call to the Hiring Manager and he or she is interested in your background. The call from that point forward is an interview.
A company calls you based upon a previous contact. You will likely be unprepared for the call, but it is still an interview.
You have a pre-set time with a company representative to speak further on the phone.
Here are some phone interview tips to help you: Be Prepared
For preparing the phone interview, there are several things you can do. To prepare for the phone interview you can consider the following points:
You can keep all of your employer research materials within easy reach of the phone.
You can tape your resume to a wall near the phone. It will help a lot during the call and will be a constant reminder for your job search.
Have a notepad handy to take notes.
If the phone interview will occur at a set time, Following are some additional points you have to consider: Turn off call waiting on your phone.
Place a "Do Not Disturb" note on your door.
Warm up your voice while waiting for the call.
Have a glass of water handy, so that you will not have a chance to take a break during the call.
Turn off your stereo, TV, and any other potential distraction. Do not be afraid to pick up the phone
The first step in the hiring process is the telephone interview. It may happen that when you pick up the phone, the call may be from any company. Then that time ask the recruiter to repeat his or her name. Verify the spelling and write it down. Use the recruiter's name in your response. If there is really any problem for you to talk, then ask for a telephone number and a convenient time to call back. You are now ready to make a good impression during your first five minutes. The phone interview tips will help you master the phone interview and get you to the next step - the face to face interview. So do not afraid to pick the phone. Be a good listener
During telephonic interview, you must keep in mind that you must be a good listener. Avoid interrupting and let the recruiter complete his thought or question before you respond. Ask for clarification. Use open-ended questions. The more information you can gather, the better you can respond. We must know the fact that good listener is the best quality. During phone interview
Here are the some points for successful phone interviewing. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success in this important phase of job-hunting. Here are some do's for phone Interviews: Smile always helps you in every situation. Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice.
Do keep a glass of water handy, in case you need to wet your mouth.
Do know what job you are interviewing for.
Speak slowly and enunciate clearly.
Take your time, it is perfectly acceptable to take a moment to collect your thoughts.
Remember your goal is to set up a face to face interview. After you thank the interviewer ask if it would be possible to meet in person.
Do give accurate and detailed contact information in your cover letter so your interviewers can easily connect with you.
Household members must understand the importance of phone messages in your job search.
Use the person's title (Mr. or Ms. and their last name.) Only use a first name if they ask you to.
When being interviewed by phone, do make sure you are in a place where you can read notes, take notes, and concentrate.
If you cannot devote enough time to a phone interview, do suggest a specific alternate time to the recruiter.
Give short answers.
Do ensure that you can hear and are being clearly heard.
Do create a strong finish to your phone interview with thoughtful questions.
Following are some Don'ts for phone Interviews: Do not smoke, chew gum, eat, or drink.
Do not interrupt the interviewer.
Do not cough. If you cannot avoid these behaviors, say, "excuse me."
Do not feel you have to fill in the silences. If you have completed a response, but the interviewer has not asked his or her next question, do not start anything new; ask a question of your own related to your last response. The Open and Available Technique :
You have a major advantage in a phone interview which does not exist in a face-to-face interview. You cannot be seen. Use this to your advantage. Have all of your materials on yourself and the employer open and available on your desk as you are speaking on the phone. This includes not only your resume, but also a "cheat sheet" of compelling story subjects, which you would like to introduce. It can also include a "cheat sheet" about the employer, including specific critical points describing the employer and their products. As anyone may be interviewer is speaking with you on the other end of the phone, he/she has no idea that you are actually being prompted from a document as you are speaking. All that person can hear is a well-informed, well-prepared interviewee. Keep in mind that this preparation is not "cheating" at all. It is preparation, pure and simple. So have your materials open and available when you are preparing for a phone interview. They are there to support you and enhance your value to the employer, who will greatly respect your ability to answer questions with focus and meaningful content. Focus on what you offer and can do
The phone interview is surprise for us, so we must prepared for the telephonic interview. The recruiter's mission is to screen candidates and recommend those who will best meet the employer's needs.
When describing your background, avoid the negative points. You will only get one chance to make a positive first impression. Stay focused by reviewing and use the key points you wrote down about your strengths. Sound positive, self-confident and focused
The recruiter has called you indicates that your resume or a member of your network has given him or her a favorable impression of you. You need to confirm this impression. Put a smile on your face and into your voice. You need to demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest through your voice and telephone manner. Check your voice by taping your voice. Listen it very carefully and make the necessary changes. Write out your responses and practice reading them aloud
This will help you to remember the response. By knowing what to say, you will seem more confident and all qualities that recruiters seek in candidates. Most candidates usually are asked about their salary expectations during screening interviews. Recruiters and employers usually have a salary range in mind, and while often unwilling to share it at this stage, they expect you to answer. Your objective at this point is to win acceptance and be recommended for further consideration. Accordingly, you may want to avoid providing a direct answer to this question. These issues could include non-cash benefits and compensation, scope of responsibilities, work environment, job location, career advancement and others. Ask about the next step
At the end of the interview, tell the recruiter you are interested. Ask about the next step in the interview process as well as the hiring timetable. If you do not receive a positive response and you are sincerely interested, ask the recruiter if he or she has any areas of concern. If there is a misunderstanding about you or the recruiter does not seem certain that you are suitable, try to clarify the problem, then ask again about the next step and timetable.
After the Interview :
After the phone interview. Following are some points which we have to consider after the phone interview:
Take notes about how you answered and what you were asked.
Remember to say "thank you." at the end of conversation. Second Interview Tips
After the first interview next step is second interview. When employers complete their initial interviews for a job opening, they ask the top candidates back for a second interview before making a final decision. The second interview is also known as the site visit, office visit, or plant visit. A second interview may be the last step in the process before an offer is made. Both the employer and the interviewee should have specific goals during the second interview.
Employer's Goals: Identifying specific qualities:
In the first interview employers are trying to identify many general qualities important to their organization, but in the second interview employers will try to determine if you are having the specific qualities they are looking for in a new employee. Identifying organizational fit:
Employers also want to see how others in the organization respond to you and if you fit their corporate culture. Interviewee's goals:
Interviewee's goals are to view the facilities, meet employees of the organization. You have to determine if the company, the job, and the people are a strong fit for you. The second interviews are having two categories. Structured Interviews
A second interview is considered structured if each interviewer has specific criteria they use to assess you. One person may ask questions to determine your computer skills or your sales ability. Another one may ask about educational background. Unstructured Interviews
In an unstructured interview, the interviewer has to make a broad evaluation. Treat each interviewer with equal importance. You may get similar questions from all the interviewers. Do not get bored to Answer the same questions. Following are some Do's and Don'ts for Second Interview: Dress code
Professional dressing is always helps for good impression. Arrive dressed appropriately for the job. If any doubt then wear a conservative suit. Prepare questions to ask your interviewers
In the second interview there is an opportunity to ask the questions to interviewers. Your questions will show enthusiasm about working for the employer. Remember you are also interviewing to see if this is the position you want. Following are some points you may want to cover: Ask to see a job description.
Ask about the performance appraisal system.
Ask about the management style of the organization. Salary
One question you should be ready to answer is on the salary expected. In an interview, you might be asked to state a figure. You must know the salary of persons of your qualifications as starting salaries in positions similar to the one for which you are interviewing. One way to handle salary questions is to give a salary range.
Self-Presentation
Arrive 5-10 minutes early at the interview. Be aware of how you interact with others, including support staff and other candidates. Engage in small talk with company representatives, but avoid controversial topics. Maintain professionalism at all times. Do not smoke while you are on site. Offer information you have learned about the company in your discussions and conversations. Remember your table manners: companies want employees with social as well as job skills.
Maintain smile, composure and enthusiasm throughout your interview.
RESUME TIPS: 1. What IS a resume anyway?
A Resume is a MARKETING PIECE--not a "career obituary!" 2.What's a resume ABOUT?
It's NOT about past jobs! IT'S ABOUT YOU, and how you performed in those past jobs--which predict how you might perform in a future job. 3. What's the FASTEST way to improve a resume?
Remove everything that starts with "responsibilities included ..." and replace it with on-the-job ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 4. What the COMMONEST MISTAKE made by resume writers?
Leaving out their Job Objective! (Equivalent to: Somebody knocks on your door. You open it and say, "Hello, what do you want?" They say, "Duh ...") 5. What's the FIRST STEP in writing a resume?
Decide on a job target (or "job objective") that can be stated in about 5 or 6 words. Anything beyond that is "fluff" and indicates lack of clarity and direction.
6. HOW FAR BACK should you go in your Work History?
Far enough; and not TOO far. About 10 or 15 years is enough--UNLESS your "juiciest" work experience is from farther back.
7. Don't include "Hobbies" on a resume?
UNLESS the activity is somehow relevant to your job objective. OR it clearly reveals a characteristic that supports your job objective. (A hobby of Sky Diving (adventure, courage) might seem relevant to some job objectives (Security Guard?) but not to others.) 8. Don't include ethnic or religious affiliations (inviting pre-interview discrimination) UNLESS it SUPPORTS your job objective
For example, include "Association of Black Social Workers" IF you're applying for Director of Inner City Youth Programs. This example is fictitious. 9. Employers HATE parchment paper and pretentious brochure-folded resume "presentations."
They think they're phony, and toss them out. 10. Don't fold a laser-printed resume right along a line of text. The "ink" could flake off along the fold. 11. Don't MYSTIFY the reader about your SEX; they'll go nuts til they know whether you're male or female.
And while they're worrying about that, they're NOT thinking about what you can do for them. So if your name is Lee or Robin or Pat or anything else not clearly male or female, use a Mr. or Ms. prefix. 12. What if you don't have any EXPERIENCE in the kind of work you want to do?
GET SOME! Find a place that will let you do some VOLUNTEER work right away. You only need a brief, concentrated period of volunteer training (for example, 1 day/week for a month) to have at least SOME experience to put on your resume.
Also, look at some of the volunteer work you've done in the past and see if any of THAT helps document some skills you'll need for your new job. 13. What if you have GAPS in your work experience?
You could start by LOOKING at it differently. If you were doing ANYTHING valuable (though unpaid) during those so-called "gaps," you could just insert THAT into the work-history section of your resume to fill the hole--for example: "2004-2005 Full-time parent" or "2002-2003 Maternity leave and family management" or "Travel and study," or "Full-time student," or, "Parenting plus community service." 14. What if you worked for only ONE employer for 20 or 30 years?
Then list separately each different position you held there, so your job progression within the company is more obvious. 15. What if you have a fragmented, scrambled-up work history, with lots of short-term jobs?
To minimize the job-hopper image, combine several similar jobs into one "chunk," for example:
2003-2005 Secretary/receptionist - Jones Bakery; Micro Corp.; Carter Jewelers.
OR
2004-2006 Waiter/Busboy - McDougal's Restaurant; Burger-King; Traders Coffee Shop. ALSO you can just DROP some of the less-important or briefest jobs. But DON'T drop a job, even when it lasted a short time, if that was where you acquired important skills or experience. 16. Students can make their resume look neater by listing seasonal jobs very simply?
Use something such as "Spring 2006" or "Summer 2006" rather than 6/06 to 9/06. (The word "Spring" can be in very tiny letters, say 8-point in size.)
17. What if your job title doesn't reflect your actual level of responsibility?
When you list it on the resume, either REPLACE it with a more appropriate job title (say "Office Manager" instead of "Administrative Assistant" if that's more realistic) OR use "their" job title AND your fairer one together "Administrative Assistant (Office Manager)". 18. Got your degree from a different country?
You can say: "Degree equivalent to U.S. Bachelor's Degree in Economics; Tehran, Iran." 19. What if you don't quite have your degree or credentials yet?
You can say "Eligible for U.S. credentials," or "Graduate studies in Instructional Design, in progress," or "Masters Degree anticipated May, 2008." 20. What if you have several different job objectives you're working on at the same time?
Or you haven't narrowed it down yet to just one job target? Write a different resume for EACH different job target. A targeted resume is much, much stronger than a generic resume. 21. If you're over 40 or 50 or 60 and want to avoid age discrimination, remember that you DON'T have to present your ENTIRE work history!
You can simply label that part of your resume "Recent Work History" or "Relevant Work History" and then describe only the last 10 or 15 years of your experience.
(If something really important belongs in the distant past, here's what to do: at the end of your 10-15 year work history, you can add a paragraph headed "Prior relevant experience" and simply refer to that ancient job without mentioning dates.) 22. Can't decide whether to use a Chronological-style resume or a Functional one?
Choose the Chronological format if you're staying in the same field (especially if you've been upwardly-mobile). Choose a Functional format if you're changing fields, because a skills-oriented format shows off your transferable skills better and takes the focus off your old job-titles. 23. Want to impress an employer?
Fill your resume with "PAR" statements. PAR stands for Problem-Action-Results, in other words, first you state the problem that existed in your workplace, then you describe what YOU did about it, and finally you point out the beneficial results.
Here's an example: "Transformed a disorganized, inefficient warehouse into a smooth-running operation by totally redesigning the layout; this saved the company $250,000 in recovered stock."
Another Example: "Improved an engineering company's obsolete filing system by developing a simple but sophisticated functional-coding system. This saved time and money by recovering valuable, previously lost, project records." 24. What if you never had any "real" paid mainstream jobs - just self-employment or odd jobs?
Give yourself credit, and create an accurate, fair job-title for yourself. For example, "A&S Hauling & Cleaning (self-employed)" or "Household Repairman--Self-employed," or "Child-Care--Self-employed." Be sure to add "Customer references available on request" and then be prepared to provide some very good references .
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