Employers use the telephone interview to reduce costs and time associated with face to face interviews. Your ultimate goal, of course, is the face to face, but first you must endure the phone screen.
Technology professionals are especially disadvantaged because they tend to relate best in person. The downside of the phone screen is the prospective employer only learns about your telephone self.
To optimize that self, you can
prepare and make a good impression. The most important aspect of phone screen success is you must relax. How's that possible? Suit up, schedule the call for a time when you are alone, preferably in an office setting and use a land line (or VOIP). Keep water, writing materials and your calendar at hand. Know in advance what dates you can meet with the interviewer.
Anticipate the questions. Do you homework about the company, their niche, challenges and competition. Read their website and their competitors' websites. Hopefully you have the job description at hand and have a clear picture of their needs.
Breathe. Don't interrupt and answer the exact questions asked. Repeat the question in your answer and be sure to have a succinct story with an outcome to demonstrate you have the experience they need. Breathe again. Speak slowly and low in your voice box.
Technology professionals typically talk too much in any interview. Relating all the back story and discussing every aspect of a project sabotages the listener's ability to retain your example. Be confident your examples are spot on to the job description and you can trim the excess language. Practice.
Be prepared for those uncomfortable but inevitable questions: What are your salary expectations? What is your current salary? Tell me about yourself? And often, Why do you want to work here? and What do you know about our company?
In any interview you are judged as much by your questions as by the answer you give. While these are standard questions asked by most executives, they are important.
- What business imperatives drive the need for this position?
- What are your metrics for success?
- What could the previous person have done to be more successful?
- What are the three top priorities for this position?
- What are the top three challenges to success?
Don't ask about how you did or what their concerns are about the interview. This reveals uncertainty and employers want to see confidence. Likewise, know the position of the person who is interviewing you and the alloted time. While you want to know the next steps, it is best to let the interviewer take that ball and run with it. Instead, mention why you are interested in the job (be specific about what you can do) and state clearly that you want to go to the next step. Companies hire people who want to work for them so be enthusiastic.
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