i have a telphone interview tommorrow!?

Question

it's been pre-arranged and i have never had an interview over the telephone before, what can i expect in the way of questions, does anyone have any tips?

Thank you guys!

and girls!

Answer 1

Be calm! A telephone interview can be just as nerve wracking as a normal interview, even though you can't see the interviewer's face, and they yours.

Make sure that you're in a room where you won't be distracted by other noises or other people. Turn anything that could make a noise off before answering the telephone. If you were going to be interviewed in someone's office, you would never hear them listening to the radio.

Have a pen and notepad handy, so that you can write down the main points of the question asked. This can keep the question in your mind as you compose your answer. Don't worry about asking for the question to be repeated or rephased.

Often the person conducting the interview will be typing your answers onto a computer, so don't worry if there's a pause between you finishing answering the question and them asking the next question.

Take your time answering the question. Silence will indicate to the interviewer you're thinking about your answer.

As for questions you can expect, they will probably ask you about your previous experience, and questions that will relate to the position you're applying for.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Pretty much the same as other interviews, but this is the elimination round. The object of the game is to make it past this phone interview so they call you in for the face-to-face, that is where you can dazzle them with charm. But for now, you want to "pre" project that you are the one for the job and you will dazzle them on the phone. As crazy as it sounds, smile when you are talking, be friendly. Since it is pre-arranged and you have an appointment. Take care of all the stuff that goes on in the background, or could. If you have family, friends or roommates around, they cannot be around when you are doing this, you have to be in a room where you are shut off from distractions for you and the interviewer. The interview should hear nothing but you, a fire truck rolling down the street or a neighbor's barking dog are acceptable, nothing you can do about those, but people in the house, adults or children or babies need to be quiet and they need to leave you alone. No TV, no radio, no video game sounds, nothing, just you and the phone and the interviewer. If you take this call on your house phone and you have call waiting, you could set your phone to ignore the call waiting tone, if you can't or don't if it beeps, while you are talking just pause, but don't tell your interviewer you have a call and you surely will not take the call. If you have a cell phone, turn off the ringer, don't even have it on vibrate. Don't eat anything, don't drink anything, act as if you are this person's office and you are all dressed up, as a matter of fact, if you are taking this call at home, dress for it, don't do the call in your pajamas. If you smoke, don't do that either, depending on how many people they are eliminating, depends on how long the call could last, block out at least an hour, you might answer some key questions with the answers they are looking for and that may trigger more questions. If the interviewer has to put you on hold or they are interrupted for any reason, that is perfectly fine, they will apologize and you will be nice and cordial and tell them that it is understandable, you realize that they ARE at work. And say you are ready to continue whenever they are....(keep smiling) Oh, almost forgot, absolutely no chewing gum! Nothing in your mouth except friendly tones, kind words, and enthusiasm. Be sure to thank the interviewer for calling you. Best Wishes!

Answer 3

Yes treat it like a regular interview. Dress as you would a normal interview (tie if you have one) Be ready for typical questions about past employment etc. Speak clearly don't stutter make your answers concise. Don't run on and on. Make sure you have NO DISTRACTIONS that means others in house TV radio etc. Telephone interviews are actually tougher because employer cannot read your body movements eye contact etc. Employer cannot see your face so make sure what you say cannot be taken any other way then how you mean it. Avoid humor unless things are very light. Humor can be misunderstood when you cannot see someones face. Have details with numbers facts etc with you to recite if needed to back anything you say. That would be my advice I have taken phone interviews and given them so I speak from actual knowledge. I wish you the best good luck

Answer 4

Be comfortable, have a drink handy and be awake with a clear voice. Your voice and voice tone will make or break the interview. You will get the same types of questions as a face-to-face interview such as, "What are your strengths and weaknesses," "Tell me of a situation where you..."
Smile while talking. You can hear a smile. Sit upright so your voice projects well and speak at a steady pace so the interviewer can take notes.
Good Luck!

Answer 5

Be prepared as if this was an interview that you go in to an office for. Don't eat or drink, have music or tv in the background. Make sure call waiting is disabled so you won't be interrupted. Stay as calm as you can, have your resume handy and any other notes you may have about accomplishments you have to brag about. Interviewer may ask you about salary, salary requirements, be prepared to give them a range that you can live with. Don't use the standby "I'm negotiable." If they ask, they want to know what kind of money you want to be making. You don't want them to waste your time or theirs if you guys are both in different ball parks for salary.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

I always try to anticpate what they might ask. Here are a few sites with practice questions. Then when a person asks you about situations you might have encountered in your past job, you will already be thinking along those lines. Hope this helps.

I have been in Human Resourcs for 10 years. One of the questions I always ask is:

Please tell me about the best supervisor you have ever had. What was it about their management style that worked for you?

Please tell me about the worst supervisor you have every worked for. What didn't work for you.

By practicing you have thought through past work situations you might not have thought about or been part of in a while. Especially if you have been out of work for a few months.

http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_questions.html
http://www.vault.com/companies/interview-question.jsp

Finally, try to do your homework on their website and come up with some questions that let them know you care, and that you did research about the company!

Stay in a quiet place, and have a glass of water next to you. Keep your resume in site, and bring up the company website if you are near a computer.

Having a phone interview puts you in the advantage.

Good luck!

Answer 7

It is basically the same as a regular interview, just not face to face. They will ask you the same questions as any other interview i.e. what you did at your previous job and why you left. Just remember to stay upbeat and positive. You are selling YOU. Know that you can do this and you may be nervous, but it is a learning experience.

Answer 8

Make sure you have a copy of your resuem in front of you. that way you can sound prepared. They will probably ask you general inteview questions. Prop a mirror up in front of you so you can remember to smile. It will come through in your voice. Also have a glass of water handy and do not eat, smoke or chew gum during interview. If a girl, try not to sound too sexy, it can hurt you. Plus you never know who else might be on line.

Answer 9

Will be a lot like a regular interview, but probably shorter. The interviewer is probably trying to see if your background (experience, education and personality) seem like a reasonable fit for the job - if so, they'll probably bring you in for a face-to-face interview.

Good luck.

Answer 10

Well act excited to talk to whoever you are talking to.
Be in a quiet place so that the people you are talking to wont hear a dog bark or something like that that might distract you or the person.
Dont act too perfesional.. have fun with it.
You also have to lie at times.. like if they say what is your biggest flaw dont tell them that you dotn finsish much.. tell them that you have a hard time not finishing things and they have to be perfect before you are done with them.. for example =]

I hope i helped! Good Luck!