Telephone Interviews

[matchoftheday]

Anyone here ever had to do one or even a recruiter for a company that conducts telephone interviews as part of their screening process?

[AllezLesRouges]

I had one a couple of years ago, got the job too. Bit weird but you get used to it pretty quickly.

[matchoftheday]

I had one a couple of years ago, got the job too. Bit weird but you get used to it pretty quickly.

What was the job?

I've got one today, not for a job I particularly want but thought the experience would be good.

Any tips?!

[Mozzaretti]

I've had a few in my time. Try and do as much prep as you would for a regular interview. Ensure you are in a comfortable place to sit, but also make sure you're not too relaxed.
Just try to be yourself.

















Unless you're a complete muppet - In which case try and sound at least intelligent, if not knowledgeable.

Oh aye and turn the TV off

[AllezLesRouges]

What was the job?

I've got one today, not for a job I particularly want but thought the experience would be good.

Any tips?!


Make loads of notes but lay them out so they can't hear rustling paper.

[fan4dmb]

:D I can only imagine being the interviewer... asking a question and hearing "oh... well... erm... *rustling of paper*... well I believe... oh wow, you won't believe it, it's rumored that Tevez is signing for Liverpool! I just saw it on Sky!!"

It sounds funny, but I'm almost positive it's happened before :rolleyes:

[NeverOffside]

I had one without warning!

I was on holiday in Spain at the time. I had applied for a job and and not heard anything up to that point. The HR people in San Diego called my mobile and asked if I'd be ok with having an initial phone interview with the R&D Director! I said fine, as I thought saying no might jeopardise my chances :)

So there I was sitting in my apartment in Spain, quickly sobering up, my kids being shushed by their mother, having an hour long phone interview with some bloke in San Diego.

Stressful.

Luckily I'm a thoroughly professional, especially after a few beers, and managed to do a half decent job.

EDIT: Oh, and I've conducted numerous phone interviews aswell. I've had kids screaming in the background, dogs barking, paper rustling, even whispering! Very odd.

[matchoftheday]

I got through the phone interview, got a face to face interview next week, but really not sure if I want the job...

What is it that you do Nev? You seem to have many talents!

[Eising agreed]

Learn from the master.

ZXWo6jXmRO8

Warning: contains strong language.

[NeverOffside]

I got through the phone interview, got a face to face interview next week, but really not sure if I want the job...

What is it that you do Nev? You seem to have many talents!

It comes with age, my friend :)

[matchoftheday]

Out of interest, has anyone on here been through a grad scheme?

If so, would you recommend it?

Also, to those of you that are in hiring and firing positions would having completed a gradscheme look significantly better on a cv than someone who had a years work experience?

[NeverOffside]

Out of interest, has anyone on here been through a grad scheme?


Is that like a work placement during a degree?

If so, I'd definitely look more favourably on someone that had 12 months in the 'real' world, as opposed to someone that had never been outside academia.

I wouldn't differentiate between grad scheme experience and regular post graduation work experience. That is, assuming I'm right on what a grad scheme is, which I suspect I'm not.

[matchoftheday]

Is that like a work placement during a degree?

If so, I'd definitely look more favourably on someone that had 12 months in the 'real' world, as opposed to someone that had never been outside academia.

I wouldn't differentiate between grad scheme experience and regular post graduation work experience. That is, assuming I'm right on what a grad scheme is, which I suspect I'm not.

By grad scheme I mean a specific training programme that an organisation runs for newly graduated employees. These schemes are usually 12 or 24 months and involve an insight into sales, marketing, finance, hr etc. Each company has a slightly different policy, some the graduate spends 3months in sales then 3 months in marketing etc.. such as here: http://corporate.betfair.com/careers/careers/graduate-scheme.html#process

Others are less clear where they say you will develop these skills but in a more hands on manner such as: https://www.enterprisealive.co.uk/en/our_programme/index.html

Would this kind of training make much of a difference to you?