When Employers Call, Here’s How to Answer
In recent years, employers are doing more first interviews in nontraditional ways. A potential employer may want to do a preliminary interview on the phone. Or, the employer may choose an electronic face-to-face via video-conferencing. Here are tips for acing those interviews.
Are You A Good Communicator?
The telephone became an interview tool in the early 1990s – and employers continue to screen job candidates this way because it cost less and it is less time consuming – phone interviews average 30 minutes versus an hour or more for a face-to-face interview.
A telephone interview can be like an open-book test. You may have the answer in front of you (see No. 2 below), but you need to know the material thoroughly to do well on the test – or in this case, in the interview.
Employers hope to catch you unprepared in order to see if you can think on your feet and if you have superior communication skills. To lessen the chances of this happening, once you start sending out resumes and applying to organizations, don’t answer your phone if there is a number you don’t recognize. Rather, let it go to voicemail and then return the call once you are in a quiet place and able to have a professional conversation. Perhaps the call was just to schedule an interview, but since you don’t know, it’s better to not risk it. The last thing you want is to have to cut a conversation short because you’re heading into class or you’re in terrible traffic on GA 400! If you’re prepared for the call, you’ll ace the test.
Online / Camera Job Offer
Your big break in the job market may be via Skype or another alternative. Some employers are using videoconference technology to screen candidates before hosting on-sit interviews, particularly if many of the candidates are out of state.
You’ll find the videoconference interview gives you some of the benefits of a telephone interview (you can have your notes handy for reference), even while you are face-to-face with the interviewer.
On-Camera Tips:
- Dress as you would for an in-person interview.
- Have equipment (computer, etc.) set up early so you can get comfortable.
- Adjust your chair so you can sit eye-level with the camera.
- Check your posture. Don’t slouch or lean sideways.
- Use note cards or sticky notes that can’t be seen on camera to remind yourself of points you would like to make.
