How to handle phone interviews

In the past, phone interviews are nothing but a discussion of the basic information about you, the candidate, and the position being offered. The caller asks about your present job, a bit of about your working history and your expectations about the job. The niceties usually lasts for 5-10 minutes. The recruiter ends the conversation by scheduling the applicant for an in-person interview with HR or a qualifying exam to be held in the employer’s office. You don’t discuss the finer details of the job just yet because back then, those line of questions are reserved for face-to-face interviews with the hiring manager. But nowadays, the phone interview could be the deal-breaker. If you don’t ace it, you may have forgone your only chance of landing the job.

Things have changed. Employers have raised the bar in phone interviews because they are attracting more qualified candidates. They want to filter out the candidates early on in the hiring process and phone screenings allow them to accomplish that. By the time the candidate is invited for an in-person interview, the recruiter has already conducted a series of comprehensive phone interview with the finalists. The candidate may have gone through four or five phone screenings discussing work history in detail, their relevant skills and experiences to see if they’re a good fit for the job and other complex questions which discusses the position being offered in greater depth.

Now, the question is how do we handle phone interviews properly and likewise, increase our chances of getting an in-person interview with the hiring manager.

Phone etiquette tops my list. Recruiters call anytime, anywhere! Unfortunately, there are times when we’re caught up in a situation where its impossible to have a decent conversation. If that happens e.g. you’re at work or in a meeting, doing your groceries or tending to your kids, politely ask the recruiter to call you at a time when it’s okay for you to have the phone interview, if at all possible. But remember, putting the phone interview schedule at a much later time or date may cost you your chances of being shortlisted. There are other candidates fighting for the same position and competition is tough especially now.

Another important item to consider is to be well-prepared. Do your homework about the company you’re applying for and the job requirements. Make a self-assessment of how your skills and experiences stack up against the job criteria. Craft your answers well. Try not to beat around the bush when the recruiter asks you questions.

If the recruiter calls you at home and you’re unavailable, give instructions to the persons at home that you are expecting an important call from a prospective employer. Do not let them answer the recruiter’s questions on your behalf. This happened to me and recruiter didn’t call again. This doesn't apply if you have voice mail, of course.

So the next time a recruiter calls you, be mindful of your answers and etiquette. It could be your first and last shot of the job.