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AR15.COM
3/30/2010 9:56:17 AM EDT
I have a phone screening interview in about 1 hr.  I have prepared myself fairly well (behavioral questions and what not).  What else should I keep in mind?





Update: So I got STOOD UP





The women didn't even call or send me an email to tell me she was gonna be able to make the screening!



What should I do now?



 
3/30/2010 10:00:44 AM EDT
[#1]
Keep background noise down, turn off cell phone if using landline.  I do alot of phone work and those things really break my concentration
3/30/2010 10:03:43 AM EDT
[#2]
I'd go for a quick light walk to clear the mind and settle down.

I'm pretty high strung to begin with though.

Good luck my man!!
3/30/2010 10:03:44 AM EDT
[#3]
Don't tell them you're not wearing any pants.

I view them same as any other interview. Have your resume in front of you for reference, try to catch on if they're using the "star" format, etc.
3/30/2010 10:16:57 AM EDT
[#4]
Think of some good questions for them. Also, spark a conversation about something pertaining to the company like, "From my understanding, X company had 30% gains in revenue last year. Growth like that shows great leadership and sounds like a team I would like to be a part of." Shows you did as much research on them as they have on you.

Good Luck
3/30/2010 10:17:39 AM EDT
[#5]
DO NOT FLUSH THE TOILET DURING THE INTERVIEW!
3/30/2010 10:19:14 AM EDT
[#6]
definitely have notes of your talking points
3/30/2010 10:23:37 AM EDT
[#7]
make sure you have good reception if you are using a mobile phone.

take a piss BEFORE the call starts.

have a quite location, free from distractions.

have a paper and pencil to take notes.... if they ask you a long complicated question, have notes so you don't have to have them repeat the question 3 or 4 times.

remember the person's name you are talking to and use it, "Well Bob, I don't think I have any more questions.  Thanks for your time today. I look forward to hearing from you."
3/30/2010 10:25:57 AM EDT
[#8]
I only did one phone interview but I kept notes related to the job in front of me in case I needed them.
3/30/2010 10:27:06 AM EDT
[#9]
Luckly I have done my research on the interviewer (borderline stalked through i-net....facebook works both ways)
3/30/2010 10:28:55 AM EDT
[#10]
Do not use a computer during the interview.  With my company, if we can hear a keyboard in the background you get one warning and then the interview is terminated.  We want to know what you know, not what you can Google.
3/30/2010 10:32:41 AM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
DO NOT FLUSH THE TOILET DURING THE INTERVIEW!

Ha!

I've never had a phone interview. In some ways it would make me more nervous than a regular one.
3/30/2010 10:37:06 AM EDT
[#12]
I had a phone interview once. It was a disaster. They wanted to put me on speaker so multiple people could talk to me at the same time and they had problems with their phone system. I think they may have done that just to see how I would handle it. It sucked, and I didn't get the job.



Good luck with your interview.
3/30/2010 10:38:32 AM EDT
[#13]



Quoted:



Quoted:

DO NOT FLUSH THE TOILET DURING THE INTERVIEW!


Ha!



I've never had a phone interview. In some ways it would make me more nervous than a regular one.


I have done a few but never as the first interview...well except for Johnson and Johnson



 
3/30/2010 10:40:01 AM EDT
[#14]
Keep the background noise to a minimum... also, personality and likeability is 90% of the interview.
3/30/2010 11:55:24 AM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
Keep the background noise to a minimum... also, personality and likeability is 90% of the interview.


Not for an IT job.  These days an initial phone screen is routine and they are trying to trip you up by quizzing you and expecting you to verbally spew code back at them off the top of your head.
3/30/2010 12:06:53 PM EDT
[#16]



Quoted:



Quoted:

Keep the background noise to a minimum... also, personality and likeability is 90% of the interview.




Not for an IT job.  These days an initial phone screen is routine and they are trying to trip you up by quizzing you and expecting you to verbally spew code back at them off the top of your head.


I was actually speaking from experience of both sides of IT job phone interviews... ok, maybe not 90%, maybe 60-70%... but it's up there. Technically, you should already know the materials (technical questions) if you've applied for the job.. unless you totally blow the questions and look like an idiot, managers and potential co-workers are looking for people they can talk to and get along with.



Though I agree with you, phone interviews are primarily designed to weed out the wannabes.. ultimately, it's always easier to teach someone technical skills than it is personal skills.



 
3/30/2010 12:09:27 PM EDT
[#17]
Ask for the job.  Or at least tell them you are excited about the position and hope they agree that you're the best choice for the job.  That part is very important.
3/30/2010 12:59:17 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Keep the background noise to a minimum... also, personality and likeability is 90% of the interview.


Not for an IT job.  These days an initial phone screen is routine and they are trying to trip you up by quizzing you and expecting you to verbally spew code back at them off the top of your head.

No way, for every skilled IT professional, they're 100 more just like him with the same skills.  Finding one that isn't a mouth breather is the trick.  Such is my experience at least from both sides of the interview table.  I don't want a great programmer.   I want a great programmer that has the social skills to work with the rest of the team and will be polite/friendly/bathed when clients are in the office.  Showing them you're the needle in that haystack is one of the most important things you can do I think.
3/30/2010 1:55:38 PM EDT
[#19]
Keep interruptions to a minimum?  NO, NO interruptions, PERIOD.

There is a fair possibility that the initial phone interviewer is not the hiring manager, who can decide to hire you.  But it is often a person who can decide to not go any further.
3/31/2010 7:26:43 AM EDT
[#20]
bump