Spring Connection is not too far away and many of you may have phone interviews before a face-to-face interview. You need to be prepared so do not take it lightly.
Make sure you have your resume in front of you because you will talk about things related to what you have stated there. Have a notebook and a pen handy to jot down any questions, concerns, and details of the job.
I just recently had a phone interview and it is not the casual phone conversation that many people may think. It was like a full blown interview except I didn’t have to be dressed business professional. I was asked all the questions that you would expect to hear in a traditional interview. Here are some.
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why do you want to work for our company?
3. What kind of things are you learning in your courses?
4. State a time when you faced adversity. What did you do?
5. What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment in your life?
6. Tell me about a time when working on a group project you had to step up and take the leadership role. How did you accomplish your goals?
7. How do you manage when faced with multiple assignments? What do you do to keep your priorities in line?
8. What are your strengths/weaknesses? ( In life & In your course work).
These are some thing that you would want to ask your self. Many of these phone interviews are to screen potential candidates for traditional interviews. Here are some tips taken directly from the CSPD website for interviews.
Step One - Prepare
- Know yourself, know the employer, know the position
- Obtain a detailed job description if possible
Based on your research of the organization and understanding of the position, you should be able to discuss the following:
- Business direction & goals
- Business philosophy and style of management
- The position
- The organization
Step Two - Practice
Interviewers often form opinions quickly. From the moment you meet the interviewer, you make an impression with your verbal and non-verbal communication. Analyze and improve your communication skills:
- Check the tone of your voice
- Use good language, grammar and diction
- Practice well thought-out answers
- Rehearse your responses
- Schedule a mock interview with CSPD
- Restate long or complex questions for clarity before you answer
- Take time to think before you answer. Short pauses are acceptable
Step Three - Perform
During your interview your primary objective is to stress what you can do to meet the needs and goals of the employer.
- Focus on skills that relate to the position
- Demonstrate your enthusiasm and self-confidence
- Relax and smile
- Think before you answer a question
Step Four - Follow-up
Thank the interviewer for his or her time
Make sure you understand the employer’s timing and process for filling the job
Remember to take phone interviews as serious as real interviews. You want to sound professional and confident. Visit http://sbm.temple.edu/cspd/interview.html for more interview tips from the CSPD!
Tags: interviews, Phone Interviews
Jena joined the CSPD as the Assistant Director of Recruitment and Professional Development with over 4 years career services experience including a background in corporate recruiting. She is excited to work collaboratively with the Fox School students regarding career search strategies and hopes students gain some additional insight into the job search through “Opportunity Knocks”.
Kel is an undergrad majoring in Management Information Systems, graduating in 2010. He is very involved and hopes to share some of his experiences with other students. His goal is to motivate others to do their best. He believes that with a little inspiration you can get where you want to be. Through this blog, he wants to show you that opportunities are out there.