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!

Phone interviews are often misread as being an easy alternative or substitute for a face-to-face interview. The argument can go both ways, but regardless they should not be underestimated for the significance they can have in your job search. Here are a few things you can do to step your game up on phone interviews:

• A mistake I made the first few times was trying to conduct the interview from my cell phone. Often times this is the only phone line college students have, and it seems like a natural decision. Do yourself a favor and find a land line to use for the interview. The service is far clearer and therefore one less distraction or thing to worry about in the moment. Try asking CSPD or a mentor or professor you have a close relationship with if you could borrow their office for 30-60 minutes. Tell them what it is for, they should be understanding.
• You obviously don’t need to worry about dress during a phone interview as much as you would with a face to face. However, often times I would still dress up in at least business casual or a tie to help get into the mental state. I’m not saying you need to suit up (although it might not hurt), but you would be surprised how much more focused and confident you will feel when dressed for the part.
• Bring the right tools. Just like a normal interview, you need to have all the right materials. Be sure to have a copy of your resume, a notepad and 2 pens for note taking and a list of typed questions for the interviewer. You might want to print out some high-level facts about the company in case they ask what you know about the company.
• An easy mistake to make is to not record the interviewer’s name. It is often the first thing said and is in one ear and out the other. Before you even dial the phone number, write on the top of your notes “NAME:________” and be ready to write it down. If you don’t get it at the beginning it is often hard to capture later on. At the end, you will want to ask for their email address as well so that you can follow up with a thank you for their time.
• Always have questions. For any type of interview this is crucial, but awkward silence over the phone seems to last about 10 times as long, so don’t get caught empty handed.
• Be confident. Sit up straight and project your voice. It is harder to express yourself and personality over the phone rather than in person, but it is not impossible. Avoid going too over the top but don’t sound like a monotone rock either. Sound excited about having the opportunity - the enthusiasm and sense of professionalism will let them know you want the job.
• Take notes so you can reference them throughout the interview if necessary, but also to reference for later interviews or in follow up thank you letters.