Phone interviews aren’t meant to be scary!

by Jillian Zavitz

Currently, being based outside of Canada – my preferred method of interviewing is via the Telephone.. or better yet via Skype.  In almost all of my jobs I have had phone interviews — I remember one interview in a common hallway at a workers residence that I was living at for a summer camp job — it was the crazyness of a Friday night happening in the background of my informal interview – and me – answering questions about my experiences — regardless of the lack of privacy and obvious chaos going on in the background I was offered the job – and it was probably one of the BEST jobs that I ever had.

Now I don’t think I aced the interview — but I do know that I was able to relate to the director and that connection — and the “real life interaction” is what got me the job — I’m sure of it.  Phone interviews are not meant to be scary — it seriously surprises me the amount of people that really do not know how to interact on the telephone — and especially in phone interviews.  I question if these people are the same in real life interviews too — and for their sake I hope not — because, there would be no hope for them in the business world if that were the case.

In interviews that end as quickly as they start obviously are not interviews that are successful ones.  The interviews that last a while are usually ones that end up with a job offer at the end.  I recommend that you ask questions, yes – even the dreaded “What is the rate of pay?” question, show me or whoever else you may interview with that you are interested in the job — don’t ask questions that have already been answered for you — that just doesn’t help your cause — it is OH so important to pay attention to detail…plus spend some time doing research about the position and company — Ask me about my own experience, my own thoughts and don’t be afraid — I don’t think I sound too scary on the phone — take a chance — ask what is on your mind.