Meeting:  Tues, May 5, 2009

 INTERVIEWING SKILLS, PART I

In Part I of Interviewing Skills, participants will hear a realistic view of the interview process. The program will address mis-understandings about interviews, de-mystify the interview process and calm your concerns.

Interviewing Skills I will include an explanation of the types of interviews you may face and assistance to prepare for answering common interview questions.

Meeting:  Tues, May 19, 2009

 INTERVIEWING SKILLS, PART II

In Part II of Interviewing Skills, strategies designed to help you address liabilities, prepare your questions for the interviewer, and send your thank you communications are addressed.

Other helpful hints, including managing the offer, will be shared so that you will be prepared to advance your job search to job acceptance.

Location:  Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032                                                                                                                      
Times:       8:30-9:30 Open Networking & Resume Reviews           9:30-11:30 Presentation Begins

Barbara Safani, M.A., CERW, NCRW, CPRW, CCM

Phone interviews are becoming more and more common as companies gain greater access to candidates and as more recruiters and hiring managers work from virtual office locations. On the positive side, with a phone interview you don’t have to worry about having your suit pressed and you can have your notes in front of you. On the flip side, it is much more difficult to establish rapport and get a read on the hiring manager during a phone conversation. Below are some tips for getting the most out of your phone interviews.

Schedule the meeting during a time when you won’t be distracted.

A phone interview should be scheduled like any other interview. At the designated appointment time, make sure the dog is in the backyard and someone else is watching the kids. If a recruiter or hiring manager calls you without advance notice and wants to interview you on the spot, use caution. If the interview “conditions” are not optimal at the time of the call, it is best to tell the interviewer that you are very interested in the position, but need to schedule another time to have a conversation. That time can be as soon as ten minutes later, just make sure that you can take the call without being distracted.

Conduct interviews from a landline.

Cell phones are a boon to modern communication, but the quality is still not the same as that from a land line. You don’t want to frustrate the recruiter or the hiring manager with a bad connection. Plan your interview from a reliable phone line.

Create an office space.

Dedicate an area as your office. This could be as simple as a card table with a phone and your documents. Conduct your interviews from your “office”. Being seated at a desk or table allows you to create an environment similar to an in-person interview.

Put a mirror in front of you.

This helps you focus and it anchors your conversation to the visual representation of a person.  Monitoring your facial expressions helps you see if you are communicating your enthusiasm to the recruiter.

Have a glass of water nearby.

If your throat is dry or you get a tickle you can take care of it before it turns into a cough and disrupts the flow of the interview.

Have your notes in front of you.

A phone interview is like an open book test. You can have your company research and answers to potential interview questions right in front of you. Try putting key information on colored index cards and organize by category.

Vary Your Voice.

Since the other person can’t see you, it is critical that you vary the tone and cadence of your voice to communicate interest and develop rapport.

Use pauses effectively.

Pauses in an interview situation are always difficult and they can be especially awkward during a phone interview. Rather than wondering what the person on the other end is doing or if they are still there, use the silence to ask a question. For example, if the interviewer has just asked you about your strengths and your response is met with silence, make that an opportunity to ask a question like “What are the key strengths of your ideal candidate?” This takes care of the silence and allows you to learn more about the position.

Don’t multi-task.

We have grown so accustomed to multi-tasking, however it can be counterproductive during a phone interview.  Don’t check your email or stick a casserole in the oven while you are engaged in a phone interview. Act the same way you would for an in-office interview and maintain your focus.

Practice.

Record some of your answers to prospective interview questions. Play them back and critique. Are you easy to understand? Is your presentation riddled with long pauses and “ums?” Do you communicate interest and enthusiasm? If necessary, rework your answers and your presentation.

Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers, has over ten years of experience in career management, recruiting, executive coaching, and organizational development. She is a triple certified resume writer and frequent contributor to numerous career-related publications.

© Barbara Safani 2007