Phone Interview Etiquettes

Don't be afraid to pick up the phone!

The telephone interview is by far becoming more and more popular. Many job hunters still get that adrenalin rush even with the phone interviews. But following the tips and advice in this article will help you master the phone interview and get you to the next step - the face to face interview.

Often, the first step in the hiring process is the telephone interview 80% of jobs are won or lost during the first five minutes of the conversation. Given these circumstances, it is essential to prepare thoroughly for the interview and to master the relevant techniques.

Telephone Interview Tips:

Use a land line. You don’t want to risk having problems with cell phone service. It is irritating for employers to conduct interviews if the call breaks up frequently or is dropped completely. If you don’t have a land line at home, just make sure you are in an area with as much cell phone service as possible. Do what you can so the process runs as smooth as possible.

Keep your materials handy. In fact, lay everything out in front of you. This includes your resume, notes about your career objective (even if it isn’t included in your original cover letter it’s a good idea to have this out depending on the questions he will ask you), a pen and pad of paper for note-taking and anything else you think may be helpful during your interview.

Steer clear of distractions. Find a quiet place to interview and stay there! There shouldn’t be any noise in the background to distract you or your potential employer. However, it is understandable that this can be tricky if you have young children at home who need your attention. When you set up your interview appointment, try to schedule it for as precise a time or window as possible. That way, you are able to avoid possible distractions

Speak slowly and clearly. When you speak to people face-to-face, you are able to understand what they are saying more clearly because you can see their mouth move. So in a way, you are reading their lips! Neither you nor your potential employer will be able to do this over the phone of course, so speak clearly and a little bit more slowly than you would if you were talking to this person in person. If you can’t hear him, drop hints that he isn’t speaking clearly or loud enough by politely asking him to repeat himself. If this makes you uncomfortable at all you can always blame it on your phone: “I’m really sorry, it’s hard to hear you, the volume on my phone just won’t go up!”

Remember – you can’t be seen. That means that anything you say cannot be interpreted by your body language. Beware of jokes or sarcastic remarks that would have been harmless had he seen your facial expression. Maintain your professionalism; stay on target with the interview topics and focus on the key information about you that will get you hired.

No eating, drinking or chewing gum! This is self-explanatory. But, we humans are creatures of habit and might pop a potato chip in our mouths at just the wrong moment. However, when I say no eating or drinking I mean during the phone interview. You should eat beforehand to get your brain going so you can focus.

Prepare questions ahead of time. Just like in a personal interview, prepare a few questions to ask your potential employer at the end of your phone interview.

Also,

Ensure that your contact information is accurate

When filling in your application form, it is essential that you provide prospective employers with accurate contact information. No employer wants to waste time trying to contact you if you have changed your phone number or have moved to a new address. Most employers will reject those candidates who provide inaccurate contact information.

Keep things professional

If you aren’t available when the employer calls, he or she is likely to leave a message for you on your answering machine. Make sure that your answer phone greeting is professional – an overly long or silly message is never endearing.

Practice

Phone interviews can often be quite intimidating. Practice with a friend – have them ring you up and ask you interview-style questions. This will also provide you with the opportunity to assess your style. Because you are being interviewed over the phone, you might feel tempted to adopt a more colloquial tone when answering questions. However, doing so could damage your chances of obtaining the job. Instead, try to sound confident and professional.

Alternatively, use a cassette recorder to record yourself giving answers to mock questions. Are you prone to stuttering? Are your answers interrupted by multiple ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’? Taping yourself speaking can help highlight these problem areas. Employers generally want to hire someone who can communicate confidently and comfortably.

Find out as much as you can

Find out as much as you can about the company and the job description. If your telephone interview has been arranged by a third party, you should receive much of this information from them. But in any case, do your own researches - company websites are one of the best sources of information. Find out about the size and structure of the company, its products and its markets.

Get comfortable

Some people prefer to stand when being interviewed over the phone. Researchers have found that people tend to sound more professional when standing upright compared to when they are lying curled up in an armchair. However, other interviewees claim to find the experience less stressful when sitting. Either way, make sure this isn't an issue before the interview itself. Obviously there’s no reason to wear a business suit for an interview that’s being conducted over the phone. Remember, however, that it is always harder to sound professional if you are answering interview questions dressed in an old bathrobe and slippers.

Don’t forget memory aids

Use flash cards to provide you with an outline of the things you want to mention during the course of the interview. However, it is essential that your responses don’t sound memorized. Keep a copy of your CV at hand if you are liable to forget details of past employment, training or work experience.

There’s no need to fill the all the silences

If you have finished answering a question, but the interviewer has failed to ask you another one, don’t try to fill the gap with garbled chatter. Wait patiently for the interviewer – he or she might want to discuss something with his colleagues or co-interviewers. Alternatively, you could always ask the interviewer a related question about the job.

Other practicalities

At the start of the phone interview, confirm the caller’s name and organization and take down their telephone number. You could always create a phone interview log. This is a useful way of recording calls from potential employees

Try not to cough or sneeze during the interview. If it’s unavoidable, say ‘excuse me’ after the interruption. Needless to say, don’t chew or munch during the interview. Noiselessly sip water if you need it. If you are being interviewed over your landline, switch off your mobile phone. Also, disable the call-waiting feature on your telephone and never place the interviewer on speaker-phone.

If you have a cordless phone, move to an area free of distractions and ensure that its batteries are fully charged. If you choose to take the phone interview over a mobile phone, make certain that the reception from your present location is good. Never take the phone interview when outside, particularly if it is windy. Wind noise can make it harder for the interviewer to hear your answers and for you to answer his or her questions.

If you are hearing impaired…

If you find phone interview situations difficult to handle on account of a hearing impairment, email the employer beforehand. It is likely that the interviewers will be more than willing to make alternate arrangements to accommodate your condition.

Finally...

Don’t forget to thank the interviewer once the interview is complete. It’s always a good idea to follow up with a thank you note to the employer, as this helps to emphasise your interest in the job.

Conclusion

By following these simple instructions, you will be able to master the techniques necessary to successfully complete a phone interview. Remember to stay calm during the actual interview – your hard work and preparation are sure to pay off in the end.

The main rules are

• Think about how you normally answer the phone at home. When you answer the phone, do so by announcing your name, in an enthusiastic style: 'Name’, Good Morning!' If this is not your natural style, change it!
• Sound interesting/interested, energetic and enthusiastic
• Be succinct (don't waffle)
• Ask open-ended questions (beginning with who, what, when, why, where, how: these all ask for information, and keep the ball in the other person's court). Be prepared that they will do exactly the same!
• Don't use jargon
• Don't swear or use colloquialisms (local phrases: 'I covered the whole of Delhi …….')
• Be polite: speak to Ms (not Miss or Mrs. - even if you know their marital status), or Mr. Name. If you are invited to use their first name, then use it. Use their title if you know they are for example, a doctor.
• Use the other person's name regularly throughout the conversation (but not all the time). Also, use the company name a few times.
• Have good Tone – not very soft or hard, This is also an important aspect of this form of interview

Prepare to answer these questions

You can't prepare for every possible question, but there are a few which frequently come up:

• Tell me about yourself! (see above)
• What do you know about our company? (see above)
• What are you looking for? (More trick,. Beware about saying things which the manager might not want to hear: 'I want to get into marketing' unless you know for sure that this possibility exists. Keep your answer general: 'I'm looking for a chance to join a progressive company which gives hard workers a chance to shine. What opportunities exist at X-Co. Mr. Surname?')
• What would you like to know about us? (A good opportunity to ask your prepared questions. Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions. If there's something about the job which doesn't suit your purpose (or vice-versa) there's little point in proceeding.)
• What are your strengths? (Again, be careful. If you know for sure what the manager is looking for, you can tell him ('I'm strong in ion-chromatography') but if you don't know this, you're better off saying you have general, positive characteristics ('I've been told I have energy, enthusiasm and 100% commitment to the job I'm working on'). Don't over-egg it though - the manager may want you to substantiate your claims!
• What are your weaknesses? This may be disguised - 'What areas will you need support and training in?' (Obviously, don't shoot yourself in the foot -'I'm lazy!') If you know you've got a weakness in respect of this particular job, you might as well admit it. There's no point in getting a job under false pretences - you'll only be found out. But there's no harming in saying 'Well, I can't claim to be an expert in ion-chromatography Mr Brown, but I'm very keen to learn, and I'm quite prepared to study in my own time to improve. Tell me, what training does your company provide?)
• What else would you like to know? (An ideal opportunity to 'close' - see below)

Be prepared to answer 'objections' - If the manager says something negative, try to overcome the objection.

Closing the telephone interview

Part of the purpose of the telephone interview (from the hiring manager's perspective) is to find out how keen you are, and (especially in the case of sales jobs) whether you have natural closing ability.

As soon as it seems appropriate during the conversation, ask for a date to meet for a face-to-face interview. Say something like 'Well, this certainly sounds like just the job I'm looking for Mr. Surname. I'm sure I can contribute a lot to your company. I'd really like to visit you to show you what I can do for you. When can you meet me?'

You may have to be content with the response 'I'll call you', but at least you can ask 'When am I likely to hear from you?'. If the manager hedges, decide upon a reasonable time scale, and suggest 'Well, I'm very keen to know if I've got a chance with you Mr. Surname, so if I haven't heard from you by next Friday, would you mind if I call you then to find out?'
This approach is particularly important if you are applying to sales jobs, as you are expected to demonstrate your natural salesmanship. But even in the case of other jobs, most people will appreciate your keenness and enthusiasm. If they don't, and you lose the job on account of being 'too pushy' (most unlikely) well, is it the sort of job you wanted anyway?

If you are invited for a face-to-face interview, thank the manager, and ask for details:

• When?
• Where?
• With whom?
• What should you take to the interview?
• What will the procedure be?
• Will they be able to make a decision after the next interview? If not, what will happen after that?
• How many people are you up against?
• What is the most important thing the company is looking for?

Don't worry if you don't feel able to ask all these questions. The first three questions are the most important obviously.

If your telephone interview has been arranged by an agent/recruitment consultant, telephone them immediately to let them know the outcome. They should be able to find out the answers to the other questions, on your behalf.

When You Miss the Call

If the hiring staff leaves a message for you, return the call as soon as you can. As you are returning the call, remember that the recruiter may have called 10 other people that day about the same or a different position. When you return the call, give your full first name and last name and indicate that you are returning the recruiter's call regarding the xxx position.

Have a Overview in short

Try to reschedule surprise interviews. Say that you have a conflict and suggest a time you can call back. When you call back, be prepared for the call just as you would for a full-dress interview.

Have ready

· pen and paper, a calculator

· the job ad and the resume and cover letter which you sent in response to the ad.

· a list of your accomplishments which relate to the job you are discussing.

· research you have done on the company.

· a short list of questions about the job.

· your calendar.

The Techniques of a Pro

• Smile - it comes through in your voice.
• Speak directly into the phone.
• Don't smoke, chew gum, eat or drink anything. It all telegraphs to your listener.
• Stand up. Your voice sounds stronger.
• Avoid ah, er, hum. This habit is especially noticeable on the telephone. This takes practice. So practice.

For a winning performance

• Confirm the caller's name and company. Get the caller's telephone number.
• Be aware that the caller can't see you - can't see your hand gestures, can't see you taking notes.
• Pace the call. Let the caller do most of the talking, without interruptions.
• Do use the technique of repeating or re-phrasing questions. It tells the caller that you listened carefully, and gives you time to think about your answer.
• Avoid the simple yes or no; add selling points at every opportunity.
• If you need time to think, say so - as in radio, silence during a telephone conversation is dead air time.
• Compensation issues come at the end of the interviewing cycle, never at the telephone stage. You can truthfully say you don't know enough about the job to state a salary figure. And, of course, you would need a personal interview to really talk with the company.

Which is another way to go for the personal interview Re-affirm your qualifications, express your interest in the job and the company. Say you would appreciate the opportunity to talk about the job further - in person.

Fresher Requirement In

Cognizant

iEnergizer Recruits Freshers

Wipro Infotech Recruits For Freshers

Symantec Recruits Software Engineer

Religare Recruits for Fresher

Corbus Recruits Freshers

SBI GENERAL INSURANCE Apply Online

Corporation Bank Apply Online

YES BANK Apply Immediately

UPSC Apply Online Sep 10th'2009

Ten Tips To Boost Your Interview IQ!

Practice Good Nonverbal Communication







It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a good, firm handshake. That first impression can be a great beginning -- or quick ending -- to your interview.







Dress for the Job or Company







Today's casual dress codes do not give you permission to dress as "they" do when you interview. It is important to look professional and well-groomed. Whether you wear a suit or something less formal depends on the company culture and the position you are seeking. If possible, call to find out about the company dress code before the interview.







Listen







>From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what he said. Observe your interviewer, and match that style and pace.







Don't Talk Too Much







Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know could be a fatal mistake. When you have not prepared ahead of time, you may tend to ramble, sometimes talking yourself right out of the job. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job posting, matching your skills with the position's requirements and relating only that information.







Don't Be Too Familiar







The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer's demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.







Use Appropriate Language







It's a given that you should use professional language during the interview. Be aware of any inappropriate slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics or sexual orientation -- these topics could send you out the door very quickly.







Don't Be Cocky







Attitude plays a key role in your interview success. There is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism and modesty. Even if you're putting on a performance to demonstrate your ability, overconfidence is as bad, if not worse, as being too reserved.







Take Care to Answer the Questions







When an interviewer asks for an example of a time when you did something, he is seeking a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don't answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your skills.







Ask Questions







When asked if they have any questions, most candidates answer, "No." Wrong answer. It is extremely important to ask questions to demonstrate an interest in what goes on in the company. Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. The best questions come from listening to what is asked during the



interview and asking for additional information.







Don't Appear Desperate







When you interview with the "please, please hire me" approach, you appear desperate and less confident. Maintain the three C's during the interview: cool, calm and confident. You know you can do the job; make sure the interviewer believes you can, too.

Job Openings

For those of my friends who are interested.....



BHEL is going to release the detailed advertisement in the Employment News of 5th September, 2009 for the recruitment of Engineer Trainees and Supervisor Trainees. A copy of the same is being sent herewith with a request that the advertisement may be given wide publicity in your Deptt./Site/Office for the information of all concerned.



All relevant details related to this recruitment are available at their recruitment web-site careers.bhel.in and the on-line submission of applications starts from today i.e. 31st August, 2009.



Cognizant

Ienergizer

Wipro

are hiring freshers please check their websites



Please check these also as they are hiring HR Exc/Recruiters



Thomson Reuters Process Trainer - Team Lead

Intelenet Global Services Line HR / Officer HR

Ma Foi Management Consultants Ltd. Associate

Aim Vyapthi Advertising Private Limited HR Recruiter

Sellcraft Softech Pvt Ltd Recruitment Executive

CC Group IT Recruiter

MicroSys India Pvt Ltd HR Executive / Manager

Teleperformance India Executive - HR-Employee Care

TEQNirvana Softtech Solutions Human Capital Sourcing Executive

Shanti Consultants HR Executive

Sunflag Hospital & Research Centre Human Resource Executive

ETA Associate Consultant / Research Associate

Boden Software Services US Recruitment - Support executive



HR – Recruiter (NON IT) for Hyderabad (0-2yrs.)

covenantindia



IT Recruiter/IT Services Marketing Consultant (1-3yrs.)

Intelex Systems , Hyderabad



Urgent Openings for Librarians (1-3yrs.)

V-Source HR Solutions , Hyderabad



HR Manager in CSSI(Hyderabad) (6-10yrs.)

CSSI , Hyderabad



SAP US Payroll Lead (4-20yrs.)

Exxova Solutions (India) Pvt Ltd , Hyderabad



I came across about these jobs and companies please try there. I don't have more details then this.



Best Wishes

What you should ask to the Interviewer ???

Hi friends,



Other then questions we have discussed many times here we face a different question in the interview

"Do you want to ask/Know any thing" ??



We all answer it as per our situation there in the interview, few leave it even without touching (thinking - Don't know what else he will start asking or what impression he will have).



these are the few questions we think to ask -



* Why is this position open? If previously filled, why is the predeccesor leaving?

* What is the culture of the organization? the department?

* What are the challenges of this organization? for this position?

* How will I know I'm succeeding in this position?

* Describe your management style.

* Is there anything more you'd like to know about me, or do you have any areas of concern from what I've said that I can address right now?



I have few questions to ask as i believe candidate should ask to show

you are interested

to show your mind set

to show your own knowledge....etc



Here are few more questions which i think are very important to hit the ball well as If you are well prepared for your interview many, if not all of these questions suggested above should be subtely covered by you during the interview and not left for the end.



However I will share with you a great opening question



"I read the job posting thoroughly -or - the recruiter described the position to me in great detail. Before we begin, I would appreciate it if you could tell me how YOU view this position and the person you are looking to hire.



In your opinion what are the most important goals and responsibilities, and has anything about this job changed since it was first posted.



This value here is two fold.



1: You will know where to focus your sales efforts based on what is important to the person you are interviewing with.



2: You have established an equal footing with the interviewer because you now know as much about the position as he/she does, and you have forced them to relinquish some control to answer your question.



Or in simple words for introduce yourself or our question to be asked we can say though i have multi environment experience and handled many challenging tasks but i will like to brief myself as per job requirement and the criteria for your ideal candidate.



Don't waste time and words now, stick to the main responsibilities and your abilities to handle them well as per your previous experiences in personal or professional life.



We can try this also -



"Based on my background, skills, and experience what do you think would be the greatest challenges for me in this position?"



The advantage of this question and using the term "challenges" is that it is a subtle non-confrontational way to hear any doubts or concerns the interviewer may have. It is better than asking "Are you going to hire me?' or "Am I going to the next round?". A too direct question will simply get the response "We are interviewing more candidates so I don't know".



I have had many candidates save an opportunity by being able to address the interviewer's concerns. Frequently, this question surfaces misconceptions or misunderstandings that can be corrected. In addition, if there is a "challenge" identified the candidate can talk about how they will correct or overcome the challenge.



I suggest to my candidates when you hear the challenge "lean in". This means do not get anxious and defensive and withdraw, actually physically lean in and ask more about what the interviewer means. "Please tell me more about how the challenge will impact my performance." Once you hear the details you can address the challenge.



At times the answer to this question makes it clear the candidate has too great a challenge to be considered for the position. It is far better to know in the interview that you are not getting hired rather than sit by the phone for weeks waiting to hear an ultimate rejection.



I have one more question to ask "what will you say about the career growth of a candidate in your organization "



If interviewer ask you a counter question "what is your defination of career growth" never talk in terms of money, say stability, growing personally as well as professionaly.



I hope these are few good questions you can ask in the interview.



Friends please suggest if you have any

How To Answer INTERVIEW Questions..!

Dear All,

Please find the below mentioned Questions which maybe asked by some Interviewers.



Keep these tips in mind when you are in an interview:

• Think first, answer second.

• Focus on your skills and experiences.

• Provide specific examples.

• Draw upon non-work related experiences.

• Turn negatives into positives.



Here are some types of questions that interviewers may ask you:



Directive:

• How has your education prepared you for this position?

• What computer skills do you have?



Non-directive:

• Tell me about yourself

• Why did you choose this career?



Hypothetical:

• Suppose you were working with a group of five people on a major project and one person was doing his/her share. How would you deal with this situation?

• You have a doctor's appointment arranged for noon. You've waited 2 weeks to get in. An urgent meeting is scheduled at the last moment. What do you do?



Behavior Descriptive:

• Tell me about a time when you were working with a group of people and a conflict arose. How did you assess the situation? How did you deal with it? Did you handle the situation well? What did you learn from the experience?



Stress:

• If you had to be an animal, what animal would you be and why?

• Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10

Lets talk about Directive and in directive together

Directive:
• How has your education prepared you for this position?
• What computer skills do you have?

Non-directive:
• Tell me about yourself
• Why did you choose this career?

I always suggest to my candidates whenever giving answer "Tell me about yourself" please include all possible questions and also every answer should be related to your job and intreviewer's mind
as your Education, your hobbies, your background, if you are a player and especially freshers. try to relate them to the responsibilities of the job you are seeking for.

I have mentioned all these points in details in my previous posts also job seekers can go through my blog for this.

Hypothetical Situation
Always answer which takes you more close to your work and shows you are loyal to your work and really dedicating.
If a person can wait for 2 weeks he can wait for some more time it shows it is not very urgent consultation with the doctor as compared to the meeting.

Behavior Descriptive:

Give always constructive and smooth answers without favourism in your mind or don't be very practical/emotional, i mean to say don't be extremist.

Tell me about a time when you were working with a group of people and a conflict arose. How did you assess the situation? How did you deal with it?
- Any time if we talk about conflict or stressed situations we talk for negatives or will answer depends on the conflict so on, i think best anwer on any type of critics or conflict is to start with ""Sir, conflicts is not always negative, as proved earlier and many human management books, it can move into good and constructive results.
Generally we have seen people come close in bad/adverse situations.

After this you can mold it anywhere you want.

Did you handle the situation well? What did you learn from the experience?
- Such situations we are not only handling in our work profile, if we talk about our personal life then also we have faced lots of situations like this (you can give an example of your personal life and tell how you resolved it but please be short)

Answer very positively in any question related to your past to show you learn from your mistakes as no body is perfect.

I have seen very common question tell your weakness, never say you are perfect or you don't have any weakness that 's a fake you too know it, answer honestly with a note how you are working on it.

Stress:
• If you had to be an animal, what animal would you be and why?

Always try to be near the real life and your job, no one is asking you to be an owner of a zoo or a shaikh who can have lion or tiger, best stick with dog , horse or chimpanzee
why as they are very near to human and his nature.

• Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10
Always keep in mind for which skill trait he is asking, rate yourself accordingly as he can ask you questions related to it, be prepared for further more questions.