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Phone Interview Help?

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DJTJ

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So my odd handling of my college job fair seemed to work, as I've managed to score an interview with Charles Schwab. I always strike out for the in person job fair due to what seems to be my nervous confidence looking much more awkward than I perceive it to be. Stuck it out, nothing, but I applied for a dozen or so jobs that had a deadline on the same day as my job fair through our job hosting site (my thinking being most will be focusing on preparation for the job fair), and managed to get this interview. I did a practice phone interview in high school with a friend of my dads, but it was for a scholarship, and I ended up interviewing in person after my school gave me an excused absence. That was four years ago, and it was for a completely different beast, as I'm sure the preparations are completely different.

I guess I'll open it up to you guys, because I'm sure someone on here has either conducted these, or interviewed via phone. I'm more so nervous because you lose the ability to vibe with the interviewer in person, and I feel they might not get the feeling I have what they need over the phone. I've done numerous interviews in person, and have nailed a few big scholarship interviews and a job interview at the Clinic, where I've worked for the past two summers. I'm a junior Finance major, and I haven't gotten into the gist of my major (although next semester I will have taken classes that would certainly help me in this interview) so I'm worried that if they spring a question about planning for retirement (the interview is for a Retirement Planning Internship) and what would I suggest to their customers that I will just fall flat. Would generic research be something I should utilize due to the nature of a phone interview? I appreciate any help anyone can give me, although I'm prepared for the ribbing and jokes that will more than likely come. I also will not be putting stock into any advice Dave_K will give, because this has to do with a real job, and not a ponzi scheme, some sort of fraud, or Bible Community College.
 
I feel like phone interviews are pretty easy. If you've done in person interviews, this is much easier. Just be yourself. Since they can't see you, make yourself comfortable, be relaxed, and just come off as knowledgeable as possible. For my last one I woke up and did the interview in bed. They never got too detailed in any of the interviews. Good luck!
 
you want to stand up while you do it. voice sounds entirely different. no noise, be standing.
 
Just had a phone interview yesterday. Make sure you are in a comfortable and quiet place. The nice thing about them is that you can wear anything and don't have to worry about how you look or your mannerisms.

Before it starts, make sure you know some things about the company or organization. They like to hear about themselves and try to incorporate personal experiences into things. In my ___ class we learned this or last summer I interned at _____ and it really made me interested in this kind of work.

Usually starts off with:

Hey how are you? How is your semester/week/ etc been going? Small talk.

Then it usually goes to something like why do you want to work/intern/etc here?

What are your skills? How did you hear about us? What experience do you have in the area associated with the company or organization?

Time you overcame adversity? Where do you want to be in 5 years? What other options are you considering?

Just a word of caution make sure you are in an area with good phone reception. A bad connection will make a bad first impression. Pause before you answer to gather your thoughts and don't ramble too much. Also vary your voice, try to sound enthused. If you can use a bit of humor, go for it.
 
DJTJ,

I went through 3 rounds of phone interviews before even getting to the in-person interview phase with my current job. I've also been the interviewer a few times for others interviewing for the same program in which I was brought in under.

A few suggestions for you:

- Deprive yourself of sleep for a few days leading up to the interview. Then, about an hour before it is scheduled, take a nap and let the phone call be your alarm to wake you up. It'll really help you to think on your feet.

- Have someone else in the background talking to you while the interviewer asks his/her first question. Interrupt him/her and say "hang on a second." Then, so they can hear, yell at the person in the background to "SHUT THE F*** UP!" This will create an impression of power and assertiveness for you in the interviewers mind. GREAT first impression.

- As the conversation/interview is going on, try to find something (non-business related) in common with your interviewer that you can chat about. Then, once you're sure they enjoy whatever it is you're chatting about, make fun of it. This will show them that you're superior to them, and they'll want to hire you.

- Be entirely naked for your interview and smack yourself in the taint repeatedly while answering questions. The nakedness will help to free your mind and let it focus on the task at hand. If they inquire about the noise in the background, tell them the truth. They'll be impressed with your honesty.

- End the interview/conversation with some humor! If its a male interviewer, say "see ya later, masturbator!" If its a woman, "thank you maam, no go slap your clam!" This will ensure you go out on a positive note and you'll be more likely to stick in their mind when going through their notes about all of the phone interviews with other candidates.



:) Hope this helps! :)
 
At first I thought you were referring to yourself as a baseball pitch and then I realized you were talking about swallowing my semen.

So half-way through I was like, "what a fag," but then after you finished I was like, "this guy's gay."
 
I guess I could swallow if it means that much to you.

See, DJTJ, if I was being interviewed and was asked about a situation where I was forced to compromise with a team member in order to complete the job at hand, this is the example I'd use.

#interviewskillz
 
I think the biggest thing is to just be prepared, do some hw on the company, point something out you saw on their website, even do a LinkenIn search of the person making the call. Also prepare a list of questions you want to ask them, that way when they ask if you have any, you are not thinking on the spot.

Also ask closing questions, such as how did I do, do you feel I would be a good fit for the job, after this conversation do you feel I would be a good fit, if they say no, or not sure, ask, what can I do or say that will show you I am a good fit.

Always Always, send a follow up email / note after the call.
 
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