phone interview help! college student
Summer recruiting season for college interns is happening right now, and after sending out nearly 100 applications for various intern programs and weeks of waiting, I finally got a few interview requests for some pretty prestigious agencies in New York City (all in the same industry - PR/market strategy). Because I am so far away, the first round of interviews will be by phone....basically I am just wondering what to expect? I have never had a phone interview for a "real" job/internship before and am pretty clueless to how the process works....please help! One of these is my DREAM job; about as glamorous and well-paying as a 19 year old can get, and I know the competition was fierce to make it to the first round. Advice please....thanks!
Have you googled for phone interview tips? Phone interviews are generally not anything to stress about. In general, this is when the HR makes contact with you and makes sure you meet the minimum basics such as money, your current working status, what you are looking for and so on... Have an idea in your head what your answers to the basic questions are so you sound well spoken. There are occasional instances that they will schedule an extended length of time with you. They'll throw in more questions like where do you see your self 5 years from now and so on. Behavioral questions and such that gauge your fit to the position. A heads up for this is that they contact you by phone, and then schedule a phone interview. Still nothing to stress about, just tailor your answers to fit the company and position. In general, if you pass the basics, the person will forward your information to the hiring manager to decide the next step. You should make a natural effort to connect with the caller. This will make all the difference if you get in good with the HR contact. They will like you and root for you. It's as if you have an inside friend pulling strings for you. Good luck I had to reply to this, as I just got off the phone from my first phone interview. I' m a fresh college grad with an Accounting degree. I don' t think I asked enough questions, but I did well enough to get invited in for an interview next week. First off, good luck in the interview! I know that the PR/Marketing job market is tighter and more competitive than the one I' m in. 1. Do a little bit of research. Go to their corporate website, look at industry publications, etc. You don' t have to be an expert, I don' t think. But, just write down some general facts about the company. This way, if you happen to be asked "What do you know about us?" you can answer it well. Even if they don' t ask you that, you can at least let them know that you know something about the company. 2. Dress like you would for an in person interview. I got up 2 hrs beforehand, got the suit out, did my hair and everything like I would for an in person interview. It helps you sound lively and awake, and it makes you feel more professional. 3. Along with your research, have copies of your resume and your questions in front of you. What' s nice about the phone interview is you get to have a cheat sheet in front of you! Just don' t sound like you' re reading off of it. 4. Let them talk. I don' t think I asked enough questions, but I had a very talkative interviewer. She was giving me such good information about the job, that I decided to shut up and listen. Besides, you can piggy back on a lot of what they tell you by asking questions, talking about your related experience, etc.
"2. Dress like you would for an in person interview. I got up 2 hrs beforehand, got the suit out, did my hair and everything like I would for an in person interview. It helps you sound lively and awake, and it makes you feel more professional." thats hardcore. Hate to compete with you for a job :) "dayam, thats hardcore. Hate to compete with you for a job :)" :) You know, I started reading books about job interviewing a couple of years ago. When I first read about dressing like you would for an interview, I thought it was garbage. But, I think it works. Anything that you are feeling is going to come across in your voice. I'm still living at home and don't have kids or anything, so my only 'job' right now is job hunting. Some people may not have time for all of that. But, it gives me confidence and makes me feel more professional, which couldn't hurt.
Don't get me wrong, thats pretty powerful what you're doing. I'm just not at that level. If you got the time and the inclination, I'm sure it has a noticeable effect. Just funny, because I pretty much consider myself an expert at the job hunting game now, even considered writing a book on it. I had a phone interview last Friday and I didn' t know it was going to happen but I answered the phone and woman on the other end said that she just got my resume and would like to talk to me for a few minutes and asked if I had time and I said I did. Then she proceeded in asking me couple questions about my resume and telling me about the job and what it pertains. I must have done well in the phone interview because at the end she told me that was interested in meeting me in person for a face to face interview and went in on Tuesday of this week for that interview and now I am just waiting to hear on how I did and if I got the job or not. She said that she would call me next Wednesday to let me know either way. I was wondering how long should I wait before I call her and ask about the position if I do not hear from her on Wednesday? Thank you.
I usually give it a week. The thing is I don't like to put all my eggs on just one interview though. You should be focusing on getting other interviews so your mind isn't so emotionally attached to the one opportunity. Congrats on your successful phone interview. I want to thank you for responding to my question on how long to wait for an answer on my interview. I am not just waiting for an answer to this one I am looking for me interviews to go on but right now I am back at the job I got laid off of 2 months ago while I look. Thanks again. | |
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