Tag Archives: Phone Interviews

Phone Interviews and the Necessity for Preperation

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I literally jumped out of my seat in Seal Court when I received an email stating that an organization I applied for an internship with wanted to set up an interview. I had been groggily waiting for the Motley to open so I could consume my morning coffee, but this did an even better job than caffeine at sending an adrenaline rush through my body. I was overjoyed to hear back so quickly, and I think my response back sounded almost too eager, but it least they knew I was excited, right?

A few weeks later, I got ready for my interview. It was set for 1:30 in the afternoon, and I got off a Motley shift at 1:00, giving me just enough time to briskly walk over to my dorm and begin preparation. I decided I would skype from my dorm room instead of a public area, so I wanted to make sure my room looked presentable. I made my bed which was visible in the camera lens (unfortunately this a rare occurrence for me,) and I put on makeup and a nice top.

In all honesty, I had only set up my Skype account the day before, and I didn’t realize that it takes a full 24 hours before your account is activated. Thus, when the person interviewing me called, it went to my phone rather than Skype. I picked up, and embarrassingly explained that “I guess my Skype isn’t working.” She also apologized, as she was convinced that her internet was spotty and it was her side that wasn’t working.

We ended up just doing a phone interview, and other than my initial embarrassment, it went well. I tried to stay true to myself and give honest, thoughtful answers. For example, one of the last questions the interviewer asked me was what my “dream job” was. This is one of those questions that I never know how to answer. I could have just made something up that I thought tailored to the goals and needs of this specific internship, but instead I was honest, and explained that I wasn’t sure yet, but I had some ideas, and some qualities I would ideally look for in a job. While it is definitely vital to act calm, collected, and confident during an interview, I think in the case of an internship interview like this that is more informal than other job interviews, it is preferable to be genuine rather than forced.

Me, desperately trying to ace my phone interview.

Me, desperately trying to ace my phone interview.

Overall, I did prepare for my interview in certain areas, but not enough in others. I heavily researched the organization I was applying to and all it entailed, but I hadn’t figured out some of the logistical details such as sufficiently setting up a Skype account. Next time, I will make sure to learn from my mistakes, and spend more time making sure my technology is sound, rather than spending those extra ten minutes fixing my mascara.

The Interview

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Like the college application process, interviews are the only way an applicant can really show off their personality. If you have an interview for a job, congrats! You are really in a great position – you know that the employer thinks you have the credentials, work experience, and skill set needed for the position. Interviews are for confirming that you would fit in, that you’d be a positive addition to the workforce, and that you’re able to communicate clearly. Below is a list of websites that talk about what interviewers look for, as well as my responses to them. I draw on my experiences interviewing both in person and on the phone.

Positivity is a must – though interviewers want to see that you take the job seriously, speaking with anything but a smile is not going to win over your interviewer. Smiling also reinstates how confident you are and how excited you are about the job opportunity. Maturity is also needed, especially when you are up against other college-aged candidates because it will set you apart. I tend to speak really fast and use abbreviations/slang/”like” so I always watch myself and make sure I speak slowly during interviews. I have been interviewed by people who are young and seem buddy-buddy, and I’ve been tempted to disclose fun stories and start using slang. One interviewer started talking about concerts, and while I could have talked all about my concert-going experiences, I caught myself because it was not work-related. Also, appearance is the first thing interviewers register when they see you. There’s no “magic” outfit that will get you the job so anything goes as long as you look neat, clean, and professional.  I always wear a dress, blazer, black shoes, and no jewelry with my hair pulled back.

There are important qualities on this list that interviewers look for, though it is hard to get these qualities across sometimes. A common question in an interview is “tell me about your previous job”. I always have a 2-minute response prepared that shows I am a hard worker [I worked 40 hours a week in my last job], a team player [I explain a school project I worked on and what my role was in it], and a problem solver/prepared/detail-oriented [I explain a problem that arose during this group project and the steps I took to fix it]. When prepping for this interview question, I always think “ok, what qualities of mine do I want them to know I have,” then I memorize a few work/school experiences that show these qualities.

Do. your. research. Citing a recent article/news event that is relevant to the company, or even a study conducted by the organization, will show you are already invested in the job and that you have respect for the organization. I  do this when the hiring manager asks “how did you find out about us?” Speaking enthusiastically about what you learned so far about the company gives the hiring manager confidence that you will be a positive contributor. Also be prepared with a copy of your resume, references, transcript, and cover letter. One time I did not bring these materials in because I assumed they would already have them from my application – turns out they were somewhat disorganized and lost my materials, so when it was time for them to choose an intern, they did not have my cover letter, resume, or references.

If you stumble over words, forget the name of your old boss, or mispronounce something, don’t freak out! In my experience, it’s the overall impression from the interview that is important i.e. how you carry yourself. Interviews are inherently nerve-wracking, but have the confidence that you’ve made it this far, read up on the organization, and look sharp!

Good News Delayed

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First, the good news: After sending out multiple applications over spring break and having what I thought was a positive interview a week later, (followed by some anxious waiting) I finally got a DC internship offer! I will be working in communications editing the website, writing press releases, and attending briefings and hearings on the hill. It’s very similar to what I was doing at my previous DC internship last semester, but in a completely different environment and a completely different company.

The offer was bittersweet: about two hours before I got the offer e-mail, I got a call from another company that wanted to interview me. This (super competitive, I discovered) internship also focused on communications, and I would be doing many similar things, but I would also be dabbling in event planning. Plus, unlike the first internship, this one was paid.

Here’s the real dilemma, and it’s one I had been in before: I had to reply to the first offer by Monday the 12th. My interview with the second company wasn’t until Thursday the 8th. It was incredibly unlikely that I would know if I had the second one before I had to either accept or turn down the first.

I wanted to handle this semester’s situation professionally. Unfortunately, there was not much I could do to change anyone’s mind. After my interview on Thursday, I asked the second company to try to let me know by Monday morning. They told me that I made the top three, but that they could not make a final decision and to not hold out. And so I happily accepted the first internship – with about an hour to spare. It was a tricky situation, but I somehow doubt that this will be the last time I have to go through it.

Interviews for a New Age

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A few months ago, one of my friends in DC was preparing for an interview. She thought of intelligent questions, prepared answers for generic interview questions, donned her best button-up, and sat down at her desk. It was nearly 9 o’clock at night. The company with which she was interviewing was in China. The interview, which at one point may have been either impossible or conducted through the phone, was taking place via Skype.

Soon after this interview took place, I read an article in TIME magazine that sparked my interest even more. It explains the rising trend of conducting interviews through Skype, a free program that runs on any computer and can connect people across the world. The article goes on to offer tips on how to succeed within this new situation. Some of them are obvious (clean up the space around you, silence any noise such as a pet or TV) while some are less so (sit tall enough that you don’t look like a “floating head”, avoid wearing white, do not have a bright light on behind you). One of the most key pieces of advice is to practice talking on Skype with friends, so they can let you know if you are doing anything strange or unprofessional.

Initially, I thought this seemed to be a perfect system for someone like me, who is applying for Washington, DC internships from across the country. So far, phone interviews have sufficed, but I can’t help but wonder how much of the interview is lost without facial expressions and body language. The next time I schedule a long-distance interview, you can bet that I will suggest Skype. It will not only boost my interview (hopefully!), but the fact that I am bold enough to suggest it might prove to a potential employer that I am technologically up-to-date, willing to take risks, and prepared to go one step further than is asked of me – all qualities that most employers look for in intern candidates.

Mastering the Art of The Phone Interview

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In the past two days I have had two phone interviews and they couldn’t have been more different. One was for a creative writing internship with an advertising agency and the other was for an editorial research internship with a life and style magazine. First of all, I think there are definitely some pros and cons to phone interviews so I decided to make a little list…

Pros:

*They can’t see you. So even if you’re a little nervous (like I was), they can’t see that in your body language. They can only detect it in your voice.

*It’s an open book test. You can easily refer to your cover letter, resume, sample responses to questions that you wrote out, and the company’s mission statement while they ask you questions.

* It’s casual. A phone call will always be more casual than an in-person meeting. The tone of the conversation is generally more relaxed and the dress code is too (No interview attire).

Cons:

*They don’t get a sense of who you really are. While its kind of comforting to be invisible, there are certain things you just can’t convey over the phone. Smiling, nodding and other bits of body language can’t tell them how much you want the position.

*Out of sight, out of mind. Chances are, they will pick a candidate they have had the chance to meet in person over someone they have only talked to over the phone.

*You can’t see their personality. One of the great things about an in-person interview is being able to see where you might be working. You get to see the office, meet people and get a better understanding of how the company works. All this is lost in a phone interview.

In the end, I think in-person interviews are better, even if they are a little scarier. You gain more from an in-person interview and the employer can get a much better idea of what you’re all about.

The interesting thing about my two phone interviews is that they were polar opposites. One was extremely relaxed. In fact, it was so casual that it was almost like having a conversation with an old friend. The other was much more intimidating. It felt like every question was a test and all my answers were being scrutinized. I guess the second one was more like a ‘real’ interview. It’s not that the second interview went poorly; it was just a lot more difficult than the first one.

If there is one thing I learned from these interviews is that it is extremely important to speak with authority. At one point during my intimidating interview I paused and the interviewer said, “you hesitated there.” I didn’t mean to hesitate, but one of his questions did catch me off guard. Its not that I am unsure of my skills, I am confident with my work experience (repeat to self). That’s why I think its important not to let nerves take over. Valinda once told me to practice saying accomplishment statements. Such as, “I have had lots of experience conducting research and doing fact-checks for The Student Life Newspaper.” When it comes to interviews I definitely think that is something that I will have to practice. I think it will make me a better interviewee and it will help me build even more confidence in my work experience.

It’s important to remember that these phone interviews are a good personal experience for me, whether or not they lead to an internship. The point is that I am learning how a professional interview actually works and that I am assessing my strengths and weaknesses along the way. Mastering the art of the phone interview, or any interview for that matter, is something that will take practice and time.