Phone Interviews

The Purpose of a Phone Interview (VIDEO)

by

[svp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MetqPKYVD8[/svp]
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter discusses the purpose of a phone interview from the employer’s perspective and from yours.

[spp-transcript]

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. His work involves career coaching,  all as well as executive job search coaching and business life coaching. He is the host of “Job Search Radio,” “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.”

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Visit www.TheBigGameHunter.us and click the relevant tab on the top of the page.

JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.  

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.

You can order a copy of “Diagnosing Your Job Search Problems” for Kindle and receive free Kindle versions of “No BS Resume Advice” and “Interview Preparation.”

Don’t forget to give the show 5 stars and a good review in iTunes

If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.

Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.

Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.

Would you like me to critique your resume. Order a critique from me

For more about LinkedIn, order “Stacked: Double Your Job Interviews, Leverage Recruiters and Unlock LinkedIn.”

Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.

Mobile Phone Interviews: Prepare to Ace Them! | No BS Job Search Advice Radio

by

EP 923  Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter turns his attention to doing a phone interview on your mobile phone. 

[spp-transcript]

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. His work involves career coaching,  all as well as executive job search coaching and business life coaching. He is the host of “Job Search Radio,” “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.”

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Visit www.TheBigGameHunter.us and click the relevant tab on the top of the page.

JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.  

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.

You can order a copy of “Diagnosing Your Job Search Problems” for Kindle and receive free Kindle versions of “No BS Resume Advice” and “Interview Preparation.”

Don’t forget to give the show 5 stars and a good review in iTunes

If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.

Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.

Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.

Would you like me to critique your resume. Order a critique from me

For more about LinkedIn, order “Stacked: Double Your Job Interviews, Leverage Recruiters and Unlock LinkedIn.”

Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.

The Purpose of a Phone Interview | No BS Job Search Advice Radio

by

EP 917 Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter discusses the purpose of a phone interview from the employer’s perspective and from yours.

[spp-transcript][spp-transcript]

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. His work involves career coaching,  all as well as executive job search coaching and business life coaching. He is the host of “Job Search Radio,” “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.”

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Visit www.TheBigGameHunter.us and click the relevant tab on the top of the page.

JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.  

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.

You can order a copy of “Diagnosing Your Job Search Problems” for Kindle and receive free Kindle versions of “No BS Resume Advice” and “Interview Preparation.”

Don’t forget to give the show 5 stars and a good review in iTunes

If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.

Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.

Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.

Would you like me to critique your resume. Order a critique from me

For more about LinkedIn, order “Stacked: Double Your Job Interviews, Leverage Recruiters and Unlock LinkedIn.”

Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.

I’m on a Phone Interview & Losing It!!! | No BS Job Search Advice Radio

by

ep 719 Here’s how to handle a situation when you’re feeling flustered or losing the interview.

[spp-transcript]

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. His work involves life coaching, as well as executive job search coaching and leadership coaching.

JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions. 

Connect with me on LinkedIn

You can order a copy of “Diagnosing Your Job Search Problems” for Kindle for $.99 and receive free Kindle versions of “No BS Resume Advice” and “Interview Preparation.”

Don’t forget to give the show 5 stars and a good review in iTunes

Are you interested in executive job search coaching, leadership coaching or life coaching from me?  Email me at JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us and put the word, “Coaching” in the subject line.

Handling a Phone Interview From Out of the Blue

by

 

In this video, Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter explains what you should do when you get a phone call from someone who wants to interview you from out of the blue.

———————————————————————————————————

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter has been a coach and recruiter for what seems like one hundred years.

Follow him at The Big Game Hunter, Inc. on LinkedIn for more articles, videos and podcasts than what are offered here and jobs he is recruiting for.

Visit www.TheBigGameHunter.us. There’s a lot more advice there.

Email me if your firm is trying to hire someone.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Pay what you want for my books about job search

Subscribe to TheBigGameHunterTV on YouTube for advice about job hunting and hiring. Like videos, share and comment.

Trying to hire someone? Email me at JeffAltman@TheBigGameHunter.us

Do you need more in-depth coaching? Join my Coaching program.

Want to ask me questions via phone, Skype or Facetime? Have your job search questions answered.

Phone Interviews: What Are You Trying to Accomplish?

by

As I listen to employers talk about phone interviews, I see that firms are over-reaching with what they are attempting to accomplish with this initial telephone call. It seems like so many firms are making judgments about candidates that may leave them exposed to accusations of bias–poor oral communications for a person with a modest accent yet in a role for which oral communications are of modest importance can leave a firm open to attack.

What a telephone interview is designed to do well is test basic attitudes, skills competence and candidate maturity and reasonableness.

Here are questions that you can ask to do basic assessments of suitability:

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

What made you apply for this position?

How many years of experience do you have with _____?

What are the major responsibilities you perform in your current or most recent position?

Why are you considering leaving your current position?

What do you know about this company/position?

What is the most important thing you’re looking for in a company/job?

What is the most significant accomplishment you have made in your career?

What is your greatest weakness/strength?

How well do you handle stress? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Ask three to five basic questions designed to assess their actual skills

When would you be available to start? What are your salary expectations? Do you have any questions for me?

What you are listening for is intelligence, poise and maturity.

If someone offers immature answers to these questions, reject them.

If they cannot answer the three to five concrete skills questions well, reject them.

If they have not had the breadth of responsibility that leaves you comfortable, reject them.

Otherwise, plan on meeting with them and others to investigate further.

 

 

© 2009 all rights reserved.

Phone Interviews: What Are You Trying to Accomplish?

by

As I listen to employers talk about phone interviews, I realize that firms are over-reaching with what they are attempting to accomplish with this initial telephone call. It seems like so many firms are making judgments about candidates that may leave them exposed to accusations of bias–poor oral communications for a person with a modest accent yet in a role for which oral communications are of modest importance can leave a firm open to attack.

What a telephone interview is designed to do well is test basic attitudes, skills competence and candidate maturity and reasonableness.

Here are questions that you can ask to do basic assessments of suitability:

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

What made you apply for this position?

How many years of experience do you have with _____?

What are the major responsibilities you perform in your current or most recent position? Why are you considering leaving your current position?

What do you know about this company/position? What is the most important thing you’re looking for in a company/job?

What is the most significant accomplishment you have made in your career?

What is your greatest weakness/strength? How well do you handle stress? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Ask three to five basic questions designed to assess their actual skills

When would you be available to start? What are your salary expectations? Do you have any questions for me?

What you are listening for is intelligence, poise and maturity. If someone offers immature answers to these questions, reject them. If they cannot answer the three to five concrete skills questions well, reject them. If they have not had the breadth of responsibility that leaves you comfortable, reject them.

Otherwise, plan on meeting with them and others to investigate further.

 

 

© 2009 all rights reserved.

Phone Interviews: Prepare to Ace Them!

by

Almost all companies are saving time and effort by doing initial telephone interviews before committing themselves to hours of time assessing and evaluating applicants. They are doing this because, frankly, it’s a good way to save a team’s time from interviewing obviously unqualified people. From your standpoint, this means that you need to develop an additional interview skill.

One of the disadvantages of doing a phone interview is that they can’t see how well you look or what a great suit you’re wearing to the interview or that you own terrific ties. It also means that you can sit in the comfort of your home, rather than trudging to their site. With this opportunity, comes problem. The major problem is that they can’t see how well you look or what great clothes you own. All they can do is listen to your voice and the energy that you convey and listen to the answers to your questions; you, on the other hand, can’t see when you’ve lost their attention or when you’ve bored them. There are no visual cues for either of you.

But with preparation, you can do a fabulous job and get in the door. Here’s a few pointers.

1. For any interview, go to the company’s website and learn about the firm. Also, if you can read a job specification on their site (or elsewhere) do so. After all the spec is the road map to what they are going to assess your abilities for.

2. Take some notes to remind yourself of points that you may want to make or about things that you might forget. Sometimes people get nervous, just like they do in person. Have a few notes nearby about your role, responsibilities and accomplishments as helpful reminders. Support your statements with detailed examples of accomplishments when possible. Remember, they can’t see if you have a manual open to something you might be a little rusty in! They can’t see that you have your resume in front of you!

3. Rehearse. Have someone call you and listen to your voice on the phone. Maybe your cordless phone makes your voice sound tinny. Maybe you speak too softly, mumble or speak too quickly to be understood by others. Ask someone you trust to critique you.

4. Pick out a place in your house where the kids won’t interrupt you or the tv won’t make noise in the background. I hate interviewing people who have the stereo playing in the background (it happens more often than you can imagine).

5. Write down their questions so that you can stay on purpose. Too often, people forget the original question and go rambling about something far a field. Stay on target.

6. Your voice is your only sales tool. Don’t allow yourself to sound tired or blasé over the phone. Sounds energetic and excited, even if they’ve asked you the same questions that every other interviewer has for the last six months!

7. At the time of the phone interview, log off your computer (If you can’t definitely get off of instant messengers and other services that chime. These may sabotage your concentration just when you need it most.

8. Rehearse. Rehearse. Rehearse. I can’t emphasize enough that you need to practice phone interviews, just as you have in person one.

9. Don’t use your cell phone if you can avoid it. Cell phones rarely allow your voice to sound as clear as a standard land line. Try to avoid using it for interviews.

10. Be courteous and try not to speak over the interviewer or cut them off. If you do, apologize and let the interviewer continue.

11. Do not hang up until the interviewer has hung up.

Follow these pointers and I’m sure you’ll do better on your interviews.

 

 

© 2004, 2011 all rights reserved.