Posted By Holla On February 16, 2011 (5:14 pm) In HR, Interviewing
I’ve been getting a decent response rate to my applications, but I seem to be getting weeded out during the phone interviews. Could you provide some information about how to get past these gateway phone interviews and what the interviewers are really looking for?With hundreds of applicants for each opening, the initial phone interview has become a crucial tool for professional recruiters. Expect a phone screen to be much shorter than an in-person meeting – 20 to 30 minutes at most – and to touch superficially on a large number of topics as rather than delving deeply into a few. Usually conducted by an HR or recruiting professional, it's nearly guaranteed you'll be asked these three key questions that are the pillars of every interview.
Tell me about your experience.
This topic has been covered elsewhere but it always bears repeating. Know backwards and forwards each job, accomplishment and bullet point you list on your resume. When asked something such as, "do you have experience with the Great Plains accounting software?" the correct answer is not simply "yes." Articulate about everything you're asked by the interviewer. A great deal of what eventually will determine your success or failure in the phone screen is attributable to your general manner of speaking, something that goes beyond avoiding "like" or "um" when considering a question. Truly "knowing one's experience" comes from the detail and context provided in your answers in addition to simply being well spoken.
