The Successful Phone Interview

With hiring and human resources managers busier than ever, it’s no wonder that phone interviews have become a key method to quickly screen candidates.  By effectively using phone interviews, employers save time and money by rapidly identify those applicants whom they want to meet in person.

Things to remember...

To ensure the phone interview process runs smoothly, consider the following:

• Make an appointment with the candidate.  Confirm a specific day and time to call.  Don’t leave it vague or open-ended (“I’ll call him on my way home tomorrow” or “I’ll call her some afternoon this week”).  A set appointment time will ensure you don’t catch the candidate at an inconvenient time and that the candidate is in the right frame of mind to interview.

• Be on time.  Remember, the candidate is evaluating you and your company as much as you are evaluating him/her.  If you’re late (or worse, forget to call), the candidate is left with a negative first impression that can be difficult to overcome.

• Be prepared.  Review the job description and the candidate’s resume in advance, and prepare questions to keep the conversation moving.  Pauses during a phone interview can be especially awkward.

• Eliminate distractions.  Take steps to ensure you don’t receive phone calls during the interview.  Also, it’s best not to be seated in front of your computer, as incoming emails, etc. can be distracting.  Don’t use a speakerphone – the quality of the line generally leaves much to be desired and many candidates find it unsettling.

• Make a proper introduction.  Introduce yourself and your company and let the candidate know what to expect during the phone interview.  Start managing expectations early on.

• Let the candidate know you’ll be taking notes.  This will explain in advance any periods of silence..

• Be especially clear in what you say.  Remember that the candidate can’t take cues from your body language, so avoid mis-understandings by periodically checking to ensure he/she is following you.

• Assess how serious the candidate is about your position.  Find out what other opportunities the candidate is pursuing (and whether there is an offer pending), what his/her timeline is for making a decision on a new job, and what is most important to him/her in a new opportunity.  Trust your instinct to determine whether the candidate is really interested in your position.

• Explain your company’s hiring process.  At the conclusion of the phone interview, let the candidate know when he/she can expect feedback and describe the next steps in the process. Equally important, do what you say you are going to do and keep candidates apprised of any unforeseen delays.

The Bottom Line

In short, treat the phone interview as seriously as you would an in-person interview.   This is a great opportunity to showcase your company and leave candidates with a positive first impression.  Remember, even if you decide against pursuing a candidate, prior candidates can be a great source of referrals for your company if they are treated with respect and professionalism during the phone interview process.

Triad Engineering Corp has specialized for almost 40 years in helping our clients fill their technical staffing needs on a contract, contract-to-direct and direct hire basis. Triad is locally owned and operated, with a large network of qualified engineering professionals throughout New England . Please contact us at 781-273-1880 or visit www.triad-eng.com for more information on how we can help you achieve your technical hiring goals.

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