Sunday, March 17, 2024

How To Conduct A Phone Interview Script

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Conducting A Phone Interview

How To Conduct A Phone Interview | Forbes

The best employee to conduct a phone interview typically is the hiring manager. He is most in tune with the qualifications, experience, and technical knowledge necessary for successfully performing the job in question.

If the hiring manager has limited technical expertise related to the job in question, it’s a good idea to bring in a technical expert as a third person for the phone interview to ensure that only highly qualified candidates advance to the next step in the hiring process.

Hiring managers often have to work most closely with a selected employee and is best qualified to assess the social skills of applicants and whether or not they are a good cultural fit.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Telephone Interview

Phone interviews as a recruiting method have several important advantages:

  • you can quickly check basic information about a person
  • saving time: no need to conduct a personal interview with everyone
  • the job seeker is in a comfortable environment for himself, which helps to reduce stress
  • you can interview a candidate from another city.

Of course, there are also disadvantages:

  • you do not see the candidate, you cannot assess his emotions visually only by his voice
  • you will not appreciate the body language and gestures of the job seeker
  • there is a time limit the interview should not be too long.

With a telephone interview, you will not be able to assess all the qualities of the job seeker, but it is quite possible to conduct a preliminary assessment and decide whether to invite this person for a personal interview.

After The Phone Interview

Review and assess the qualifications and responses of each candidate with HR staff and other members of the recruiting team to determine which candidates to involve in your onsite interview process and when.

A question about salary expectations is a good example of something that can help determine whether or not a candidate is worth pursuing. Candidates will express a desired salary or tell you what their compensation package is worth in their current role. If it is significantly higher than what you have budgeted for the position, it’s probably not worth spending time on the candidate.

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Some Parting Tips For How To Conduct A Phone Screen Interview

Like any time you interact with the public as a representative of your company, itâs important to present yourself with an air of professionalism during every screening interview.

To help with this, itâs important to practice proper phone interview etiquette. This means being polite and fair, respecting the candidateâs time, and staying focussed on the task at hand. Remember, the candidate is evaluating you just as much as you are them.

Treat each and every telephone interview like itâs the most important one youâre doing that day, and youâll be successful in how you process and screen every candidate that clicks apply.

In need of more inspiration regarding interview questions? Download our free ebook containing 47 creative interview questions!

Brendan is an established writer, content marketer and SEO manager with extensive experience writing about HR tech, information visualization, mind mapping, and all things B2B and SaaS. As a former journalist, he’s always looking for new topics and industries to write about and explore.

Ommon Phone Interview Questions And Answers

(PDF) Questionnaire/Survey/Phone Interview Script

What is a phone screen interview? A telephone interview is a type of interview used in recruiting for searching and initial selection of candidates.

The recruiter or HR must correctly prepare for a successful phone interview. What do you need to know before conducting such an interview, what questions do you need to ask a job seeker, what are the pros and cons of this method?

The telephone interview is the primary selection process for applicants. Your initial task is to determine if the candidate wrote the truth on the resume.

In fact, as part of a phone screening, you are conducting a remote acquaintance with this person, and you need to make some first impression of him. If it turns out negative, there is no point in further steps. This way, the recruiter or human resources manager streamlines the hiring process without spending a great deal of time on personal interviews.

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Phone Script When Calling Someone You Dont Know

For this call, even if you knew the person in the distant past, you need to briefly introduce yourself, and then mention something important and public about them, showing that you know who they are, before asking them for the interview. Like this:

Hello Mr./Ms. ! My name is , and I am/was a considering making a big change in my career.

I am very impressed with your .

Do you have a minute to talk?

Im in the process of thinking about leaving my , and I am very interested in your views about .

Id love 20 or 30 minutes of your time, at your convenience, to ask you some questions about .

I value your opinion, and Im happy come to your office or meet you at the local coffee shop . Do you have any time available in the next 2 weeks?

If they dont want to talk with you, accept that decision without sounding angry or disappointed. If they sound nice but too busy, ask them if they would be comfortable recommending someone else for you to talk with.

On the other hand, if they agree to speak with you, do your best to be available at the date and time they specify, and, of course, be prepared with your questions if they want to talk NOW.

Listen Attentively To The Interviewer

As you get into the conversation, listen attentively to the interviewer as they explain the job details and ask you questions. Avoid interrupting the interviewer when they are speaking, and if you think of something you want to say, write it down for further discussion when it is your turn to speak. Additionally, practicing active listening can ensure you avoid miscommunications or a misunderstanding of something the interviewer discusses with you.

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Benefits Of Conducting A Phone Interview

Phone interviews are an essential part of the modern hiring process, offering convenience for both the jobseeker and Hiring Manager alike. While in-person interviews will remain an essential part of the hiring process, most applicants have come to expect an initial phone screening prior to an in-person visit.

Being able to conduct a phone interview offers the following advantages.

Phone Interview Questions To Avoid

How to Conduct a Phone Interview Best Practices

Bad phone interview questions can create a poor candidate experience, waste hours of time, and potentially have legal implications. With such a serious downside, its worth spending time to learn how to avoid these potentially damaging interview questions.

Questions that ask for personal information

You must avoid asking questions that are related to the candidates age, marital status, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, disability status, sexual orientation, plans to conceive, etc. In addition, you should avoid sharing any of this information about yourself. Doing so may make the candidate feel uncomfortable and could also open you or your company up to legal action.

Questions asked for the sake of passing time

While this is rarely intentional, and typically happens due to a lack of preparation, its important not to ask questions just for the sake of asking questions. It can be tempting to go online and Google interview questions to ask candidates and then incorporate those questions into your phone interview. However, think about each question and what significance it plays in the interview process. There are enough quality interview questions out there to fill a 30-minute time slot.

Related Blog: Read our article on the worst interview questions to ask candidates

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Get Prepared For Your Phone Interview

Even though you are not meeting in person, it can still be crucial to get prepared for the phone interview as you would an in-person interview. Research the company you applied to ahead of time, practice how you will greet the interviewer and how you will answer the interviewer’s questions, and keep your resume nearby during your interview for quick reference. Also, it’s a good idea to write down their name in your notes to keep as a reference throughout your interview.

Additionally, write down some questions that you plan to ask the interviewer during the phone call. For instance, write down any questions you have about job duties, required credentials or any other information you would like to know more about.

Good Questions To Ask During A Phone Interview

Tailor the phone interview questions below to suit your industry and the role youre hiring for. But consider, too, the candidates professional history, or lack thereof. A recent college graduate cant refer to their career successes, for example, but screening questions can be framed to allow candidates to draw on their experience in course seminars and team projects, as well as their volunteer work and self-taught skills. Leadership, drive, industriousness, talent and other valued qualities can be demonstrated in many ways.

Give the same consideration for candidates with a gap in their work history, such as a parent reentering the workforce after raising a couple of kids, or an out-of-work professional two months after a layoff. Follow this list of five phone interview tips:

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Human Resources Phone Interviews

As a second choice, a representative from human resources can conduct phone interviews with candidates, but it is difficult for HR staff members to know exactly what hiring managers need. If technical skills are paramount for success in the position, the HR staff is not the first choice.

However, if the most significant component of a phone screen is the cultural fit of the applicant, the HR recruiter is qualified. In fact, she may be the best person to conduct the phone interview. As well, having HR handle this step in the process saves the hiring manager additional time.

How To Conduct A Phone Interview Script

Templates &  Tips to Streamline Interview Scheduling

How to begin a discussion on the Telephone Interview. When you create a first impression, there is no chance to alter it. This is also true inside a phone interview, since the caller must depend on just the seem of the voice and also the words you talk to evaluate you as a candidate. As soon as you

Addressing the Interviewer When you create a first impression, there is no chance to alter it. This is also true inside a phone interview conversation since the caller must depend on just the seem of the voice and also the words you talk to evaluate you as a candidate. As soon as you begin a telephone interview, be polite, confident and alert. Ensure a effective telephonic interview conversation by beginning it on the positive note. Research has proven the first thirty seconds of the interview, personally or on the telephone, matter with regards to picking out a candidate for income. Confidence and quietness encounter throughout a phone interview conversation, so attempt to project individuals traits whenever possible. Answer the telephone Professionally You need to be right near your phone during the time of your phone interview conversation so you dont miss the phone call. If you work with a mobile phone, make certain its billed and you get good reception where you stand. Once the phone rings, get it on time. You dont have to jump to reply to around the first ring, but dont allow it to almost visit voicemail message.

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Tell Me About Your Most Recent Job What Were You Responsible For Each Day

With this interview question, be ready to respond with specific accomplishments and details of what you did.

What did you learn? Which specific tools and technologies did you work with? What results did you help your company or group achieve?

Try to prepare specific details to talk about before your interview. You ideally want to be able to share results you achieved and how you helped your company make money, save money, save time, etc.

Also, you want your examples to be relevant to THEIR needs. So prepare by studying the job description, and then mention things that will be relevant for this particular job!

Example phone interview answer:

One of the biggest areas I was responsible for in my last job was to ensure our website had as close to 100% up-time as possible. I achieved the best result in our companys 29-year history last year by making some key changes and optimizations immediately after being hired. I saw on your job description that you seem to be looking for someone who can do similar work for you. Your company is in a similar stage to my last employer when they hired me in terms of size and growth. So its something I could help with immediately in this role.

What Is A Phone Interview

A phone interview, or phone screening, is an interviewing process that recruiters sometimes use as a way to evaluate a candidate’s fit for the job. Success in a phone interview often leads to an in-person interview, and hiring managers may use a phone screening to eliminate unqualified candidates.

Typically, phone interviews are scheduled calls from the interviewer, but sometimes candidates are required to initiate the phone interview by calling the recruiter at a predetermined date and time. For instance, candidates may be expected to call a specific office number to initiate the interview if it involves a group interview with several managers, or if the interview takes place within a conferencing platform.

Other times, interviewers are the ones to initiate the call from their office phones, typically due to the convenience of scheduling interviews during working hours.

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Why Do You Want This Job

Recruiters might ask this question during a phone interview to understand more about your current work situation. When explaining why you want the job, remember to stay positive about your current employer if you currently have a job.

Example answer:I noticed that the parts of my previous positions I enjoyed the most were those that aligned with whats listed in your job description, like creative writing and building relationships with stakeholders. While I am grateful for my time at my current company, I feel that its time to move into a role more tailored to my talents where I can continue to grow as a PR professional.

Preparing For A Phone Interview

Job Interview Script Creator

Usually, during phone interviews, employers are seeking general, high-level information about you and your background to see if they should advance you to the next step in the hiring process. You should be prepared to talk about why youre looking for a job, why youre interested in this specific job and company, and your background.

Each employer has a different set of questions for phone interviews, but there are several commonly asked questions. Below are several phone interview example questions and answers you can use as inspiration when preparing for your interview.

Image description

  • Why are you applying for this position?

  • Why do you want this job?

  • Tell me what you know about the role

  • Why do you want to work here?

  • Why are you looking for jobs?

  • What are you passionate about?

  • What are your salary expectations?

  • Are you interviewing with other companies?

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How To Start A Conversation On A Telephone Interview

Related

Once you make a first impression, there’s no opportunity to change it. This is especially true in a phone interview conversation because the caller must rely on only the sound of your voice and the words you speak to evaluate you as a job candidate. From the moment you start a phone interview, be polite, confident and alert. Ensure a successful telephonic interview conversation by starting it on a positive note. Studies have shown that the first 30 seconds of an interview, in person or on the phone, matter when it comes to selecting a candidate for a job. Confidence and calmness come across during a phone interview conversation, so try to project those traits as much as possible.

How To Understand Over The Phone That A Candidate Is Not Suitable

The main task of a telephone interview is to weed out candidates who are not suitable. But at the same time, there is a difficulty, because you do not see the job seeker and are extremely limited in time. What to do? Several markers will allow you to weed out the wrong people, or at least treat them with caution.

  • Only financial motivation. If the job seeker talks too much about money and is only interested in it.
  • Lack of motivation at all. If a person himself does not know why he submitted a resume.
  • Discrepancies. If the resume contains some fact or figure, and the candidate contradicts himself.
  • Doesnt know what position he wants to work in.

Also, listen to yourself. If you feel that something is wrong with this candidate, analyze all the information again, try to find the cause of doubt.

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Tips To Conduct A Phone Interview

  • Inform your candidates of the specific day and time that the job interview will take place. Also, let them know how long it might take and tell them the name of the phone interviewer. You can send candidates a phone interview email invitation so that they have all the necessary information in hand.
  • Before a phone interview, prepare your list of questions and make sure they are clear. Create an interview script if helpful. You dont want to spend time explaining your questions. Try to keep the discussion flowing.
  • Block any noisy distractions during the telephone interview. Choose a quiet corner in the office or a private room and a good set of headphones. Try a sound check beforehand to ensure your equipment operates properly.
  • Ask follow-up questions, if you need clarifications, or ask an off-script question if you notice something interesting about the candidate. But, make sure your interview doesnt take too long. Phone interviews are useful for an initial introduction.
  • Keep brief notes during an interview and more detailed notes after each interview. Youll find these notes helpful when you want to compare answers among a large group of candidates.

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