What Qualities Are They Looking For In An Employee
What is the employers ideal candidate? Do they need a strong personality to take charge or someone that can go with the flow and communicates well with others?
Any insider information the recruiter can give will help you get a step ahead of your competition.
If you havent worked with a recruiter before check out our article on the common questions people ask about recruiters.
How To Prepare For The Phone Interview
If you think you can prepare for your phone interview a few minutes before the call, think again.
As a former talent recruiter and current VP of people for M1 Finance, Maria Selvaggio can always tell when a candidate is winging it. Their answers wont be as concise and they will often trip up on questions about the company.
You can tell when someone is prepared, Selvaggio said. They know a little bit about what you do as a company, theyve got three questions prepared and theyre able to communicate .
Most phone interviews cover three topics your background, your achievements and challenges, and what you can bring to the company. Before your interview, you should review the job description and come up with examples from your own career for each requirement bulleted, said Margaret Buj, who works as an independent interview coach, as well as a tech talent recruiter for Typeform.
She also suggests having a story for every item on your resume. The interviewer doesnt need you to repeat it line by line, but having stories ready can add more context to your accomplishments.
You can tell when someone is prepared. They know a little bit about what you do as a company, theyve got three questions prepared and theyre able to communicate .
But perhaps the most important thing you can do to prepare for your phone interview is practice. Type out your answers and then rehearse them in front of the mirror or with your family and friends, Selvaggio said.
What Media Do You Consume To Stay Atop The Recruiting Industry
Recruiting is an ever-changing industry that requires constant adoption of new tools and techniques. Top recruiters can adapt to those changes quickly because they stay informed about the industry they work in.
It doesnt matter so much what publications, blogs, or newsletters a recruiter reads or which podcasts they listen to as long as theyre consistently engaged with content that gets them thinking about how to become a better recruiter. A good follow-up interview question to ask here is what recent industry developments they find interesting. This not only tells you how plugged in they are to industry news but also allows you to hear their perspectives on innovative new recruiting concepts and trends.
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Why Are You Applying For This Position
Another common question, Why are you applying for this position? or What about this job interests you? tells employers whether or not you are serious and have a genuine interest in pursuing the position. To answer this question, use details listed in the job description that made you want to apply. This can be duties listed in the job description, details about the company or something about the job that aligns with your career goals.
Example answer:Ive been working for several years on gaining skills in your industry. I feel I have the knowledge, skills and qualifications youre looking for, along with a unique perspective coming from a different industry. I am passionate about working in the environmental protection space, and it is time for me to make a change. I feel your company is the perfect place for me to do that.
Read more: Reasons for Applying for This Job
Questions To Ask During A Phone Interview With A Recruiter
Related: Why You Should Ask Questions in an Interview
Jenn explains the importance of asking questions during an interview in order to learn about the job and showcase the value you could add to the role.
The phone interview is an important part of the job application process. While the recruiter typically asks questions about the candidate’s qualifications, the candidate may ask questions for the recruiter to answer as well. If you would like to seek more information from the hiring manager, then asking questions during the conversation might be helpful. In this article, we explain the benefits of asking questions during a phone interview with a recruiter and example inquiries you can make.
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What Are Your Location Preferences
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Location preferences used to be about the city or region where you wanted to work. Now, with the increased acceptance of remote and flexible working arrangements, recruiters want to understand your expectations around where and how you work.
The location of the position is one of the biggest hot buttons right now, says Steffey. If a candidate hears that the position does not offer a standard remote working environment but continues to ask questions related to this, we pass on them because it causes problems down the road. For traditional office-based roles, Steffey says candidates should live a reasonable, commutable distance to the employers location. Those who dont should be prepared to explain what arrangements theyre willing to make in order to have a commute that doesnt create strain down the road.
Tip: Be upfront and honest about your working location preferences. If you dont, issues often arise for both the employee and employer.
Question : How Much Does A Job Like This Pay On Average
Inquiring about pay gives you a salary number that the company is willing to compensate for the position. Not only do you get to know how much you might get paid, but it also lets you assess the value. Value related to job responsibilities. This information also allows you to consider and compare other offers .
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Whats Your Biggest Accomplishment
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Recruiters want to get a sense of how effective youve been in your recent roles before pitching you as a candidate to their clients. Your work should ideally have had a direct impact on your broader organizations priorities and ambitions, which is an indication of your future impact.
When we ask this question, we want to probe the candidate’s track record for adding value and creating a positive impact, says Sarah Doughty, Director of Recruitment of Talentlab who recruits within the high tech sector. Asking candidates to explain how they supported the business further validates their understanding of the true goals of the work theyre doing.
Tip: Prepare examples of key accomplishments including the context, actions, and results, ideally those that illustrate skills relevant to your target role.
Questions About Life As A Student Athlete
- If I am having trouble with my academics, is there any tutoring or other support available to student athletes?
- How do your players balance academics with athletics?
- What is the team GPA?
- What do the players major in?
- Are there any players majoring in my major?
- How many players graduate?
- If there is a conflict with academics and athletics, how is it handled?
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Question : What Is The Company Culture Like
Make sure to ask this question. Every company has a system based on work ethics and culture, which varies from one organization to another. Google does away with formal wear while the company in question might be mandating that you dress formally. Formal wear is just one aspect. Knowing the principles that the company relies on and how it relates to your future work will help you make an informed decision.
Whats Your Timeline For Moving On
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Aside from your qualifications, recruiters want to understand when you would be available to start in a new role to determine whether you could fill a role within a hiring managers desired timeline.
According to Britton, candidates who are clear about their timing allow her to put out feelers for relevant opportunities that match that timing. It can be challenging if someones wishy-washy about dates because many clients have urgent needs, and it may make me question how serious they are about the job search.
Tip: Be ready to share your ideal timing for a career move including your notice period and earliest potential start date.
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What Is Your Companys Relationship With The Hiring Company And How Long Has Your Firm Worked With Them
This will tell you more about whether the hiring company trusts this recruiter and is likely to hire from them.
These are all questions you should ask a recruiter that works for a staffing or recruiting agency.
Youll learn a lot of key facts, and youll also get a sense of their personality and confidence based on how they answer.
In the end, trust your gut and work with a few good recruiters that seem to enjoy their work and know it well.
What Kind Of Role Are You Looking For
Recruiters perspective: We want people who are going to be in a role that they will enjoy and that theyre going to stay in for a long time. Being really specific about what you like and dislike and the role you see yourself in is better for everybody in the long run. It also gives the recruiter an area to focus on to give you your next steps.
How to answer: Ive had people who will go through the job description bullet by bullet, but thats not what were looking for. answers that impress me are when a candidate goes the extra mile and shows that they know a lot about our company. They might reference a quote from an interview our CEO did and why it piqued their interest in the role, or reference a company value. Its impressive when people can share an example of how they embody a company value and why it speaks to them.
Maria Selvaggio, VP of people at M1 Finance
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Whos The Ideal Candidate For This Role
Want a leg-up in the interview process? Ask the recruiter to describe the companyâs ideal candidate. Sure, you could just reference the job posting, but the recruiter will likely have more intel. Jot down plenty of notes and ask follow-up questions. Youâll be able to use this information to determine if this role is a good fit for you and even shape your answers for later interview questions .
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What Challenges Has The Company Recently Faced
Related: âWhat Has Been a Challenge for This Team in the Past?â
Jenn explains the strategy behind asking âWhat Has Been a Challenge for This Team in the Past?â including what you could learn and what it tells the interviewers about you.
Knowing recent challenges can help you explain how you can make positive contributions to the company. For example, the recruiter describes how they’ve struggled to engage a target audience of a younger demographic. In your follow-up remark or next interview, you emphasize your experience and success engaging the younger generation on social media, further showcasing your qualifications. Also, future interviewers may ask you why they should hire you, so you can use the response to this question to prepare your answer.
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What Are You Passionate About
Understanding what you are passionate about or what motivates you might help employers decide whether you might be a good fit for the position. If you are passionate about helping people, for example, and are interviewing for a largely independent role with little interaction with others, the position might not be a good fit for you. To answer this question, think of broad ways you are motivated both in and out of work. Consider how your passions might align with the role.
Example answer:Im driven every day by the ability to create beautiful, innovative experiences for users all over the world. There is so much helpful, valuable digital information on the web. Designing it in a way that is easy for people to consume makes me feel like Im truly making a difference for people to access whatever it is that helps them live to their true potentialeven if only in a small way.
Read more: Interview Question: What Are You Passionate About?
How Long Has The Job Been Available
This follow-up question will give you an insight into how valuable the position is. It will also serve as an indication of where you stand in the interview process.
If the job only became vacant recently, you will be one of the first people the interviewer sees. However, the downside of this is that the interview process could last several weeks.
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How Long Has The Position Been Open
This is a great question to ask recruiters because it will give you a sense of how the search has been going, how many candidates are in the companys pipeline, etc.
If a position has been open for a year, its tipping you off to the fact that the hiring manager is either extremely picky, or nobody wants the job.
This is usually a red flag either way. It could also mean that the hiring manager doesnt really know what he/she is looking for and keeps changing the requirements.
At the same time if a position has only been open for one week, you can expect a delay in the hiring process even if you interview right away. Hiring managers usually like to see two or three candidates face to face before making an offer.
Walk Me Through Your Resume
Recruiters perspective: This is a simple way for the recruiter to learn more about you and to see what you think is most important about your experience.
How to answer: You should use this time to explain your relevant experience and the skills that make you qualified for this role. Id recommend structuring your answer in three parts. The first part is a summary of your experience: Im an account manager with 10 years of experience in the software industry. Then give them a brief overview of how your career developed so you can talk them through your resume. I wouldnt repeat line by line whats on there, but Id focus on what youve learned and achieved in past roles. At the end, tell them why youre interested in that position.
Margaret Buj, tech talent acquisition at Typeform
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Do They Even Remember Applying For The Role
I have literally phone screened thousands of candidates over the last 20+ years! The first question I always ask during a phone screen is whether or not they can actually recall applying for my role. You can tell a lot from how they respond to this question. After all theres a huge difference between a potential candidate being able to talk about your specific job ad or someone saying gosh last week I applied for about 20 jobs and I guess yours was probably one of them!
Question : How Long Has The Position Been Open
This question lets you know about two things: demand for the job and the strictness of candidate assessment. If the job has been open for over a month, there is a high probability of people not being interested in the job. Alternatively, it could also mean that the candidates fail to do the interviews due to strict interview conditions. Then again, you might get to know that the job has been open for only a week. In that case, you do not get any idea about the competition for the job or the interviewer’s meticulousness. And get to know how many candidates have been interviewed. This could give you a sense of how others are perceiving the role. If the position has been open too long, this could be a bad sign.
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Can You Share A Story That Speaks To Who You Are From A Values Perspective
Question nominated by: Sharon Hulce, president and CEO of Employment Resource Group, Inc.
Your companys core values should inform everything you do, so its crucial to hire employees who align with them. They dont have to match up entirely, but if a candidate holds completely contradictory values, your company may not be a good fit for them.
The key is to be prepared, she says, and only discuss personal situations or characteristics as they relate to the candidates work ethic and the value that they would provide to the prospective employer.”
How Often Do You Communicate With This Hiring Manager
This is similar to the question above. Asking recruiters this question will tell you even more information about how closely they work with this company, and therefore how much they can influence the process and help you get the job!
Youll want to listen for clues about how often, and how they communicate.
For example, do they have the hiring manager on instant messenger? Or do they exchange one email per month and barely know each other?
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Who Will Be Interviewing Me
If the recruiter has made it clear you’ve been invited in for the interview, ask about your interviewers. If you’re chatting with an internal recruiter, they should be able to rattle off some names and job titles. With this list of names and/or titles in hand, you can better understand the types of questions you’ll be asked.
You can also spend some time on LinkedIn exploring these professionals’ backgrounds. It sounds creepy, but this can help quickly establish a more personal connection. For example, knowing ahead of time that someone started their career as a newspaper reporter just like you! will get the conversation rolling.
