Interview Guidelines for Phone Interviews



A client interview is similar to a blind date. You don’t know exactly what to expect. To assist you in your interview, we have prepared some helpful information. Please take time to read it. Your recruiter will be contacting you to provide pertinent interview information, answer questions and assist you in preparing for the interview.

LIST OF INTERVIEW DO’s & DON’TS

1. Be positive and energetic. Smile - they can hear it over the phone!
2. Clear, concise communication skills are a must!
3. Be Available. Make sure you're able to answer the phone.
4. Have your resume. Have a copy handy, to reflect your skills.
5. Show excitement for the role. Upon completion of the interview, thank interviewer for their time and express your strong interest in the opening.
6. Don’t chew gum
7. Don’t use obscene language
8. Don’t talk badly about past employers
9. Don’t talk about personal problems or your personal life
10. Don’t be arrogant or a “know it all”
11. Don’t answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no” – always elaborate. Give concise qualitative answers such as “I have worked with Java for over 5 years with 80% of my time spent in design and development of applications. Due to my extensive knowledge of web based applications, I serve as a mentor within our team.”
12. Don’t forget to sell yourself – talk about past achievements and accomplishments
13. Never ask the interviewer questions about flex hours, vacation, holidays, breaks or sick time.
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POSSIBLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Study this list and prepare answers to these questions.

What do you know about our company?

Go to the company’s website, Hoovers.com and Wetfeet.com before the interview. Be prepared to recite the highlights of the company.
What are your goals?
Talk about short term or immediate goals such as “I’m looking for a company to use my communication and team building skills.”
What are your strengths?
Place an emphasis on the skills and abilities that this particular position requires.



What are your weaknesses?
Minimize your weaknesses and emphasize your strengths. Only address professional attributes – never personal traits. The answer to this would be something like, “ I am weak in working with xxx call tracking software but have extensive experience working with xxx and xxx call tracking software which is similar and I should have no trouble picking it up quickly.”

Why should we select you for this job?
Summarize your experience and explain what you can bring to the job that is uniquely different than other applicants. This is your time to give your sales pitch. Based on the job description and any other information you may have gathered during the interview explain why you are the ideal person for the job.

Why did you leave your last position or why are you looking to make a move from your current position?
If you are unemployed, tell them your reasons for leaving your last job in a positive manner. Never badmouth a prior employer. If you are employed, focus on what you are looking for in a new position explaining that your current one does not offer those expectations.

Tell me about yourself.
Keep this short. Ask the client what they would like to know. Focus on professional experience. Steer clear of talking about your personal life or situation. Talk about past experiences and proven success. Mention strengths and abilities. Tell the interviewer why you are interested in this position.

If you were an animal what would you be?
This is a behavioral type question. It can be tricky and you will need to know the type of personality the interviewer is looking for. A lion or other large predator would be an answer indicating an aggressive personality while a more docile creature such as a rabbit or mouse would be indicative of a passive personality.

PREPARE A LIST OF QUESTIONS

When the inevitable client question “Do you have any questions?” arrives, be prepared with at least three to five questions. This shows that you are able to communicate.

Some samples questions are:

• What do you see as the major challenges of this assignment?
• What types of projects do you anticipate over the next six months?
• What do you envision as the ideal candidate for this job?
• What attributes make people successful in your organization?
• When will you be making a decision?
• What is the next step?
• When do you want someone to start?
• What else can I tell you about myself?



Contact Information:

Ryan Mac Donald
Senior Technical Recruiter

Saicon Consultants
913-553-2667
rmacdonald@saiconinc.com

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