Posted on Jun 6, 2016
Got a phone interview tomorrow (1 wk earlier than expected), need some good advice. Whatchya got RP?
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I saw a previous post from @MSG Robert Baker dated 11 Jan 2015 on Phone Interview Tips: Ace Your Phone Interview. It gave four pointers and only 3 people chimed in. Anyone else got any input?
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Just finished. Overall it went a lot smoother than I thought. Regardless of outcome, it was a good experience as I haven’t been in an interview since 1993’ish.
@CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR … Based on the inflection on the voice of the Executive Director, she appeared to like your question “What would you say the most challenging aspect of the job?”.
Once again, thank you all very much for your advice. Now I’m off to write “Thank You” emails.
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* * * * * * * * * * UPDATE - 080922TJUN2016 * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Just finished. Overall it went a lot smoother than I thought. Regardless of outcome, it was a good experience as I haven’t been in an interview since 1993’ish.
@CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR … Based on the inflection on the voice of the Executive Director, she appeared to like your question “What would you say the most challenging aspect of the job?”.
Once again, thank you all very much for your advice. Now I’m off to write “Thank You” emails.
Interview
Civilian Career
Employment
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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1) Good luck!
2) Research the company. They may ask you questions in regards to how you see yourself fitting in.
2) Research the company. They may ask you questions in regards to how you see yourself fitting in.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I completed a phone interview last week and the first think they did after the typical tell me about yourself question was tell me about our company. Luckily I had skimmed their website and had more than a general idea.
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I did quite a few phone interviews as a Army Civilian manager. Phone interviews are difficult because you are working with only one of your senses (hearing) so your communication is limited. Here's a few things to keep in mind:
-Make sure you are in a quiet environment because background noise can be very distracting to the interviewer
-Don't speak too fast. If there's any lack of fidelity in the comm system, speaking fast may make your words much harder to understand. However, don't speak artificially slow.
-There may be a tendency to talk over one another. If you're unsure, assume it's always the interviewer's turn to speak.
-If you need a few seconds to write something down or cough or sneeze, just say "excuse me a second." It's okay.
-Acronyms can be a killer in a phone interview. Without visual cues you may not know that you are essentially "speaking Greek" to your interviewer. Start out using as few acronyms as possible. If the interviewer is in sync with your military background, they should let you know it's okay to use common acronyms, i.e., TDY.
-If you didn't understand the question, tell the interviewer.
-If communication with the interviewer is extremely difficult because of communication system problems or the interviewer's language or attitude, complete the interview as best you can, but call their HR department as soon as possible and discuss the situation. You may get a second chance for an interview with a different person.
Good luck. Send us some feedback.
-Make sure you are in a quiet environment because background noise can be very distracting to the interviewer
-Don't speak too fast. If there's any lack of fidelity in the comm system, speaking fast may make your words much harder to understand. However, don't speak artificially slow.
-There may be a tendency to talk over one another. If you're unsure, assume it's always the interviewer's turn to speak.
-If you need a few seconds to write something down or cough or sneeze, just say "excuse me a second." It's okay.
-Acronyms can be a killer in a phone interview. Without visual cues you may not know that you are essentially "speaking Greek" to your interviewer. Start out using as few acronyms as possible. If the interviewer is in sync with your military background, they should let you know it's okay to use common acronyms, i.e., TDY.
-If you didn't understand the question, tell the interviewer.
-If communication with the interviewer is extremely difficult because of communication system problems or the interviewer's language or attitude, complete the interview as best you can, but call their HR department as soon as possible and discuss the situation. You may get a second chance for an interview with a different person.
Good luck. Send us some feedback.
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Good advice here already.
I like to have a list of questions for them as well as them asking me questions. Ask about benefits obviously. But there are other questions to ask as well. Parking is important to me. I like to park in a ramp if I can. Not downtown 5 blocks away in an unsecured lot.
Also, be prepared for the typical interview questions like:
1. What are your strengths?
2. What are your weaknesses
3. What would your friends say about you? How would they describe you?
4. Describe a situation where you were in conflict with a boss (or with a coworker). How did you resolve it?
5. What are your goals for this job?
6. What are your long term career goals?
7. How long do you plan to stay at this job if you are hired?
8. How do you deal with stress?
9. What is your management style?
10. How do you deal with conflict with a coworker?
11. Why do you want to work for this company?
12. What is your definition of success?
13. How does your definition of success align with ours?
14. What would you do if you were harassed by a member of the opposite sex? The same sex?
15. Describe a situation where you added to a project or product.
16. Were you a member of any committees at your last job? Did you accomplish anything while in them? Give us an example.
17. Give us an example of when you last made a difference?
Ive been asked all of these questions and more during interviews.
By the way you should read and memorize their mission statement.
If its a healthcare job make sure you have a definition for "caring."
Someone here recommended asking open ended questions. Thats good advice if you can word them. You get more info from them if you do that. Specific questions are obviously needed for certain topics.
Do your homework tonight. Be prepared for tomorrow. And just be yourself. Remember you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
I like to have a list of questions for them as well as them asking me questions. Ask about benefits obviously. But there are other questions to ask as well. Parking is important to me. I like to park in a ramp if I can. Not downtown 5 blocks away in an unsecured lot.
Also, be prepared for the typical interview questions like:
1. What are your strengths?
2. What are your weaknesses
3. What would your friends say about you? How would they describe you?
4. Describe a situation where you were in conflict with a boss (or with a coworker). How did you resolve it?
5. What are your goals for this job?
6. What are your long term career goals?
7. How long do you plan to stay at this job if you are hired?
8. How do you deal with stress?
9. What is your management style?
10. How do you deal with conflict with a coworker?
11. Why do you want to work for this company?
12. What is your definition of success?
13. How does your definition of success align with ours?
14. What would you do if you were harassed by a member of the opposite sex? The same sex?
15. Describe a situation where you added to a project or product.
16. Were you a member of any committees at your last job? Did you accomplish anything while in them? Give us an example.
17. Give us an example of when you last made a difference?
Ive been asked all of these questions and more during interviews.
By the way you should read and memorize their mission statement.
If its a healthcare job make sure you have a definition for "caring."
Someone here recommended asking open ended questions. Thats good advice if you can word them. You get more info from them if you do that. Specific questions are obviously needed for certain topics.
Do your homework tonight. Be prepared for tomorrow. And just be yourself. Remember you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
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PVT Amos A.
MSG (Join to see) - MSG, Ive actually been asked almost every singe one of those questions in an interview!! It helps, I think to have those answers in your mind.
Either way, good luck in your interview, and thanks for your service-
Either way, good luck in your interview, and thanks for your service-
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MSG (Join to see)
PVT Amos A.
6. What are your long term career goals?
10. How do you deal with conflict with a coworker?
I "feel" like I nailed #6 and answered satisfactorily with #10. Thanks for the heads up!
6. What are your long term career goals?
10. How do you deal with conflict with a coworker?
I "feel" like I nailed #6 and answered satisfactorily with #10. Thanks for the heads up!
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