Phone interview tomorrow - need advice

[mazeroth]

I have a phone interview tomorrow morning with an HR rep for the company I'm trying to work for. Any pointers? Anything they like to ask that might catch me by surprise?

Also, every interview I've been in (three in my life) they always ask if I have any questions. I'm good friends with someone that works at this company that does the same job and I know everything, I believe, there is to know about the job, thanks to him. Though, I think it may look bad that I don't have any questions. What's a solid question to ask?

Thanks in advance for any help. I'm studying some of my answers to typical questions as I type this!

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

What field?

 

[mazeroth]

Science

 

[Matthiasa]

Ask him the questions for stuff the stuff that you wouldn't have known if it wasn't for your friend working there? Since its just an HR rep it really can't be that in depth, so its best to just do what is expected.
Also don't pretend to know stuff you don't, that usually has a way of coming back to you and.... Yeah just don't.

 

[chusteczka]

I think that since he will be talking with an HR rep, his field is of little importance.

People often recommend to take the time to think of a proper answer before replying but over the phone this can seem as if the person is researching the answer on the internet. My advice, do not take too long to answer any questions.

As far as questions for them, there must be something you do not know. Who you will be working for/with? What project they consider you for? What your daily schedule will be like? What they will expect of you? These sort of things.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Research the company beforehand.

Questions to ask could be around company culture, any possible current events from the company(ie. How a new acquisition may affect the company?), more detail about the position and who/depts it may interact with, hierarchy of the dept for the position, etc....

Also, make sure to have a copy of your resume and job description on hand for quick reference.

 

[alfa147x]

Wear a suit.

 

[Printer Bandit]

Wear a suit.

ditto. dress up as if you were going in person to the interview.

 

[hans030390]

Ask them what they're gonna do when the ants crawl on their ice cream.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Just ask them questions about the company, like the culture and what not. The backgrounds of the people you will be working with. Asking questions is your chance to establish a "personal" relationship with HR and provide you with a little more character.

 

[SSSnail]

My phone interviews have always been in my boxers, I was scratching too. But, if you have enough confidence you can deliver a Webex in boxers.

Ask them if they know if they know the word.

 

[Pardus]

I have a phone interview tomorrow morning with an HR rep for the company I'm trying to work for. Any pointers? Anything they like to ask that might catch me by surprise?

Also, every interview I've been in (three in my life) they always ask if I have any questions. I'm good friends with someone that works at this company that does the same job and I know everything, I believe, there is to know about the job, thanks to him. Though, I think it may look bad that I don't have any questions. What's a solid question to ask?

Thanks in advance for any help. I'm studying some of my answers to typical questions as I type this!

-Research the company, find something positive they did and was in the news, you can mention that at some point if the conversation allows it... like oh i heard Company XYZ recently donated $10,000 to help the whatever
-Use a landline, not a cell phone, dropped call or low battery doesn't make a good impression
-Close all windows, you to eliminate as much outside noise as possible.
-Keep a glass of water with you in case you get dry mouth/nervous
-Don't say "yea" or "yep", if you sound ignorant on the phone, no one will hire you.

I did a few phone interviews and eliminated one guy who put me on hold to take another call. Another guy actually kept saying "uh huh" over and over, annoying the piss out of me.

 

[Zorkorist]

My phone interviews have always been in my boxers, I was scratching too. But, if you have enough confidence you can deliver a Webex in boxers.

Ask them if they know if they know the word.

Everyone knows that the bird is the word.

Just have confidence.

-John

 

[Zorkorist]

For a question, ask them when can you start?

Something that shows eager, ready to go.

Will I have my own office?

-John

 

[Koing]

Advice:
Don't BS. If you do not know, TELL THEM YOU DO NOT KNOW.

I've interivewed 4 people over the past 2 weeks. My biggest single pet peeve is when people make up BS. I can see through your BS.

DO NOT INTERRUPT someone when talking. That REALLY annoyed me when that person did that a bunch of time.

Research the company, their website, wikipedia, current news if they are big.

Questions
Ask them how the role came about?
Whats the company culture there like? Suits to work? Do they do charity days?

 

[Farang]

If you want to know what company culture is like, ask the rep what they're wearing. Its sort of a casual question but you know they're at work so you'll get an idea of what is acceptable, and it'll help you when you go in person to interview.

 

[Vette73]

I work HR and you need to have your mind set.

Now clear your mind right before the call. Make sure you don't think about sex and don’t say sex. Even if the answer to their question is sex don’t say sex. Don’t even think about sex if sex is brought up. Sex is wrong on the phone, even though sex sells. Sex is just something you don’t think about or say.

Got it, don’t say sex, think sex, or even let sex get in your head. Phone sex is out, so no sex while the sex interview is going on. OK?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Be calm, jot down a few notes about skills you have that you'd like to highlight. Review the job description and think of how your experience plays into their needs and be prepared to discuss. Phone interviews are just a way of weeding out the candidates who are full of shit and getting to the second phase which is the interview.

Good luck.

 

[rudeguy]

my advice is to not wears pants. Best to be relaxed.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Do not Google answers to technical questions. No matter how softly you type they will know and it makes you look very bad.

 

[KentState]

If she sounds hot, ask her what she's wearing. I would also not fap at the beginning and hold off until the questions get a little more interesting. You don't want to climax early and leave a bad impression.