Phone Interview
Phone Interview
(OP)
Guys,
I will be participating in a phone interview for a potential industrial engineering position for a major automotive manufacturer. My background is in computer component manufacturing, but I'm interested in changing fields and automotive is one of them.
I'm new to the phone interviewing process and wondered if anyone has any tips, or suggestions on how best to prepare for this interview.
Thanks for any help.
I will be participating in a phone interview for a potential industrial engineering position for a major automotive manufacturer. My background is in computer component manufacturing, but I'm interested in changing fields and automotive is one of them.
I'm new to the phone interviewing process and wondered if anyone has any tips, or suggestions on how best to prepare for this interview.
Thanks for any help.





RE: Phone Interview
Basically, treat this as you would a walk-in interview. Everything you do at home does get conveyed to the interviewer either through voice, background noise, or silence. The interview can tell what you are doing on the other side of the line. If you act like you are at the interviewer's site, then the interview will sound better.
--Scott
For some pleasure reading, the Round Table recommends FAQ731-376
RE: Phone Interview
RE: Phone Interview
You're certainly not going to get a job by purely having a phone interview as companies want to see you in person to make sure you haven't got 2 heads, although affirmative action for 2 headed people will surely come.
You have to think why they want to initially interview you over the phone. The reasons are probably to check your resume with you, ie. to see if you're telling lies, secondly to see if you sound like Mr Bean, so that they can have a good laugh later when they play back the tape, and lastly to see if you sound human.
Being human in an interview is difficult as a lot of people present cardboard cut-out images of themselves and sit grinning at you as if they're auditioning for a part in the Shining. So unless you're Mr Bean or feel comfortable with sadistic tendencies, or both, then being yourself should work fine.
RE: Phone Interview
Be prepared to answer the typical questions encountered... how did you handle such and such situation... give examples of... etc..
do your research on the company and it's services / products, especially since you appear to be changing fields...
relax and be youself, be confident and answer the questions with confidence and to the point -- don't ramble -- their time is important too, respect that..
RE: Phone Interview
One thing different about phone interview than normal interview is you can use notes to your hearts content.
In addition to having resume handy, I would jot down a few lists:
1 - things you want to tell them about yourself/your experience if the opportunity presents itself
2 - list of questions about the company and the position.
You may not be able to get through those lists but at least if the opportunity presents itself you will be able to take advantage.
Also keep the pencil/paper handy as the conversation goes so if something comes into your mind while they're talking you can jot down a note to address it when the time is right.
RE: Phone Interview
--Scott
For some pleasure reading, the Round Table recommends FAQ731-376
RE: Phone Interview
RE: Phone Interview
RE: Phone Interview
RE: Phone Interview
RE: Phone Interview
Make sure you have a few questions to ask about the company at the end of the conversation.
RE: Phone Interview
Being an at-will state for employment I guess their risk if I didn't work out wasn't all that much.