After you sent out your well prepared CV, what thing that you are looking forward? A notice of a face to face interview, right? Please wait a moment, there is a very important part missed by you. The telephone interview. What’s more, sometimes you even didn’t realize that you just did a telephone interview. Robert Parkinson, CEO and Founder of RMG Selection on CRI talked about how to do a telephone interview.

Listen to the original program (in part 2)

 

1. Should I prepare for telephone interview?

Many reasons……….here are some of the most important:

• 90% tel interview happens before the face to face interview. It can be a double check with the follow interviews. If you think the face to face interview important, then the tel interview does.
• F to F interview happens when you know. But the tel interview happens suddenly (through it you can know when and where to go for FF interview)… So it’s even more important that you have prepared for tel interview
• The conditions when you have the tel interview are not certain – in a noisy environment or any urgent situations.
• You can only use your voice and saying to react. There is no eye-contact or body language.
• It’s shorter. Less time and chance to show yourself.
• And easy to be ignore – a notice call could be a telephone interview too
• A small part tel interviews happen when the location or time cannot be matched well. This type of tel interviews is almost same with face to face interview. We will discuss in other issues.

2. What questions will HR ask in the telephone interview before we meet?

Questions can be:

• What’s your current situation – on job or leave?
• Why do you want to leave current position?/ Why did you leave your last company?
• Why do you want to join us?
• Your understanding to the position
• Tips of answering via phone: simple & accurate & show your listening

Do:

• Prepare pen and paper while talk
• Stand up – yes, your voice will be more energetic when you stand to talk
• Be prepared for all of common questions
• Pay special attention on your voice. Show a positive, dedicated and friendly attitude.
• Use gesture while talk in phone – your voice will be more natural when you do that. The more natural you are, the more HR will like you.
• Use simple and clear words

Don’t:

• Don’t treat it as a cheat – even the HR say it is. It’s a interview and can decide if you apply successfully.
• Don’t answer in a noisy place. It’s very annoying to call somebody when you have to repeat every sentence 3 times
• Don’t answer in a place with bad signal.
• Don’t speak too quick – make sure others can hear you very clear
• Don’t forget to double check all of key information that you two mentioned in the call
• Don’t forget a thank you email to follow up with HR even it’s just a notice call.

An example of polite way to answer notice call:

HR: Good morning, are you Mr.XYZ?

Mr.XYZ: Yes, it’s me. Who is calling me?

HR: Here’s HR department of AAA company

Mr: Nice to talk with you! May I go to a quitter place? (and find pen & paper)

HR: Yes please.

HR: I’m calling you to invite you for a job interview tomorrow. Will you be convenient from 2~6 pm tomorrow?

Mr.XYZ: It’s good for me too. Would you please give me the address detail? I can write down now.

HR: Sure. The address is XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mr.XYZ: OK. Let me double check. Is the place XXXXXXXXXXXXXX? Is the time 2 to 6 pm?

HR: Correct.

Mr.XYZ: Thank you. Do you think anything I should bring with me together tomorrow? Like a printed CV or certificates?

HR: No. Just make sure you come on time. We will have a group interview.

Mr.XYZ: No problem. I’ll be there on time!

3. If it is just a notice call, shall I ask money in via phone?

• Those questions are usually asked by foreigners or Chinese graduates from overseas
• Don’t ask money, especially when you applied a position in Chinese company

4. What are the things that you must clarify with HR during the call?

• For Chinese, better to confirm wearing requirements

• For foreigners, better to ask traffic near the company and walking time between the nearest bus/subway station to the company.