Corporate and telephonic interviews

Interview is the way a company knows and selects its work force to help it grow in a better way. Corporate sector prefers its first interview through a call rather than inviting a candidate for a real meeting, which saves money and time for both candidate and the company. Therefore, this is advisable to groom yourself in a way that you can impress the interviewer with your words without any real appearance. The way you answer your call may turn out to be ‘call of success’ for you. Let us discus further about it as the jobs these days are also dependent upon your telephonic/online communication skills.

You feel nervous 

Some times yes, mostly while the candidates are fresher and have no idea of questions, which they may face during a telephonic interview. Let me tell you nervousness is the only reason for your rejection else, all they ask are a few formal and routine questions to know about your basics and test your communication skill otherwise, rest is mere formality at this stage. They simply cannot ask too technical that would need you a laptop or a full presentation to describe the details.

Be specific and to the point

Some people think that being over smart can do the trick for them and go overboard, that is one big mistake and needs to avoid. Sober people win the race in the end with logical answers and confidence to support their answers. The one on the other end is an experienced person who knows his job; in fact, he is master of handling human resources and work force. Please do not offer him a chance to laugh at the cost of a rejection. 

I can tell you with my own experiences that I have met some over smart guys during such interviews those were good at guessing game and would answer couple of unasked questions disturbing the whole process. Generally, the interviewers have a list of questions in front of them and rate a candidate according to those questions to a particular candidate. Also, please note that an interviewer has limited time for a particular candidate so let him do his work his own way. You are supposed to answer his questions only, do it in a proper way.

There are few candidates, who trying to show their knowledge on the subject exceed the limit of question and go well beyond the basic subject, that is sure way of asking for trouble. The interviewer has his own limit of tolerating or maybe he is pressed for time, so beware. Never exaggerate your achievements at this stage because you are bound to face the music while the reality will speak for itself on a later stage of verification. Let us face the interview on a more realistic ground-

Here are few points while you are on a telephonic interview

1- Keep your resume besides you for ready reference

2- Keep details of your present company with you so you do not miss a point at crucial juncture

3- Keep jotting important points on a notepad

4- Select a room that has no signal problem 

5- Your battery of mobile fully charged

6- Try to be as stress free as possible, you are only going to answer a few question from a friendly person.

During the voice interview

1- Avoid eating during interview but you can have some water to keep your voice clear.

2- Keep your cool and do not try to fake your pronunciation that may spoil the whole interview.

3- Let the interviewer complete his question before you attempt your answer.

4- Once the interviewer has completed his question, take a pause; recollect your thoughts now answer according to best of your knowledge and within the limit of the question and subject.

5- I feel a crisp and short is the best answer at this stage unless it needs technical specifications.

I know this is not easy

Yes, this is easier said than done, this is not as easy as one thinks while appearing for an interview, telephonic or in physical appearance. This is better to prepare for such interviews with couple of mock interviews to be better prepared for a real one. Ask your friends or roomy to do it for you. Ask your friend if you were using any terms, which were not so natural or overdoing any words! Repetition of certain words like Okay, Yes or No sounds odd and need to be cutoff from the real conversation.   

After the interview is over

There is no problem if you want to talk to interviewer if he allows you to ask a few questions regarding the organization. You should sound genuine while talking to him and asking for information. You can also ask for a face-to-face interview if you feel that you have done well and the interviewer gives you a hint by way of his interest in you. Be very specific about dates and address where the next meeting is supposed to be scheduled to save you from further enquiry. Any one willing to know more on this subject is welcome to contact me.