How to Conduct a Telephone Interview
Traditionally, interviewees must meet face-to-face with their questioners and engage in an in-person interview. In some instances, however, interviewers elect to question their candidates over the phone. If you plan to interview individuals who live far from your business location, or if you simply want to move through the initial interview process a bit more rapidly, engaging in telephone interviewing could prove a wise choice. If you elect to adopt this technologically enhanced interviewing method, you will likely have to modify your interviewing techniques slightly to fit the mode of questioning.
Things You'll Need
- A non-cellular telephone line
- Telephone tape recorder
- Blank cassette tape
Instructions
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Prepare your phone system. If you plan to interview the candidate solo, you likely won't need an elaborate phone arrangement; however, if you want multiple interviewers to take part, you may need to use a speakerphone and gather the interviewers, or arrange a conference call. Select your call system in advance and prepare your technology to ensure that all is ready come interview day.
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2
Allow all people on the call to introduce themselves. Because your candidate cannot see the group of questioners who may pose queries, it is vital that the individuals verbally identify themselves, giving their names and job titles, so the interviewee knows to whom she is speaking.
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Describe the position. Give the interviewer a little bit of background, which will allow her to better answer your questions.
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Pose your questions clearly and concisely. Speak loudly and clearly as you ask each question to ensure that the interviewer can hear you. Avoid rambling as you pose each question, as doing so can throw the interviewee off her game.
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Carefully pause to ensure that you don't speak over the candidate. Because you cannot see the candidate, and she cannot see you, you don't have the benefit of visual clues that she is about to speak. Take care to allow extra time between each statement to ensure that you don't both try to speak simultaneously.
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Address the interviewee's questions. If the position for which you are considering the individual involves moving, she may have some questions to ask you in regards to the job, as she may be deciding whether it is a good fit for her. Give her time at the interview's end to ask these questions.
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Conclude with an explanation of what the candidate can expect post-interview. Tell the interviewee when she can expect to hear back from you, so she is not left wondering as to whether she got the job. If you promise to call candidates and inform them of their status regardless of whether you select them, do so.
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