Job question: I have a 'brief telephone interview" tomorrow, need advice.

[liberalhistorian]

For reasons that would take too long to get into now (besides the fact that my boss and I have talked all damn day and every day for three weeks about it and I'm TIRED of the whole thing), this is my last week of work for him (a solo attorney), and I will be laid off as of next week when his old secretary/paralegal will take over.

I'll go into all the gory details in another thread at another time, I'm just too emotionally tired to get into it all and all the frustrations about my career dissatisfaction and frustration right now. Suffice to say that I don't know if I want to even continue with paralegal work anymore; in most jobs there's far more secretarial and organizational work than I'm able to do or handle.

I'll be applying for unemployment tomorrow, since I have no other job in the wings (you'd think with a B.A. in history and sociology AND a paralegal certificate, I wouldn't have much of a problem but that isn't the case at all, especially not around here!) and he thinks it's a good idea to get the ball rolling as soon as possible, knowing how long it sometimes takes to process the application. I'm a single parent, and I HAVE to have an income.

Anyway, last week I sent a resume and writing samples to a publishing firm about an hour away for an editor/writer position they had advertised. Today they called and left a message, I'm supposed to call them back tomorrow for a "brief telephone interview."

People, this is CRITICAL to me, writing is my one great talent and passion and this is the direction I want to go in. What, exactly, are they looking for in telephone interviews, and how should I be prepared? What would be really impressive to him? Any advice at all you could give would really be appreciated!

[Wickerman]

1. Be yourself, be at ease

be concise and friendly. Last telephone interview i had I was nekkid, just cuz I could. :) It gave me a lot of confidence. I got the job. YMMV

[liberalhistorian]

2. LOL!

Good thing you didn't have to use a video-phone.

[TroubleMan]

3. For phone etiquette tips, look here:

http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_shows/crankyankers/


.
.
.
.
.
j/k.....good luck - just be confident, but not cocky

[liberalhistorian]

4. ROFLMAO!

Thanks for the laugh, but I want to get the job, not piss the guy off!

[NewHampster]

5. LH Remember the goal

Your goal in a short phone interview is to get invited in for the real interview. Your job is not to get the job but to get to the next step.

Their job is to weed out the fluff that don't live up to the great writing of their resumes. You need to be able to verify and back up what you've claimed, answer the questions and not oversell.

So the previous post of be yourself is porbably true. Relax.

[Kat45]

6. Those are usually 'screening interviews'

so they can decide whether it is worth their time (and yours) to have you come in for a full in-person interview. I'd say just be professional, express your interest in the job (and the field), answer their questions, let them know that you are qualified.

You said: "writing is my one great talent and passion and this is the direction I want to go in." That is so important--I would think that showing them that would show you to be someone they would be interested in.

I remember your previous post about what was going on at your job, quite an unfortunate situation and no fault of yours. Sounds like you're focusing on a positive direction for your life, and I wish you the best. Let us know how you're doing.

[liberalhistorian]

8. HOW do I show them that

in a phone interview, though? What kinds of questions will is he likely to ask?

[Kat45]

14. Since you're so interested in this kind of work,

just being honest in your answers will probably bring it out. This may sound weird, but I could feel your interest in it from reading what you wrote, and that makes me think that it will come across naturally during the interview. I think it will come across in a very sincere way, which is different than an over-eager way.

[liberalhistorian]

16. I sure hope

so, thanks!

[stopbush]

7. Let them do most of the talking.

Keep your answers short and, if possible, a bit cryptic.

You'll probably be talking to a first-level screener. Their job is to whittle down the number of applicants for the NEXT interviewer. Most prospective employees blow it by offering too much info and inadvertently throwing up some kind of red flag.

Be as cooperative as possible. When they hang up, forget about it and move on. If they call you back again, great. If they don't, there will be others.

On edit: oh yeah, don't offer up any bon mots like "don't you think bush is an a-hole." :)

[liberalhistorian]

10. That sounds about right,

but how do I keep from sounding too eager, since I know I will be? That's going to be one of my challenges.

[stopbush]

15. If you already know you'll sound too eager, you'll just have to deal with

it and avoid sounding too eager.

The truth is that you may not be able to avoid that one. It's not the end of the world. The best practice for not getting/sounding too eager is to get turned down a hundred or so times! I hope that doesn't happen in your case.

Don't overthink it. If it happens, it happens.

[NightTrain]

9. If they ask, "Do you like scary movies?", HANG THE FUCK UP!!!

Just trust me on this.

[liberalhistorian]

11. LOL!

You'd be a great career consultant, Dean, we should open up our own "career services" business!

[cally]

12. First, congrats

you got the initial interview. Just make sure you have adequate answers to the routine questions. What do want to do in 5 years? Why are you qualified for this job? etc, etc. I've been on both sides of those questions. I usually answer with a reasonable answer and then something funny if I think it will work. When I'm hiring, I'm offended if a job applicant isn't prepared for the basic questions.

[liberalhistorian]

13. Oh, I've always hated that

"where do you want to be in five years" question, I NEVER know what I should really say. You don't want to be too pompous and say something like "I expect to be the President of Time-Warner publishing", but you don't want to be too much the other way, either, or it'll look like you don't plan ahead or have much ambition. I never quite know what to say to that question!

[cally]

17. The answer is a little pompous but not too much

Say what you dream as long as it's somewhat realistic. I've told interviewers that I want their job because I think they will advance as well. :shrug: Just have an answer that makes sense for the job. When I ask the question, that's what I'm looking for. Are you prepared? Can you respond with legitimate answers? Can you talk to my clients without embarrassing me?

[stopbush]

18. My standard answer for that one is

"adding to my skill set with a forward-looking company."

My other pat answer is to the question: what would you consider to be a negative attribute about yourself?

My answer: I could stand to lose 5-10 pounds.

[liberalhistorian]

21. LOL!

Actually, I could stand to lose a lot more than just 5-10 pounds. I hate that question, too, the different versions of "what are your weaknesses", or "what is your biggest negative", that kind of thing. Any answer is going to sound pat, and you never know what they really want to hear or what answer will really zing you.

[GregW]

19. There is a TON of information online concerning this ...

Just google for "phone interviews".

Good luck!

[liberalhistorian]

20. That's a good idea,

thanks!

[reformed_military]

22. How did it go?