What's your opinion of telephone interviews?

[mrmpa]

I have had them last from 10 minutes to 1 hour. The 1 hour one led to a 2 hour one on one interview, with no job offer, and I had to contact them 1 day after they said they would make an offer. One last week was 10 minutes, ending with an email yesterday, saying "we're not going to hire you."

I have had them for 15 minutes and a half hour-no job offers. I really don't like them, especially when the interviewer appears to not know how to communicate on the phone.

I know that there are hundreds of applicants, but there has to be a better way than a phone interview.

[Scuba]

1. They're no substitute for a face-to-face interview, from either party's perspective....

... but are useful when time and/or distance are factors.


As an employer, I don't recall ever using them. I had to do a few as an employee prospect, and hated them, but then I hate talking on the phone.

[rbnyc]

2. I hate them.

I have taken them because usually when I am exploring a job opportunity, I am already employed and it's hard to excuse oneself from work for a job interview.

It's not onnly hard to make an impression on the phone, it's also hard to pick up on signals from the interviewer and adjust your presentation. It's really difficult to establish chemistry.

If they suggest a phone interview, I think it's okay to say you prefer to meet in person. But if they insist, what can you do?

If I ever do a phone interview again, I'm going to do a roleplay with a friend over the phone beforehand.

[naragdaban]

3. Generally speaking...

Generally you should only do a phone interview if the job you're interviewing for is too far for you to get to. I've driven for three hours (Nashville to Memphis) to do an in-person interview because it's easier to establish a rapport with the interviewer. Another reason to do a phone interview is if you suspect that the interviewer might discriminate for some reason in person, but then if that's going to happen you'd probably be better off finding another job.

[Nikia]

4. It is an advantage if you are a distance away

It is also easier to have notes written down to help you answer the questions.
On the disadvantage side,I recently had a phone interview where the interviewer asked only very open ended questions. I had a hard time knowing if I was giving too much detail and boring him or not because I didn't have any body language to read. I must not have done well because I was not invited to an onsite interview.
I have had some successful phone interviews though. They seemed to be the relatively short ones by HR to make sure that you aren't wasting the hiring manager's time or your time by doing an onsite 1 hour or more interview.

[dmallind]

5. An alternate view

From both sides of the desk I have found them useful and comfortable screens. That's what they almost always are - to narrow down the field before you invite the real possibles to interviews in person. In-person interviews take much more time and effort on both sides, and I'va always appreciated being spared that until it comes down to the final choice. The longer the better I always found - again on both sides. If there is no sign of a good fit, phone interviews tend to be short. Examples like yours - 1hr leading to a 2hr in person - just mean you were one of the last handful.

In my last job search I was flown in, at company expense, to Seattle, Miami and here by 3 separate companies, after several long phone interviews with each. I was only offered the one job - but obviously just missed the other 2. It happens. Phone interviews are an important step on the way. The only time I would be a bit suspect with them is if we're talking about the kind of lower level "apply in person from 8-5" type of jobs.

[GMR Transcription]

6. What's your opinion of telephone interviews?

Telephonic interview is very much common now-these-days in may organizations. They find it convenient enough.Once the resume has been shortlisted, a candidate might need to go through a couple of rounds of telephonic interview. telephonic interview is a very logical step for any short listed candidate.This kind a interview actually allows the recruiter to judge the technical knowledge and communication skills of the candidate.
I would like to mention here some of the guidelines that can be helpful for the candidates during their telephonic interview:
* Make sure that your not involved in anything else during interview time and there are no such disturbing noise should be there at the background.
*Keep a copy of the resume with yourself for reference.
*Be a good listener and then answer them back to the questions.
*Prepare yourself by understanding the business of the company you are applying in, skills that they are looking for, what you want to achieve and what exactly you are for in the company.

[tabbycat31]

7. they're the norm in my field

I think I've only had one cycle where face to face was common. However, more often than not, I am required to relocate and it's much easier to do a phone interview than to travel 9 hours if you are not sure you got the job (my last position was 9 hours away).