Reprinted with permission of American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE). www.aaee.org.
Facing a Telephone or Group Interview?
What Should You Do?
Julia Overton-Healy, Director of Career Development
Mansfiield University of Pennsylvania
As you conduct your job search, you may be asked to participate in telephone or group interviews. Administrators who need to find qualified candidates while containing recruitment travel costs often use telephone interviews. Likewise, group interviews offer a very efficient use of time. Four people interviewing a candidate for an hour is much more efficient than four individual one-hour meetings. Similarly, a five-person team can interview three candidates simultaneously, saving literally days of time. Here are some tips for handling these situations.
Tips for Telephone Interviews
Have your documentation in front of you. This includes your cover letter, resume, portfolio materials, and the job description. You can refer to these during the conversation and they will remind you of your skills and qualifications.
Schedule the appointment for a time when you will be undisturbed. (But remember to also accommodate the interviewer's requests). Avoid Monday mornings and Friday afternoons, also avoid immediately after lunch.
Take 10 minutes before the appointment to calm and focus yourself. Make sure all potential distractions (computer, cell phone, pets and roommates) are under control.
Don't eat, drink, chew gum, or smoke. The noise will be heard.
Dress up. Studies show that people perform better when they dress the part.
Stand up. You will speak more intelligently and seriously than if you are slouching in a chair or on the couch.
Try to take the call in a room that has no distractions. Because you cannot see your interview's body language, you need to listen very closely and tune in to the vocal cues you hear.
Smile! Studies confirm that speakers who smile are perceived by listeners who cannot see them as more intelligent, friendlier, and attractive.
If you need time to think, say so. Five to ten seconds is fine. It is much better to be clear and articulate after a "thinking pause" than to babble just to fill the silence. However, don't take a pause with every question. Also remember that repeating the question is recognized as a stalling tactic and is especially annoying over the telephone.
Be concise and offer concrete and vivid examples. Long, rambling answers become unbearable over the telephone and examples will help demonstrate what you have done. They also help express your personality.
Take notes. During the conversation jot down the questions your interviewer asks, and the examples you use in your answers.
Tips for Group Interviews
Write down each person's name. As you are introduced to the group, jot each name on a sketch of where each is seated. Then use their names. Etiquette demands that you use "Mr." or "Ms." Unless invited to use first names.
Speak to each member of the group. As you answer each questions, you may direct a slight emphasis of attention to the person who asked the question.
Watch nonverbal cues carefully. Some members of the group may fully understand your answer, but others may not. Check to make sure everyone understands.
Listen to subtext. A group interview can give you a good indication as to how the team operates and what type of educator they need to round out the team.
Be polite. If you are one of the several candidates being interviewed, don't talk over someone else. But don't let others crowd you out of the conversation.
Listen closely to other candidates. Springboard from the answers of others when you can. A group interview isn't a game of one-upmanship, but it is competitive.
Bonus tip: Immediately after any interview, write down points you want to reinforce. Then write your thank-you letter!
Back to the main candidate's page
| 
