Additional Interview Preparation Tips

PHONE INTERVIEWS

Yes, phone interviews can be awkward, but they are a useful tool for an employer hoping to narrow down a large pool of applicants, simplify the recruiting process for an out-of-town candidate, or minimize expenses for their organization. Your goal, simply put, is to convince the employer that you are a candidate worth advancing to the next round. See below for tips on how to properly prepare for before, during and after a phone interview.

Before  Research the company and the position. Make sure you can expertly respond to the question, “why are you interested in my company and why this position.”  Take a test run! Have a friend, family member, or an advisor within our office, conduct a mock interview over the phone — are you speaking too loudly? too softly? Are your words being clearly understood? This small bit of preparation can go a long way to help you enhance your phone interview.  Just as you would for a face-to-face interview, practice your responses to “typical” questions. For a list of sample questions, see our Interviewing Styles and Questions section of this guide.  Clear your area of any distractions; this means your friends, loud music, TV, etc.  Pour yourself a glass of water to keep nearby in case your mouth gets dry.

During  Don’t worry if, at times, the conversation feels awkward or a bit stilted. This is to be expected and the recruiter certainly understands the complexities involved with a phone interview.  It is not uncommon for both parties to begin speaking at the same time. If this happens, simply say excuse me and invite the interviewer to continue.  Be enthusiastic. You cannot use your expressions, body language, or eye contact to show your interest, so you will have to do this through your words. Sometimes, the simple act of standing up and smiling during your conversation can be extremely helpful.

Additional Interview Preparation Tips

PHONE INTERVIEWS (continued)

During (continued)

After

 Don’t ramble! The conversation should feel like a dialogue with you, the interviewee, speaking slightly more than the interviewer.  Try to avoid words like um, uh, like, you know, and okay.  Have a pen and paper handy to take notes. Information to gather might be: skills or attributes the company is seeking, a more detailed job description, and training and development programs.  If you receive another incoming call during the conversation, do not answer it.  Just as you would in a face-to-face interview, be sure to ask approximately three thoughtful questions at the end of the conversation. For a list of appropriate questions, please refer to the Asking Questions page in this guide.  Upon completion of the conversation, thank the interviewer for his or her time and reiterate your keen interest in the position. Make sure you have acquired the name (along with proper spelling), title and email address of the interviewer so that you may later send a timely thank you note.  Be sure that you are clear on what happens next. This can be as simple as your inquiring, “Can you please let me know what the next steps in the process will be?”

 Once the interview is finished, take notes about what you were asked and your various responses. This will give you a chance to refine and practice your answers for future interviews.  Follow up with a thank you note (grammatically correct and absent of any misspellings) reiterating your interest in the job along with some of your key qualities.  This note should be sent within 24 hours of your interview. See the Thank

You Note handout for tips and suggestions

Reminders  If you have started applying for opportunities, you should always be prepared for in impromptu phone interview.  Practice, practice, practice!  Make sure that your voicemail on your phone is short, concise and professional.

Additional Interview Preparation Tips

VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS

You may use Zoom or FaceTime with friends and family, but have you thought about how the process may be different if you are using it for professional reasons? Zooming for interviewing and/or networking is extremely common now due to the pandemic; you need to be prepared. Read on for the Dos and Don’ts and helpful techniques to use to set yourself apart from others.

Complete a trial run a few days before the real interview with a friend on the other end to give you feedback.  Ask your friend to take on the role of the interviewer and ask you some questions. Once completed, ask whether you were speaking too fast or slow, loud or soft, how you looked, if you made good eye contact, etc. Pay attention to your environment.  Sitting at a desk or table with a neutral background is ideal. You want to make sure there are no inappropriate items or clutter behind you. Remember lighting is a factor as well. Place a light in front of you instead of in back so the interviewer gets a better image of your face. Dress appropriately.  Dress like you would for an actual interview. At the very least, dress from the waist up. Keep other programs on your computer closed.  Getting an alert from a new email or message in the middle of the interview is considered impolite and distracting. Instead of turning the alerts off, close the programs entirely. That way you will ensure no distractions. Placing your phone in “Do Not Disturb” mode or leaving it in a different room will also reduce distractions.

Additional Interview Preparation Tips

VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS (continued)

Pretend like this is a trial run for the actual interview…it’s not!  Treat a virtual interview with the same preparation and respect you would for a face-to-face interview. Choose a noisy environment to hold the interview.  Yes, coffee shops have a great (and free) internet connection. However, if the environment is so noisy that the interviewer cannot hear you and is distracted by the background commotion, then it is not a good choice. Also, if conducting the interview in a residence hall or apartment, make sure your roommate(s) know when you are having the interview. Look at yourself on the screen.  You wouldn’t look at yourself in a face-to-face interview so don’t do it now. Demonstrate good eye contact by alternating from looking at the webcam and the interviewer’s face. If you find yourself being distracted by your own image, cover it. Leave everything to the last minute.  Interviewers can tell whether you have been rushing to find an outfit, running to get to a good internet connection or if you are ill prepared. Lay your outfit out the night before, have the things you need ready to go and plan a place ahead of time for the interview (most of all, make sure the place is available)!

Additional Interview Preparation Tips

VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS (continued)

 Actively listen—Since you are not physically in the office, it is easy to get distracted by your surroundings. Give periodic clues that you are still there and stay in tune to what they are saying.  Know who is calling whom.  Smile and use good posture.  Have everything you might need right in front of you—this includes your resume, a notepad and pen, a cover letter and/or any other writing documents they may ask for.  MAKE SURE YOUR LAPTOP IS CHARGED AND INTERNET CONNECTION IS STRONG.  Follow up with a “Thank you”—remember, this is a real interview, and you want to make a great lasting impression!

If you are studying abroad, you may have a higher chance of conducting interviews virtually. You will have even more things to keep in mind while preparing even BEFORE you leave the States.

 Pack at least one professional attire outfit to take with you for the semester if you plan on interviewing there or virtually.  Make note of the time zones! If the interview is set for 1PM their time, know what time it will be where you are located.  It is more likely to have a bad connection from overseas. Keep your laptop plugged in instead of going wireless.  Plan for technological difficulties. It is okay to tell the interviewer that you found the best possible internet connection but there is still a chance that the connection may be lost. Most of all, HAVE A PLAN B!

Additional Interview Preparation Tips

SECOND ROUND INTERVIEWS

Candidates who are being seriously considered for a position are frequently invited for a second interview. If a company representative considers you to be a qualified candidate for employment, an invitation to continue with the process will be extended. You will either receive a telephone call or email inviting you to schedule a second interview.

The Opportunity

Since the second interview is used to measure mutual fit, you should prepare yourself to become more integrally involved in the interview process. We recommend that you ask more specific questions regarding the department, your potential role within the organization, etc.

Expenses Some invitations to a second round can include expenses; this is primarily true for those candidates traveling out of town or great distances for the interview. If the invitation does not mention expenses, contact the employer for clarification. Most employers pay all reasonable expenses incurred on visits, yet the company will expect you to use good judgment in reporting your expenses. Keep records for transportation, food and lodging. If you are planning to visit more than one employer on the same trip, inform each of them and they will assist you in prorating your expenses. The following items are not considered to be normal expenses: entertainment, tours, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, magazines, valet expenses, flight insurance and excessive tips.

Preparation Researching the company should include speaking to someone who works for the company or someone who has done business with or is in competition with the company. This inside information will help you in the second interview. Be sure you understand the business, its mission, goals, business philosophy and management style. For more information regarding preparation, please refer to the Before the Interview section of this guide.

Additional Interview Preparation Tips

SECOND ROUND INTERVIEWS (continued)

The Interview The office visit could be conducted in much of the same way as your initial interview. Other possibilities include a panel interview, in which a group of people ask you questions, or you may be expected to interview with several people individually. Second interviews can vary in length from half an hour to a full day of interviews and could also involve tours and meals with a variety of company employees. Talking to all these people can be draining, so be prepared to stay energized throughout the day.

Business Etiquette

It is not unusual to be taken out to lunch or even dinner as part of your second interview. At such events it is essential to remember and practice everything you ever learned about table manners. Here are some basic guidelines:

 Don't smoke or drink alcoholic beverages (even if invited).  Order something that is easy to eat (avoid spaghetti, juicy hamburgers, etc.) and which is moderately priced.  Put your napkin on your lap prior to beginning your meal.  If you are confused as to which fork to use, generally speaking, you should work your way from the outside in. And remember, “BMW” which is the abbreviation for bread, meal, water. This means your bread plate is on the left, your water glass etc. is on the right, with your meal in between.  Remember, even though your luncheon host may not be your potential supervisor (he or she may even be a recent college grad), you are still being evaluated and sized up for a correct "fit" with the organization. You should view the meal as an extension of the interview.

Testing Some employers may ask you to take a series of tests. At this stage, employers are interested in how well you might fit in with the organization. These tests will generally be objective in nature, and often provide information about your aptitudes, general intelligence, interests or personality. They are legal assuming all candidates are asked to take the test. Answer the questions honestly, not how you think they might want you to answer.

Additional Interview Preparation Tips

SECOND ROUND INTERVIEWS (continued)

Thank You Letter

Interviewing Tips

• Timeliness is everything! As a general rule of thumb, set a goal of sending a thank you note within 24 hours of your interview. • Always send a thank you note to individuals with whom you have interviewed. If more than one person interviewed you, send a personalized note to each individual. Interviewers may share your thank you note, so don’t simply copy/paste the same text. • Proofread your note before sending. Correct spelling and proper grammar are a must. • For more tips and suggestions, refer to our Thank You Notes handout.

 Offer new information. If you talked about your experiences and accomplishments the first time, now talk briefly about your ideas. You want the interviewer to know more about you, just as you want to learn more about the organization.  Join the Bentley University Community LinkedIn group. This group enables you to access the professional knowledge and experience of your fellow alumni. You will be able to: Build professional relationships with alumni that can help you get your foot in the door at top-tier organizations in your specific field of interest. Get the real scoop on what internships and fulltime jobs are like at organizations across the country and throughout the world. Be better prepared for interviews by learning the types of questions companies ask in a first, second or final round of interviews.  Ask more specific questions. What questions must you have answered before you can make an informed choice? (If you can't think of any, you're not thinking deeply enough).