The phone screen is an important part of recruiting. It can save you a lot of time by letting you assess potential candidates before committing to a face-to-face interview.
Warning: Don’t treat a phone interview lightly!
Tip Number 1 – Quiet, please.. Pay attention to the sounds that will be sent from your side of the phone line. You want to hear your candidate clearly and give the impression that you are 100% focused on the interview.
Tip Number 2 – No Multitasking. Your candidate may not be able to see what you’re doing, but they will know if you’re distracted. Propping your phone between your head and shoulder while you check your email or type a text on your personal cell phone will cause you to lose focus.
Tip Number 3 – Don’t Wing It. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of it being “just” a phone screen, rather than an “official” face-to-face interview. Treating a phone interview this casually and without much preparation may cause you to lose a remarkable candidate.
Tip Number 4 – The Sound of Silence. You don’t have the advantage of seeing what the candidate is doing during moments of silence and it’s tempting to fill that silence with “umms,” “ahhs,” or general small talk. However, your candidate may be jotting down notes or thinking about what you just asked. They need those silent seconds without you filling it.
Tip Number 5 – Juice Up! If you choose to use a cell phone or a cordless phone during for your screening call, keep the phone full of power! Nothing could be worse than being in the middle of hearing a winning answer when your phone goes dead because you forgot to charge it beforehand. Best practice: Use a Land Line when possible.
The Achilles Group Talent Acquisition Team will be happy to provide expert recruiting services to you and take these calls off your hands. Please call Deborah at 281-469-1800.
