As in most of my blogs, I claim no panaceas for interviewing or final incontrovertible wisdom. All I have is a lot of experience in the war zone. I do not believe anyone can give another person a foolproof strategy for finding employment. If my experience helps someone, I am glad of it. I do recommend reading and practicing sample answers and questions readily available on the Internet.
Being invited to a phone interview always pleased me — often more so than a personal, physical meeting. The phone interview is a warm up for the real thing. The phone opportunity provides anonymity that can be advantageous. One point is that the interviewer has limited the evaluation to one of the senses, i.e. hearing. The interviewee is free to prop her legs up on the footstool and sip a little iced tea. You’re even free to walk around a little. The interviewer cannot see fidgeting, shuffling feet or drifting, insecure eyes. However, the voice can also reflect any of these weaknesses too. I don’t recommend smoking at a phone interview. Even for a phone interview I did not wear grubbies or skip combing my hair or shaving. Why? I felt better. I never, however, wore a tie for a phone interview unless it happened to be during time stolen from my work day.
I liked phone interviews because I have had a lot of experience conducting business on the phone. The telephone gives me a sense of objectivity, a distance. I, too, in a positive way was forced to use one medium; then, too, a number of people had complimented me on my telephone manner. I am like most disc jockeys, rather introverted. The phone gave me an impersonal situation I could use to my advantage. The challenge lay in maintaining that confidence and “presence” in a personal interview later.
At the same time I assumed that the phone interview is used when the number of interesting applicants is rather high. Phone interviews are screens, most likely designed to eliminate candidates. On the phone one interviews for another interview, not a position. My whole objective was to get a physical interview, but not to be too eager. Sometimes I might answer a question briefly and then add, “This seems to me to be an important question for both of us. I hope I will have an opportunity to provide more details in person. I have a written proposal I once gave on the subject. ”
I tried as hard as I could to match voices with names, but rather than address the wrong person, I did not hesitate to say, “I think that was Roger, right?” The interviewer or team will be helpful. I wrote names down during the introduction. If possible. I tried to catch the company name. No harm in asking, “Now, tell me where youwork again?”
Do not jump to conclusions about anything based on tone of voice. Do not react negatively to what sounds patronizing or sanctimonious. That person may not even be on the second interview team.
A telephone is a great medium for being one’s self, for being forthright and candid, but not familiar.
If necessary ask for the question to be repeated for clarity — that buys a little time for thought.
Speak clearly and to the point. Do not go on and on. The telephone invites informality and directness — sometimes too much. Use the medium for what is. ”I could say more on this favorite topic, but I know we haven’t the time.”
If you notice a thread, say ”Well, to you and Roger, I would say . . .”
At some point ask, “Does this position entail significant telephone communication?” If it is a sales or PR position say, “I know that the position requires excellent telephone skills. In my past work I . . . ”
On the telephone one can close his eyes even and imagine a receptive person on the other end. Speak to that positive person you visualize — maybe it is your friend, parent, or favorite uncle you are imaging.
Having a friend or spouse in the room might be a help or a hindrance. If silent companionship helps, hold hands, but don’t get palsy walsy. Got a cat or laid back dog for your lap or at your feet. A pet may do something to make you smile. That smile will relax you. You can do no wrong in the estimation of a pet. Besides, in my experience animals have a way of putting things in perspective. There will be more interviews.
Steadfast and cautious,
The Tortoise
On Patience, Etc.
I thought then of the patience of accountants, architects and cartographers going daily to work, most of them not managing Microsoft’s billions, designing the Pompidou Center or creating the breakthrough e-atlas. Millions of them manipulate details patiently and keep the books and prepare reports for small businesses, plan and design strip malls and revise fifty state highway maps every year. Life for most of us is a routine broken only by the birth of our children, the sports of our choice and the arts we favor. Occasionally one of us climbs Mt. Everest for the first time or wins the Tour de France or becomes a war hero. And these are our heroes whom we humbly admire and try not to envy.
Now, Mrs. Tortoise, extremely patient, is proud and loyal to her astrological sign. She doesn’t try to predict the future or plan her day with one eye on the daily horoscope, but the mythology amuses her. She’s pleased to be in the company of fellow Scorpions. Why not? Astrology bemused Carl Jung. It bemuses Mrs. Tortoise. While she values the brains and pluck of Hillary Clinton, she also likes Hillary’s being a Scorpio. And I am bemused by my fellow Pisceans like Hamlet. I mean I have always been pre-occupied with being and not being — more than the average bloke I think. Hamlet was not noted for patience while Hillary Clinton remains a testimony to it. We have to give her kudos for tolerance and forgiveness as well. Mrs. Tortoise says the water signs are the oldest in the Zodiac, Scorpios being the most venerable, then comes Pisces and Cancers. Pisces strike her as deep thinkers while Cancers are shallow and lighter-brained. Well, all I know is that I have a great deal in common with fish, especially twins swimming first one way and then the other.
I certainly would not bet my last dollar on astrological predictions of specific outcomes in my daily life, however, often I cannot dismiss the general drift. But then, I have always believed that today’s science was yesterday’s myth. Being born of sea foam somehow seems as plausible as Immaculate Conception. I mean babies are born of “virgins” every day. But I’m getting away from the subject of patience — or am I. Hamlet had little of it. As I say, I drift.
Patience is the subject, not Hamlet, who had no patience; or Mrs. Tortoise who has lots of it. People are born with varying degrees of patience. My father and two brothers have far more than I. Dad had the engineer’s patience where respect for detail is paramount as it is for the lawyer.
Patience has grown on me with age. I made a decision the other day regarding a novel I am reading.
Belen Gopegui’s The Scale of Maps is an account of the love relationship between two geographers — speaking of detailed callings. At first I found Gopegui’s fiction baffling. I almost quit the effort, but no, I resolved to push on and at least reach a conclusion. Was I confused by the writer’s shifting point of view, the nature of contemporary Spanish fiction or just impatient? I have answers now to these questions and others. Pushing on rewarded me with discovery and pleasure in this fine work, but I had to push on. Books have often been like that for me. But I will return to this in a subsequent blog.
I have tried your patience enough today so I push off.
Steadfast, cautious et à bientôt,
The Tortoise