Downsizing and turnover can happen at any time in any industry. Call Centers unfortunately are not exempt from downsizing.  Here are a few tips from David Hults about making a good impression during phone interviews.

As the workplace becomes more intense, with more challenges to complete in a shorter amount of time, companies are looking for faster approaches to sifting through the volumes of resumes received for each recruited position. They have found one way to do that with the phone interview. After reviewing the resume for the minimum requirements, they set up a phone interview to eliminate additional candidates and bring the group to a manageable size. And, this is the intent…to eliminate candidates. So how do you stay in the running?

Sarah had not been in the job market for seven years when a re-organization eliminated her position. She was not prepared to begin a career search. She could not even begin to think through how to engage in an interview or sell herself to another employer. She was a bit distraught because she had been exposed to several phone interviews, but nothing seemed to be working.

At first, Sarah found phone interviews easy. She did not have to dress professionally to meet with the interviewer and she did not have to drive to their location. Also, she found that she could work on other things while she talked with the interviewer. On one occasion she even had a sick child at home, and, although that was a little distracting, she thought she handled the interview well. However, she never received a call back. Sarah knew she had to approach this important interview differently, but just did not know how to get started.

To begin, Sarah had to understand that the interviewer had already looked at her technical abilities and specific skill sets. Without meeting those minimum qualifications, Sarah would not have been invited to participate in a telephone interview. Sarah's challenge now was to tackle the interviewer's emotion and judgment about her fit to their culture. She needed to express how she fit by giving examples of her work ethic, habits and behaviors. Although it is hard to sell ourselves and get the interviewer to "like" us when we are not in front of them, it is not impossible to verbally show them charm, professionalism and how we can contribute.

Phone Interview Tip #1 - First, Sarah prepared and practiced for each interview just as she would have done for any in-person interview.

She researched the company and her strategy in answering various interview questions. She thought through how she would talk about the needs of the interviewer as well as her own needs. Sarah made sure her answers and examples were short and concise. She wanted to get right to the point since she did not always know how much time she would have to prove she was the right candidate.

She eliminated any distracting background noise such as children playing, dogs barking, or neighbors mowing their lawn by closing herself off in a quiet interior room. She also turned off her cell phone so it would not interrupt the interview.

She listened intently to the question being asked to be sure that she addressed it without getting distracted on another subject or idea. Sarah identified work habits and characteristics that set her apart from other candidates and communicated them to the interviewer. She knew it was important to relate her relevance to the company and their needs early on.

Phone Interview Tip #4 - When Sarah communicated with the interviewer, she showed enthusiasm in her voice when talking about the job, their company or the industry.

Sometimes Sarah would walk around the room during the interview to keep her energy up. Initially, when she was too relaxed, she would talk about information that was not always relevant - about failure or weaknesses. So staying enthusiastic and keeping her focus on her contribution to the position was key. Sarah also learned to brag a little about her accomplishments and show the interviewer that she was a good fit for their culture.

Preparing for each telephone interview as you would an in-person interview will show polish and professionalism. Keeping your focus on the questions and how you fit the position will make you stand out from other candidates. Be prepared…your first impression, even if only a verbal one, is still a lasting impression.

By Siddharth Singh

You wrote a killer resume, you landed yourself that coveted interview call and you prepared well for the D-Day. Now what? Well, the next step is the interview itself. This is what you had prepared so well for. It is the most important stage of the interview process, and requires a definite strategy for achieving success. If you follow these tips carefully, success will be yours.

• Dress to Impress

The golden rule is-Dress Conservatively. Sometimes, the employers specify the dress code to follow. But if it is not specified, wear a conservative dress. If you have bought a new set especially for the interview, make a trial run in them while rehearsing the interview. Get your suit pressed, your hair cut and your shoes shined.

• Arrive a Few Minutes Early

Arriving late for the interview means only one thing-you are not serious about the position. Interviewers won't like that. Allow yourself plenty of time to reach the venue well in time. Reach at least 15 minutes early; it will help you to get a feel of the atmosphere of the place. Do not reach too soon either.

• Mind Your Body Language

Your body language is the unspoken communication, and it matters just as much as the spoken communication. Be firm in your handshake. Do not gesture excessively while speaking. Maintain eye contact, but do not stare. Avoid slouching, fidgeting, playing with your pen or tie.

• Be Honest and Truthful in your Answers

Do not get creative and inventive while counting your skills or recalling your achievements. Your answers should match what you had stated in your resume. If you don't understand a question, say so. If you don't know something, admit it.

• Avoid Verbosity

Answer in crisp, precise and brief sentences. Yet, don't answer in a simple Yes or No; complete your sentences. Don't ever boast; the interviewers are experienced people, don't try to mislead them.

• Be Calm

Being relaxed and confident is the key ingredient of success in the interview. If you feel that the interview is not going well, don't get frustrated or disappointed. Try to make the best of the situation. The interviewer may consciously put you under stress to judge you reaction to pressure situations.

• Ask Questions in the End

In the end, the interviewer will typically ask you whether you will like to put up any questions. Use this opportunity to ask questions that you had prepared beforehand. This shows your interest in the job. It is okay to ask the panel as to when they will reach a final decision regarding the hiring. In the end, thank the interviewers for their time.

In conclusion, just be yourself. Be relaxed and confident during the interview, answer the questions honestly, be crisp and concise in your answers, and mind your body language. And smile! Nothing can stop you from achieving success in your interview.

By Catherine Z Jones

"How do I answer questions about my weaknesses in job interviews?" is the most common question we're asked as interviewers.

It's also a common job interview question so you're right to want to be prepared for it.

Few people are so here's your chance to get ahead of your competition.

We interview for a living and here's our advice.

When asked about your weaknesses remember to talk about something you've perceived as a 'weakness' but worked hard to overcome or something which you find harder than others but can still do, using some strategy or another.

And make sure it's not something central to the role!

Good answers might be:

For a job where organisation is important, but not central:

"I'd like to be more naturally organised like my manager who remembers everything and never has to write anything down. Although my memory's not as good as hers I am able to keep on top of things by using a to-do list and keeping a diary so I know where I am with my work all the time".

For a job where working as part of a team is important:

"I prefer working in teams to working alone. Although I'm able to stay focussed and complete the task, I prefer the sharing of ideas and achievements which happens when you work in teams. Some of my colleagues work better alone and this is something I am working on to improve".

Notice how, with a little forethought, you can give your 'weakness' a positive spin? In this answer, you're showing that you work well in teams, which is a quality most employers look for.

Finally, never identify emotional states or personality traits as weaknesses, only skills, experience, knowledge or preferences. Don't ever say you get stressed, bored, demotivated, angry, upset etc.

People have said this in interviews with us. Although, as employers, we might accept shortcomings in people's skills, experience and knowledge, few of us want to take on employees with attitude issues!