| With today's economy being in as poor a shape as it | | | | to memorize your answer so that you sound like a |
| is, and jobs being so scarce, many New Yorkers are | | | | robot reciting lines. It's so you don't stumble over your |
| applying for opportunities and part time jobs in New | | | | words and waste any of the interviewer's time. |
| York as well as out of state! Knowing this, many | | | | Practice with a friend or family member. Have them |
| potential employers are now doing job interviews over | | | | be the interviewer and you be... well, you! Record the |
| the phone. This allows them the ability to check out | | | | mock interview and study the tapes carefully. Try to |
| more employee prospects without having to cover the | | | | find trouble places where you have long pauses or |
| costs of seeing the out of state applicant in person. | | | | verbal tics like "um", "uh", and "like". Eradicate these |
| Another reason telephone interviews are becoming | | | | simple words from your vocabulary. You might not |
| more popular with part time jobs in New York is that it | | | | realize you say them when speaking, but an |
| becomes easier to weed out applicants in a 5 minute | | | | interviewer can quickly become annoyed by hearing |
| phone interview than a face-to-face chat that could | | | | you say "um" 3 times every sentence. |
| last as long as an hour or more. Knowing that, you the | | | | Take Notes |
| applicant need to be suited for interviews over the | | | | Have a pen and paper ready and waiting by the |
| phone and be prepared as they could come at any | | | | phone for when that phone interview might happen. |
| time! Here are some tips on how to interview over the | | | | Make notes of the interviewer's name and the |
| phone. | | | | company they're calling for. When they describe the |
| Research The Company | | | | position to you, write down all the important parts such |
| You can believe the company is going to do research | | | | as title, hours and pay. Make sure that if you ask the |
| on you before they call you for a phone interview, so | | | | interviewer any questions that he/she didn't cover, that |
| you had better do some research of your own. With | | | | you write down their answers. It's also a good idea to |
| the internet, you can look up any company and find out | | | | keep note of what questions they asked you. This |
| all kinds of information about it (especially since most | | | | gives allows you to know exactly what you talked |
| companies have a website). Find out where the | | | | about for if you get a second phone interview, or |
| company is located and if it has multiple branches. See | | | | better yet, an in-person interview. |
| what the company actually does. And most | | | | Follow Up |
| importantly, find out exactly what the job you're | | | | At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for |
| applying for entails. 9 times out of 10, the interviewer | | | | their time and ask when you might hear from them or |
| will end up asking you "Why do you want to work for | | | | someone else in the company again. Ask if you can |
| [the company he could be hiring you for]?" If you don't | | | | meet them for an in-person interview. Ask when they |
| know what the company does or what you'd be doing | | | | might be making their hiring decisions. Thank them for |
| at the company, you might sound pretty foolish | | | | their time (I know I said this already, but it's pertinent!). If |
| stumbling through this answer. | | | | they have not given you a specific time frame, be sure |
| Practice Ahead of Time | | | | to call the company in a few days to follow up on the |
| The old saying "practice makes perfect" might not be | | | | interview and see if any new information (like a hiring |
| entirely accurate, but it definitely helps. There are | | | | decision) has become available. |
| certain questions that almost every interviewer asks. | | | | If you follow these tips, you should have a great phone |
| "Why do you want to work for this company?" | | | | interview. And make sure to read your notes |
| "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" "What are | | | | afterward. If you don't get this job, you can use it as |
| your short term goals and long term goals?" "What are | | | | practice for future phone interviews for full time or part |
| your strengths and weaknesses" and "What makes | | | | time jobs in New York. Also, remember to smile when |
| you the best candidate for the job?" Figure out your | | | | giving the interview. Smiling changes your vocal tone |
| answers to each of these often asked questions | | | | and makes you sound much more positive. Employers |
| ahead of time (as well as other possible interview | | | | like that. |
| questions) and practice saying it. The goal here is not | | | | |