We hope our featured topics in media careers will provide helpful career information.
PREPARING FOR THE "ROUND ONE" PHONE INTERVIEW
Whether you are interviewing with a recruiter, human resource director or a media team member, it is ALWAYS important that you prepare for your telephone interviews. Preparation boosts your confidence and will contribute to a more fluid and productive phone conversation.
Preparing for a phone interview is not all that different than preparing for an in-person interview. Be sure to research the company, read the job description (highlighting skills and language that fits your experience), have your resume in front of you, and know who's interviewing you (see if they are on Linkedin, to learn more about their professional background and their current position). Create a list of questions that you might consider asking and be sure to have pen and paper within reach.
The benefit of the phone interview is that you can have several documents in front of you to reference. In addition to what was addressed above, prepare a list of your strengths, your skills that best fit the role and some key words/phrases.
Before the actual interview day, make sure you know who you will be interviewing with. Will there be multiple interviewers, if so, will they be on the call together? How long should you estimate the call will take? Will you be receiving or making the call? These are acceptable questions to ask the person that is arranging the interview.
The day before the call, assuming at least a few days have passed since it was scheduled, email the person who arranged for the interview and briefly confirm the phone meeting - "looking forward to our phone conversation tomorrow at 10AM. "I appreciate the opportunity" or "I am looking forward to learning more about the position..." They may respond, but if they don't, I would still assume the interview is on. You're not asking for a reply, it's just a gentle reminder.
Prepare the space you will be in. Make sure your phone is charged, you have good reception, and your resume, job description, and notes are within reach. (Consider taping them to a wall or using your computer screen.) Remove any distractions, and be aware of potential surprise noises like a barking dog.
If you are receiving the call, answer the phone by saying your name - "Good morning, this is Lisa Foster". It reassures the caller that they have the right person and it's a more professional greeting.
During the call:
Be an active listener, don't interrupt the caller, and don't be afraid to ask them to repeat something if you didn't hear them clearly.
Don't eat or drink during the call (but keep an emergency glass of water handy in case you have a cough). Be aware of what the caller is hearing on their end. Avoid keying on your keyboard or shuffling papers, you don't want them to think you are distracted.
Try to keep your responses short, but friendly. Stay away from yes and no answers, it's always best to give an example that demonstrates your point, but try to keep it efficient. Don't be afraid of brief moments of dead air, but if the interviewer doesn't respond when you are finished, it's fine to ask if you've answered their question, or if they would like more information.
Be prepared to ask 2-3 questions of you own. However, make sure they are not about something the interviewer already addressed. You don't want them to think you weren't paying attention.
Take brief notes about the interviewer's version of the position, culture, and most important skills.
When it is wrapping up, thank them for their time, and if you are interested in the opportunity, let them know that and ask them what the next steps will be.
After the call, prepare a thank-you note that you can email them (ideally within 24 hours of the call). Remember to check your notes, perhaps there is something you want to incorporate into your thank-you note that had been addressed in the call. It might be as simple as reiterating a skill the interviewer emphasized; or referencing a friendly story they shared during the call.
(MediaPros, Preparing for the "Round One" Phone Interview, 2020)
LISTENING SKILLS
"When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen."
(Ernest Hemingway)
We may be hearing, but are we listening? In our everyday lives, and certainly in the workplace, good listening skills are essential. With so many distractions, deadlines, and interruptions, we may be trying to do too much, while attempting to listen to what others are saying to us.
Be aware of these bad listening habits.
Focusing on when you can speak, instead of actively listening. It's easy to be preoccupied with what you plan to say next, but you might miss what is being said to you.
Multitasking: Checking your phone, reading emails, attempting to do something in addition to listening can be distracting. You can hear, but are you listening?
Frequently interrupting: This may be an attempt to demonstrate that you are listening and interested, but if done frequently, it can be difficult for the speaker to get their point across.
Finishing the speaker's sentences: This can also be an attempt to demonstrate your interest and comprehension, but it is more courteous to let the speaker complete their own sentences.
Listening skills are also essential in a job interview. Listening to the interviewer will help you gain insight on the company, the expectations of the position and other related "clues". It will help you determine if the position is desirable. It will help you gauge what skills are important so that you can present your experience effectively. It will also help you in the "do you have any questions" phase of the interview.
Demonstrate your good listening skills in the interview:
- Good eye contact, good posture, leaning in, not away from the person interviewing you.
- Show you understand what they are saying, offer a nod, or smile (if appropriate).
- Allow the interviewer to completely present a question before you answer.
- When it is your turn to ask questions, ask something that demonstrates that you heard the information they presented and your question(s) is an extension of what they said.
(MediaPros, Listening Skills, August 2016)
