Remote recruitment is quickly becoming a new norm. Gartner’s survey found that 86% of organizations are conducting virtual interviews to hire candidates during the coronavirus pandemic.
And the trend doesn’t seem to slow down anytime soon. That’s probably because phone interviews offer a seamless way to screen candidates while saving time.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits of phone interviews and 4 ways to prepare for a phone interview. So, let’s get started.
There are a number of advantages when it comes to conducting a phone interview. Here are some of them.
Phone interviews also enable you to conquer the challenges caused by COVID-19 and continue hiring the best talents for your business. Now, the question is, how do you prepare for conducting a phone interview? Here’s how.
Being a good interviewer requires a thorough preparation for the interview beforehand. It enables you to find the best candidates for your company while saving your time. Read on to discover practical tips to succeed in the process.
The first step to prepare for a phone interview is defining the core attributes that your ideal candidate must possess. Note down a list of skills and qualities that you are looking for in an employee.
Apart from the technical skills required to do the job, you might look for employees who are:
Having these attributes could save your company lots of time and money in the future. While talking to the candidate, you’ll get a fair idea of whether they possess these skills.
Phone interview questions can help you screen applicants, save time, and find the best ones.
Here are some questions that you can ask in a phone interview:
Lastly, let the candidate ask you questions. This will show how interested and engaged they were throughout the interview (however, this should not be a judging factor as they might not know what to ask).
Not all candidates are the right fit for your organization. A wrong hire will not only cost your company but can also negatively affect your team.
As a recruiter, you need to look out for signals that indicate an applicant is not a good fit for your business. Here are some of them:
Having said that, you might come across candidates who get nervous during the interview (they might fumble a lot or take long pauses before answering). While some recruiters consider it a red flag (or a sign of lack of confidence), it is quite normal.
Candidates might be nervous because they’re in desperate need of the job or are giving a phone interview for the first time. At times, these candidates might prove to be one of your best employees.
If you are interviewing more than one candidate, have a pen and notebook handy to take detailed notes during the phone interview. This will help you screen the best ones after you have interviewed all the candidates.
You can even use the notes to discuss things with your colleagues or seniors to find the best candidates for your company.
Make a note of things like:
You can also add detailed feedback (if you think the candidate is the right fit) that might be helpful when referring back to them later.
Conducting a thoughtful phone interview helps you find the right pool of qualified candidates faster. Use the four tips mentioned above to prepare for a phone interview and get the most out of your time (and efforts). Happy Recruiting!
Swapnil Rathod is a Lead Generation expert whose passion lies in SEO and Paid Marketing. He presently works as Digital Marketing Manager at CallHippo, an Award Winning cloud-based Business Telephony Solution. He has acted as a mentor to some of the most prolific Digital Marketing Institutes in India and has mentored 5000+ students.
