June 25, 2010

Does a phone screen count as an interview?

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Q: I applied for a job and talked to a recruiter for about half an hour on the phone. He e-mailed me later that day to say the team was interested in setting up a phone screen, even though I had already spoken to him. Is this an interview?

Kristin says: The first conversation you had with the recruiter was a basic exploration of your communication skills, getting a bit more information about your job history beyond your resume and possibly talking about details such as salary and availability. Although most recruiters should be familiar with the job you are being considered for, the truth is that they don’t work and interact with the entire team on a daily basis. So it has become standard to set up a phone call for the candidate with a team member or the hiring manager to explore more in-depth how you might fit in with the team, and as a preliminary exercise to gauge how well you will do in the full interview process.

To prepare, ask who will be interviewing you and what their role is on the team; go to LinkedIn and see if you can find out more about them. It also never hurts to ask what types of questions you can expect; the recruiter should know. Expect questions to test your understanding of the job and how it relates to the company; your industry knowledge and your ability to elaborate in-depth on your resume. The first objective is to see if you have the skills they are seeking.

The secondary goal of the conversation is to see how you communicate. Most companies are looking for someone who can answer questions in-depth and demonstrate a thorough knowledge of both their industry and specialization.

Physical preparation should include making sure you are somewhere with no distractions. If you are using a cell phone, make sure you have clear reception. Allot enough time so that you aren’t rushed, and have a copy of your resume handy.

Finally, ask questions to show that you are interested, understand the role and have done your own due diligence.

Kristen Fife is a recruiter, resume consultant and employment expert based in the greater Seattle area. She has worked with clients all over North America to help organizations and individuals find a mutual fit in the workplace. Ask her a question at recruiters_inbox@nwjobs.com. Sorry, no personal replies.

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