Interviews, Job Search

Top 6 Places You Should NOT Be During A Phone Interview

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Phone interviews are often your first introduction to the interviewer outside of them reviewing your resume. That’s why it’s important that you’re in a quiet place with little to no distractions. I’ve listed a few potential places where you probably shouldn’t be during a phone interview.
  1. Outside near a busy road or construction
  2. In a stairwell with bad reception (AND stairwells usually have an echo)
  3. A loud coffee shop
  4. While you’re walking down the street or up flights of stairs
  5. Any place where you don’t get clear reception. If you’re worried you can go “old school” and use a land line (if you have one).
  6. At your desk, at your current job. (Unless you have special circumstances such as – the company you’re working for is closing and they have given the ‘ok’ to take calls during working hours).
Be prepared. Have a friend call you from where you’re planning to take the call from the interviewer. Then you can confirm that you’ll have good reception and not a lot of background noise OR that you need to find a new location.
Additionally, it can be good practice to confirm if the interviewer is calling you or vice versa. If they haven’t made this clear feel free to shoot them a quick email confirming who is calling whom. You can also include your phone number one more time to make sure they have the correct contact information.
As always, don’t forget to send a ‘Thank You’ email to your interviewer!
Best of luck!!!
P.S. You can also check out an article I wrote for Hired.com on phone interview prep!
– C.C. Coach
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Career Advice, Interviews, Job Search

Don’t Fear Failure

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Interview not go so well?…
Our failures can lead to our greatest triumphs and revelations! As long as we don’t bury ourselves in defeat…
STUDY your losses and ask yourself…
“Why do I think the interview went poorly?”
“Did I answer all of their questions thoughtfully and thoroughly?”
“Were there specific questions that they asked me that caught me off guard?”
“Did I articulate my skills confidently and concisely?”
“Overall, what did I learn and how can I apply it to my next interview?”
Even when you think you “crushed it” there are always opportunities to hone your skills. After you’ve reviewed these questions and reflected on your interview it’s important to move on and use what you’ve learned to help you in your next interview. Focus on the solution.
My most recent job search showed me that each interview is an opportunity to improve and prepare for the next one. Throughout the process, I learned more about my strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. I was able to take a good hard look at my job search. I developed a clearer understanding of my non-negotiable’s and what was REALLY important to me. It enabled me to focus and ultimately find a job that aligned with my personal and professional goals. 
If you feel it’s appropriate, you can send an email to the interviewer asking for feedback. This is a great opportunity for you to end things on a positive note and get direct feedback! Don’t be discouraged if you can’t or don’t get feedback from the interviewer – you have all the tools to figure out ways to make your next interview a success.
Don’t Fear Failure! Use it to your advantage. 
“Every time I lose, it takes a really long time for me to lose again because I learn so much from it” – (TED Talk) Serena Williams 
Good luck on your interviews this week!
– C.C. Coach
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