The Trauma of the Telephone Interview

Is it me or has the entire Interview process become more impersonal than ever?  Back in the 'good old days' when you were looking for work, you read the Classifieds section of the newspaper.  Sunday was always the big day as new ads came out and you could spend hours combing the different categories looking for suitable employment.  The majority of the ads asked to please respond by sending your resume to a P.O. Box number.  In a few days you either received a phone call to schedule a face-to-face interview or a polite 'thank you for your interest; we'll keep your resume on file if something suitable comes up' letter.

Now it looks like the newspaper is going the way of the horse and buggy (God forbid the government step in and attempt to bail them out!).  To get a shot at some of the really good positions it is now necessary to be signed up with at least 3 placement agencies, have your resume posted on every type of web site for maximum exposure and, if you're one of the lucky ones chosen, you get the Telephone Interview. 

Ah, yes, the trauma of the telephone interview......how many of us have spent sleepless nites wondering and worrying about what was going to be asked; how we can sell ourselves; how we can make sure we stand out in the crowd.  How can we become one of the lucky few chosen to actually come in and talk to a real, live person!

I was recently tagged to begin an interview process for a dynamite position with a reputable company and here is how it went:

• Received an e-mail reiterating the entire job description, asking if I was still interested.  If so, please respond to said e-mail with date/time of my availability to have an initial 15 minute telephone screening.
• Replied to said e-mail advising yes, I was still interested and gave date/time to call
• Had 15 minute screening, which lasted all of 9 minutes (and this included the polite amenities of how I was, was this a good time to talk, etc.) with someone who sounded like a high school senior (she was in Pennsylvania).
• Since I made it thru the screening, the next step was to schedule a competency interview for 8:15 am on Saturday morning, which was to last 30 minutes.
• Up at 7:00 am the morning of the competency interview; interviewer called at 8:20 am (5 minutes late!).  While she read from a script (she was located in New York and also sounded like a high school senior), I was instructed that I would be asked a total of 6 questions and I could take my time answering (yeah, nothing like having your stomach in knots and being told to take your time!).  I felt like I was either ready to confess to a murder on the witness stand or walk the plank (and walking the plank didn't sound so bad, either).  At the end of the 6 questions I was asked if I had any questions of her.  I did; I asked how she felt I did, did my answers correspond to what they were looking for.  In the middle of my question, I was stopped and told that her responsibility was to report my answers and that was it.  I should have kept my mouth shut.  Oh and by the way this lasted 24 minutes.
• Was then told that 'someone' would be in touch in about 5 - 10 days for the next step (if I made it) for another Telephone Interview.

I have to remain positive about this whole process.  Besides how many interviews can you have where you get to wear your fuzzy turquoise robe, no make-up and make faces while you're being interviewed.

Gee, I hope they remember to send the polite letter.......