One of the things you will likely have to do once you get a company’s attention is pass a phone screen with a recruiter. Whether you got on the company’s radar through connections and networking, or were one of the lucky resumes pulled from a pool of online applications, the phone screen is the first step to getting an in-person interview. The purpose of the screen can vary. Any questions raised by your resume will be addressed here. You also might get some behavioral-type questions to assess your personality. Finally, the recruiter will gauge your overall demeanor and communication skills. The person who conducts your phone screen will be the one to decide whether the hiring manager ever sees your file in order to select you for the next phase of hiring for a position. It is therefore crucial not to take this conversation lightly. Below, I have outlined some tips preparing and making a good impression during the phone screen.
Before the phone call arrives:
- Pick a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed! Lab might not be a suitable place. If you are at home, make sure any dishwashers, pets, alarms and roommates stay quiet. If you pick an office somewhere in your building, put up a DO NOT DISTURB sign
- Set aside lots of time. Phone screens can last from 10 minutes to over an hour. Don’t set aside half an hour only to have to either miss a time point in an experiment or worse, cut the conversation short.
- Be cheerful, pleasant and awake. Drink a cup of coffee beforehand, play a happy song, or do whatever you need to put you in a chipper, energetic mood. You don’t want to sound sleepy, bored, or lethargic.
During the phone call:
- Have a tailored elevator pitch ready! It can come in handy as source material when answering any number of questions, such as “Tell me about yourself” or “What makes you a good fit for this position?”
- Have stock answers for any concerns/weaknesses your resume might raise. The phone screen is where you will have to smooth out any gaps on your resume that might scare off potential employers. No publications? A year of unemployment? No extra-curricular activities? Be prepared to explain any and all of those.
- Ask questions. Have some questions ready. The person conducting your phone screen will always ask if you have any questions. Please don’t say, “No”.
- Ask about the timeline for the next steps. This is for your own peace of mind. It helps to know when you can expect to hear back (or not) and what the next steps are. A writing assessment? Presentation skills test? Technical skills interview? Site visit?
I hope these tips are helpful in your job search. Being prepared for the phone screen is a big step towards finding a position in industry. Yes, it is possible to “wing it” and improvise, and you definitely can’t prepare for EVERY question you will be asked. However, having some stock answers and talking points can raise your confidence and keep you calm, especially if you get nervous talking to people who have your future in their hands.