How NOT to job hunt

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Ha ha ha - This is unbelievable!
1) Why wouldn't you answer the phone?
2) Why do you think that this website is only for English speaking people?
3) Why don't you answer and schedule the call at a more convenient time?
etc. etc.

Never assume anything! It makes an ASS out of U and ME.

As an HR manager, there are usually no less than 20-30 people for each position that we have open at any given time. When we schedule a phone interview, and that person does not answer, and we are calling at the agreed upon time, then we pass that person over and do not even consider them any longer. There are more than enough candidates to take the job, and I will usually go with one of the people who answered when I called them at the appointed time.

To the person that said "HR people, they seem to have the easiest and probably most worthless job." Well , that's good to know. I've been a recruiter now for 11 years, and make $80,000. How much do you make d-bag?

I feel the only valid reason for a phone interview is for an out of town job. I've always felt that the drive to the job interview was a perfect way to guage the daily commute, if you get the job.

Chances are, if you have been submitting your resume around that you should be prepared for a call requesting an interview. If I remember all of my phone interviews correctly, I've been blessed with either having a set time or I've been asked if "now is a good time", which I've never felt the need to lie about! If I don't recognize the number, I don't pick up if it's not the appropriate time - again, that's ONLY after I know I've been submitting resumes. It's just common sense.

Every time I have ever had a phone interview the interviewer has been late calling me. It was annoying because I scheduled with someone else to take care of my son while on the phone. Another time I put my son to sleep, and 30 minutes later was worrying about him waking up if they called. They did eventually call, but that is ridiculous. I always have gotten a second interview except for once.

I am amazed by some of the comments in this post. I have experienced applicants showing up for their drug test drunk, rude interviewees and one guy who took all time allotted for the interview to answer 7 questions (out of 40), while saying nothing. When there are potentially hundreds of people applying for 1 job, if it were me, I would be grateful to get any interview. It shows that I have a good resume and qualifications.

My advice, stay positive, treat others how you want to be treated, don't treat the company or HR as an enemy and keep trying. Any anger or frustration you are feeling will come out in your interview whether it is on a phone or face to face. I know that I would rather work with people who are not negative.

Keep your chins up in this rough job market. Oh, HR people are just that, people. People make mistakes. As one of them, I have appreciated the comments made, as I may be able to learn a few things from you all.

I had a phone interview scheduled, I went to a quiet place, waited 15 minutes then went back home. The recruiter called me, I asked if he wanted to reschedule? He said no, said that he was going to do the interview now. I told him that if I were in his reception area, and I had not been recognized after 15 minutes that I would have left. He continued to call me a few choice names, told me that I would never get a job with my attitude, and hung up the phone.
The same company called me back a week later, told them my story and let them know that I don't need them.

I had a phone interview that was facilitated by an agency. The response that I heard was "he seems too much of a shirt and tie kind of person and this is a laid back office". Can someone explain how I am supposed to interact in a laid back kind of way on the phone with someone I've never met face to face?

I've said it before and I'll say it again ... I'm starting a new club . It's called the Common Sense Club. Many will apply, however, few will be accepted.

All kidding aside, where has common sense gone ? It seems there is a generation of younger people (I'm in my late forties) who think they NEED to be accessible at all times. This shouldn't be the case. If at a time when you are called or are returning a call , you happen to be engaged in some sort of activity where you can't give your undivided attention , just what does that say to your potential employer?

I am self-employed and I've had to hire (and fire) people . In my trade, safety is of the utmost importance to me as well as following directions when needed . Therefore, in an interview , if I notice a particular person cannot give me their fullest attention when I am interviewing them , it says very loudly and clearly their attention is divided and they are not focusing on the task at hand. It also speaks of the lack of respect as well. Therefore, this particular person will NOT be working for me.

Years ago when I was looking for another job. I had a company call me for an un-scheduled interview. I had already had on phone/pre-screening interview with HR rep that went well, but I heard nothing from them for over a week. The very day that my suitcase is packed to go on a trip and I am walking out the door with friends, I get a call out the blue for an interview with 4 people on the phone. Yes, I should have looked at caller ID, but I did not. I politely explained that this was not a good time for me since I about to leave town and ask that we schedule another day for the interview. They sounded disappointed and said they would get back with me. When I returned from my trip, I had a message from the HR rep who did the pre-screen interview that said I was un-cooperative with the interviewing process. What process?? At first, I was pissed, but then I thought this company is totally un-organized and un-professional. I do not want to work for them. If they could get 4 people together for a conference call interview, then they could have (should have) at least informed the interviewee.

I AM a recruiter who participates in telephone interviews, as a first interview. First, I always explain where I am calling from, what position they have applied for and that this is a first telephone interview and it will take approximately 10-15 minutes. I have the common courtesy to ask if that is something they have time for, and have no problem with someone saying "Actually, I'm in the middle of .... can I call you back?". I would prefer it, as opposed to someone taking a call while obviously distracted. Secondly, telephone interviews are a great way to gauge several aspects of a person's personality. If you are rude to me on the phone, how will you be with your management or co-workers? If you can't answer simple, open ended questions with more than a one word answer, how will you follow and articulate complicated directions required for the positions applied for? A phone interview takes 20 minutes of my time. A face to face interview takes about an hour and a half. Why would I waste my time bringing in a candidate who is unwilling to work the hours needed, or who finds the starting pay unacceptable? Lastly, the reason most of you haven't been hired, from what I can read, is your attitude. Human Resources employees are not clueless. We are not idiots, or out to hire you because you look a part. Our job is to know humans, and we can smell that disdain for our position from a mile away. We are overworked and underpaid, and do our damndest to find the best candidates to fill our dwindling number of open positions; mostly because we don't want to have to fill it again when the idiot who was on the toilet during the telephone interview can't keep up with the job. I hold a detailed job description for every position I hire for, do your training, paperwork and process your payroll. When you are behaving like spoiled teenagers, I fix it. Learn how to write a resume. Research my company and the position you're applying for, and show some enthusiasm when I call you, because if I did, it was after choosing you out of the hundreds of applications I receive daily. It is not OUR loss if we don't hire someone who is too important to take 10 interrupted minutes out of their day to give us their undivided attention, it’s YOURS.

It was only once, I swear. I had to go to the bathroom really badly. I accepted the call and suddenly had to do my business. I ran to the public restroom, dropped my pants, while talking to the recruiter. I ripped a loud, prolonged fart right before..........
Sorry..

What seems to be lacking here is basic common sense. If you really want to get the job, you need every condition in your favor. Recruiters and HR people are basically salesmen and junior psychologists. Obviously, conducting an interview, you’re being profiled. Everything you say it’s being analyzed by the person doing the interview. Although, they can’t see you, that heightens their abilities to hear and judge your presentation on the phone. Likewise, if you elected to do an audition in a stadium hall or carnival, how can you hear and respond? You need 100% concentration. Less than that, you are coming across as a babbling idiot without any cohesive thought. If you are miss judging the key questions being ask due to background distractions, than you are not giving the appropriate responses. You are not bringing your best “A” game. And the person doing the interviewing has the upper hand and advantage. The interview should be on a mutual level. Then again, the interviewer is not going to tell you that you sucked and you can kiss this job good bye. So it behooves you to never agree to conduct an interview, where you are at a disadvantage, even though your ego convinces you that you are greatest thing since slice bread.

Sea 2010 12 25

Come on is everyone missing the boat on all these multi-tasking future employeees. All the job descriptions out there want multi-taskers and people who can do more than one thing at a time. So why are they so put out by a bit of multi-tasking during the interveiw process.

One time I was called regarding a job when I was in the middle of a chess game. I take chess very seriously. I was playing chess on line the interviewer did not like that fact that I did not stop the game. However, I was playing chess with another person on line, before the call. My plan was to finish the game, then stop playing.
In retrospect, I should have just stopped playing chess.

Some people have mentioned letting the phone go to voice mail. When companies are looking for people. They stop looking when they have found the people they want to hire. I think it is a good idea to take the call. If you are in the middle of something ask, "can I call you right back".

two comments: 1)I got too many calls from companies that wanted to do the INTERVIEW right then, right there. Two that I asked to scheduled a time wiht never kept the appointments. The others seemed unconcerned that they were interrupting me or a meeting etc. 2)I scheduled a call with a group I really wanted to work for. I told my staff NO calls, no interruptions. I put a Do Not Disturb sign on the door and LOCKED the door. Two minutes into the call I got the first of 12 interruptions by my staff. I lost the chance for the job and I lost my temper with my staff. Next one will be taken offsite or in my car in a store parking lot.

I had an interesting experiences while in a phone job interview for a business analyst position. The recruiter indicated the company was very interested in my profile and want an introductory phone interview where I describe my 20 year experience as a BA. I was all set for the introductory interview, and as a backup plan I logged online to see what questions are asked for positions related to Business analysts and landed on a webpage that describes the role, and all sorts of theories associated with the role. So I kept it on and waited for the phone interview.

Later I get a call from the company recruiting manager he started by asking me if I am aware he will call me and if I had more than ten years experience as a Ba, and my answers were yes. Then the next set of questions were:

What is UML? What are the tools to use as a BA for UML Diagrams. Then he asks Define BA Methodologies, and define Functional requirements, and nonfunctional Requirements?

Wait a minute these are questions you ask in college not in an interview, but worse of all they are the same questions I have in front of me on the web page I was researching, and in the same sequence! I could not answer the same way I am reading on the website in front of me. Needless to say, he ended up saying do you have any questions for me, and I indicated that he did not ask anything about my experience, and he said that he wants to know if I know what I am applying for ? I did not get the job. What should I have done different? I was ready to describe all projects I worked on, give references, and discuss the technical details and methodologies I used but not to answer theoretical questions that can be asked in a Business analyst course in College or for a fresh graduate? Any Comments appreciated.

Unscheduled calls for interviews are very bad. I arranged a quiet place to run to on a call but the elderly person I cared for started screaming at me after a few minutes and would not calm down. I could not explain adequately to the interviewer and I lost a major opportunity with an internship. It was the most horrible experience. There was not caller ID, message centers or cell phones back then. I never recommend interviewing on a phone for anything. I also recommend those who think this is a good thing should rethink.

Man oh man... lots of talk about when to answer a phone! I would never answer a call in a meeting, or when face-to-face with someone. But don't answer when walking a dog? Huh? I don't own a dog, so I'm not sure if the dog would be offended by a phone call. Or, more likely these posters don't actually WALK the dog, they take him/her outside for just long enough to twirl one down... that ain't walking the dog, but that's a wholly different website topic... something like pet abuse issues...

One means of being successful in a job interview, telephone or face to face, is to take control of the process. If it's an HR person, assume they have no knowledge of the skill set and define it for them. Be the expert. If it's the working manager trying to fill out their team, assume they are uncomfortable with the interview process and guide them through it.

Overcoming the "over-qualified" rejection involves watching for the cues and taking the justification out of it. With a working manager who is your potential new boss, explaining how you will make them look good, how you're looking to work on their team to everyone's mutual benefit and how you take satisfaction from a former boss's promotion based on a project you contributed your expertise to. You want them to feel you will be their personal asset toward success.

In this economy, you have determine how to best play the interview game. You can be the easiest road to completing their task, feed into their dreams of personal success or the person they most want to deal with on a day to day basis due to your engaging personality. Best bet, try to be all three.

The job seeker is a salesman. Ask any successful salesman what they really sell and they will tell you, they sell themselves. The product is only incidental to the process.

This is my only problem what does that have to do with the job, people want to work what is going on with our society, I have two college degres and over 14 yearrs of experiance and you are telling me I'm not going to get hired because of the pet peeves of the hiring manager. So how does the manager go about picking the best talent. I have been in a number offices where I did not get the job, but I was also aware of the fact that the people who had the job wer not on my level but there working. So does that make me negative or is that just a sad reality of the real world?

I take dumps all the time when on a phone interview. It really takes a load off and makes you feel confident. I think one time the manager heard me though, I ate a lot of Chili Dogs and he didn't call me back.

To all - Many of your comments are very poignant. While it is true that etiquette goes both ways, it is also true that you should 'know the rules of the game' so to speak. Even though it is disheartening to hear some of these personal truths about hiring practices, remember that this thread is not representative of everyone in Human Resources. Unfortunately, we do live in a time where jobs are rather scarce, however when searching for a job you should always stick to the basics. First, keep you resume short and sweet. Highlight what your accomplishments in current and former positions in a few bullets. Next, make sure you get at least three pairs of eyes to look at your resume. When it comes to grammar keep all former jobs in the past tense. As for punctuation, pick a style and stay consistent throughout. Now for the tricky part, give yourself an assessment. Are you looking for the same type of job, or do you want to branch out? What I have noticed is that unsuccessful job seekers just keep hitting send for anything. If your heart is not in it from the beginning then your setting yourself up for a less than stellar interview. Decide on what is important to you about a position (location, salary, upward mobility, transportation assistance, etc) then use these when you get asked that infamous question: "So, do you have any questions for me."
Finally, use your networks. Talk to so and so to see if there are any prospects at that cool company s/he works at, chat people up at parties and express interest rather than asking outright if a company is hiring, use social networking sites with discretion - send a few people you know well (both on and OFF the web) a note about your search and see what happens. You'll never know unless you try.

***My last - and possibly most important - piece of information is: STOP LOOKING FOR JOBS ONLINE. Open a newspaper, magazine, or local periodical to look for positions. If a company has the cash to drop on ads in the paper and online, it may be a sign they are doing well. Running ads is rather expensive - which is a large factor that plays into the attitudes of some HR 'professionals' because they eventually expire, and have to be renewed until the position is filled. That said, you can't take job searches personally even though it feels like that is the only way to take it. Know that there is another 8/9ths of activity below the surface that has nothing to do with you. So, do whatever you can to keep your spirits high and start with knowing that you are most likely well qualified so keep going until you find the right match.

Mrs Lorenz

What a waste of web space This common sense Mrs Lorenz you have to be bored to death at your job.

You people are really over-thinking this whole thing. As an HR executive who came up through the HR ranks and has an advanced degree,I can tell you that employers long for the right person for the job. Not the cutest, youngest, oldest, most experienced, least experienced, the one with the biggest smile, best hair, most confidence, sharpest suit, most education, etc. We want the right person; yes, the right fit. That means your years of experience in a particular field does not entitle you or make you the best fit for a specialized position within that field.

The fact that you have a master's degree is meaningless unless you have the skill set we are looking for. And that's what it boils down to - having the right set of skills and knowledge of the job to enable you to be productive from the very start. Nobody wants to waste money training you beyond the basics.

My best advice, stop applying for jobs that you know are a stretch for your experience level or skills. Be honest with yourself and don't blame HR or hiring managers when you don't get the job. Obviously you were NOT the right fit or you would have gotten the job.

This is from the heart, rather than churn out resumes and face repeated rejection, just apply for the RIGHT job, a fit for both you and the potential employer.

Now, relax, take an honest look at what you bring to the job and leave out all that fluff, and apply for jobs you can really OWN!

Good luck!

4 years ago a recruiting agent called me in response to my job application and scheduled a 3-way telephone interview for the following day. Both he and the corporate manager (under whom I would be working) called on time and we talked for about an hour. At the end of the telephone interview I was given a good offer, which I accepted and did 18 months of contract engineering. There was no in-person interview, the first time I met the boss was to do the paperwork and get started on the job. Sometimes telephone interviews do work.

I work in a retail store where I occasionally
walked into the public restroom only to find
someone talking on their cellphone while standing,
or SITTING on the toilet. I don't care if that person is talking to a much hated ex-mother in law
or their spouse. Is the bathroom...while deficating,
really the best place to have a conversation with
ANYONE??? Was the topic of conversation SO important that it couldn't wait a few MINUTES???

I admit to trying to make EXTRA noise ( flushing
more than once, running the water long & hard ) just
to annoy or disrupt their "CRUCIAL" conversation.
What I'd really LIKE to do is bang loudly on the stall wall in the hope that it will scare the serial
conversationalist into accidently dropping their cell phone into the toilet ( that's where some of their PUBLIC conversations were anyway ). REALLY?!?

Thank you, everyone, for all the great laughs! Reading this sure reminded me that I am happy to be alive another day, even if I still haven't found permanent work!! [But seriously, many of your comments should really be reserved for your face book walls.]

As desperate as most of the unemployed are today, we still don't have to be made to feel that every single telephone interview, especially with a recruiter, should be treated as if we were speaking with the President. Don't forget, we are interviewing them too. Manners and courtesy are the key, so if I take the call, I am prepared to speak with them in an appropriate setting, or I ask them if I can call them right back. As far as all scheduled telephone interviews go, only a complete moron would think it appropriate to do anything other than be in a quiet environment with pen, paper AND resume in hand. Using a toilet, fighting with a family member, walking your dog should all be reserved for telephone conversations with your friends. Who else is still going to like you once they realize what you are up to?

Good luck to all of you and let's bring on 2011. It's going to be a prosperous one for all of us, I can feel it!

Once I read the words, "riding the bus" I stopped reading. Why would I take advice from someone who uses such a subpar form of transportation? Whatever, cube monkey.

I completely understand about not answering the phone while preoccupied and how your surroundings appear to the recruiter. However, I had experiences with recruiters who called me while I was on the noisy train or extremely busy but, when I return calls they are usually not returned. I usually call within 30 minutes. That can be an extremely annoying aspect of the job hunt and it's very frustrating to candidates.

I recommened 44 insider secrets that will get you hired by Cynthia Shapiro. This really gives you a good insight into how the market is now and indeed, that we are being excluded from the get-go by HR departments. ANY red flag and it's the end. The employers are the ones at risk to lose their job if they hire the wrong person be it for whatever ethical or unethical reason (or "legal"), not the would be employee.

As a Corporate Recruiter when I call candidates I realize that I often catch people during moments when they are not in the ideal location and I always ask "is now a good time to talk?"

I've interviewed candidates while they are in cars, at the store and many other places. Professionals will find a quiet place, even if it means they need to walk out of the store and call you right back - which is OK.

Please keep in mind that if you have posted your resume to a job board or have applied somewhere, there is a chance that you'll receive a call from an unknown number.

For this I have some advise that I can give from experience talking with literally thousands of job seekers:

1. Always answer the phone professionally.
2. If you are not in a good place, i.e. in the bathroom (toilet flushing, water running), around screaming children, driving next to a police officer - let the call go to voicemail, I'll gladly leave a message and you can call me back at a better time.
3. If you do answer and you are not in a good place, tell me and I'll schedule a time to have a conversation at a later time/date - I actually prefer this, it's a win/win.
4. I realize that with phones background noise is sometimes unavoidable - like the ice cream truck driving by at a "perfect" time. But try to take steps to not let it be a distraction. Some pet peeves: hearing a TV/Radio in the background, holding a crying child while talking to me, talking in the car while your friends are talking loudly in the background, any kind of flushing, and if you've had a couple of/multiple drinks just don't answer the phone. Yes, this has happened, not just once but many times.

My two cents...