Comments on: Very Short Phone Interview – Ouch! http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2008/03/31/very-short-phone-interview-ouch/ A little career advice. Some job stories. A place to learn about career education. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:12:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Phone Interviews: Please Help Me Ace My Phone Interview! | Work Coach Cafe http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2008/03/31/very-short-phone-interview-ouch/comment-page-1/#comment-34905 Phone Interviews: Please Help Me Ace My Phone Interview! | Work Coach Cafe Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:45:31 +0000 http://workcoach.wordpress.com/?p=165#comment-34905 [...] Related posts: [...] [...] Related posts: [...]

]]> By: Ronnie Ann http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2008/03/31/very-short-phone-interview-ouch/comment-page-1/#comment-15541 Ronnie Ann Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:55:15 +0000 http://workcoach.wordpress.com/?p=165#comment-15541 Hi Lane! So sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately you're not alone. Not sure you've seen this post, but maybe it will help to know you have excellent company: <strong><a href="http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2009/12/16/5-ways-interviewers-make-job-seekers-really-angry/" rel="nofollow">5 Ways Interviewers Make Job Seekers REALLY Angry</a></strong> Sorry but I’m no longer able to answer all questions. Short ones have a better chance, but I still might not get to your question. Feel free to browse for answers in Career Topics & Archives or by using the Work Coach Cafe search. Good luck! Don't be afraid to pursue them. Stuff happens...but no reason to let them keep you from your chance. Best of luck! ~ Ronnie Ann Hi Lane!

So sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately you’re not alone. Not sure you’ve seen this post, but maybe it will help to know you have excellent company:

5 Ways Interviewers Make Job Seekers REALLY Angry

Sorry but I’m no longer able to answer all questions. Short ones have a better chance, but I still might not get to your question. Feel free to browse for answers in Career Topics & Archives or by using the Work Coach Cafe search. Good luck!

Don’t be afraid to pursue them. Stuff happens…but no reason to let them keep you from your chance.

Best of luck!

~ Ronnie Ann

]]> By: Lane Zane http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2008/03/31/very-short-phone-interview-ouch/comment-page-1/#comment-15503 Lane Zane Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:37:28 +0000 http://workcoach.wordpress.com/?p=165#comment-15503 Just had a strange experience. I was sent an email from a company and person requested a phone interview for today at 9AM. Person even sent me a confirmation email for date and time. Now, today nothing. I did not receive a phone call or email from this potential employer saying if he wanted to cancel. I researched the company, had my questions prepared. But no phone call. I am wondering if anyone else has had this experience. I know a lot of people are looking but it seems common courtesy and manners are now a thing of the past. Just had a strange experience. I was sent an email from a company and person requested a phone interview for today at 9AM. Person even sent me a confirmation email for date and time. Now, today nothing. I did not receive a phone call or email from this potential employer saying if he wanted to cancel. I researched the company, had my questions prepared. But no phone call. I am wondering if anyone else has had this experience. I know a lot of people are looking but it seems common courtesy and manners are now a thing of the past.

]]> By: Ronnie Ann http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2008/03/31/very-short-phone-interview-ouch/comment-page-1/#comment-13447 Ronnie Ann Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:27:58 +0000 http://workcoach.wordpress.com/?p=165#comment-13447 Great comment Matthew! You give me the chance to tell people to be very careful about following the advice of "experts". I do not claim to be one by the way, but still use your judgment even when listening to me! ;-) Every situation is different and there's no one-size-fits-all answer. I think you were right to give them a salary range - and to have done research for local salaries before doing so. When negotiating top CEO jobs or other such positions, it's probably smart to stay away from salary talk at all at this preliminary stage (although there are even exceptions there), but for the rest of us, a phone interviewer (screener) often tries to make sure you're at least in the ball park of what they're offering. When I did those calls, if I knew the person had been earning a lot more than we could pay, I'd make sure to get their range or I wouldn't move them to the next level. Just not worth wasting everyone's time. So I think you did the right thing. And if by any chance you want to express even more flexibility than you showed, this is a fine time for a follow-up e-mail saying the position itself is the most important thing to you. Not suggesting you show desperation (even if you feel it at times) or weakness, just saying you're open. You can decide later if it's worth it to you. And if they really like you, you can sometimes move them up from where they thought it would settle. I've had that happen in my own career. No sense closing doors unless it is absolutely unacceptable to you. Best of luck. Matthew. PLEASE keep us posted! ~ Ronnie Ann Great comment Matthew! You give me the chance to tell people to be very careful about following the advice of “experts”. I do not claim to be one by the way, but still use your judgment even when listening to me! ;-)

Every situation is different and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. I think you were right to give them a salary range – and to have done research for local salaries before doing so.

When negotiating top CEO jobs or other such positions, it’s probably smart to stay away from salary talk at all at this preliminary stage (although there are even exceptions there), but for the rest of us, a phone interviewer (screener) often tries to make sure you’re at least in the ball park of what they’re offering. When I did those calls, if I knew the person had been earning a lot more than we could pay, I’d make sure to get their range or I wouldn’t move them to the next level. Just not worth wasting everyone’s time.

So I think you did the right thing. And if by any chance you want to express even more flexibility than you showed, this is a fine time for a follow-up e-mail saying the position itself is the most important thing to you. Not suggesting you show desperation (even if you feel it at times) or weakness, just saying you’re open. You can decide later if it’s worth it to you. And if they really like you, you can sometimes move them up from where they thought it would settle. I’ve had that happen in my own career. No sense closing doors unless it is absolutely unacceptable to you.

Best of luck. Matthew. PLEASE keep us posted!

~ Ronnie Ann

]]> By: Matthew http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2008/03/31/very-short-phone-interview-ouch/comment-page-1/#comment-13380 Matthew Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:50:09 +0000 http://workcoach.wordpress.com/?p=165#comment-13380 Hi again, Ronnie Ann~ I posted about my problems with interviews on another thread, but here is one that stunned me, and I have never had happen before. I sent off an application and resume to a large behavioral health organization via computer. I received a call from their HR department less than 12 hours after I sent it. The HR person left a message that said she had received the application, and had "just one question" for me. I promptly called her back, and the one question was "What is your salary requirement for the position?" This caught me off guard, as I had not even interviewed yet! Well, based on my reading and advice from others in the field, I told her that I preferred to discuss salary "after an offer is made". She was not too pleased to hear this, and pushed for "anything-a range- just anything". I finally gave her a range that I knew was in line with current estimates in my field and in that part of the country. She thanked me profusely, and said a hiring manager would be getting back to me in "a few days" to set up an interview. However, it has been three work days now, and no call. I don't expect to hear from them again, as I am assuming that this was their primary screening tool to weed out those who they feel they cannot afford. Is this becoming more common these days? Should I have stuck to my guns and turned down her request? This seems awfully mercenary, but it might be good business practice, given the employment climate and economy. Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone else? Best, Matthew Hi again, Ronnie Ann~
I posted about my problems with interviews on another thread, but here is one that stunned me, and I have never had happen before.
I sent off an application and resume to a large behavioral health organization via computer. I received a call from their HR department less than 12 hours after I sent it. The HR person left a message that said she had received the application, and had “just one question” for me. I promptly called her back, and the one question was “What is your salary requirement for the position?”
This caught me off guard, as I had not even interviewed yet! Well, based on my reading and advice from others in the field, I told her that I preferred to discuss salary “after an offer is made”. She was not too pleased to hear this, and pushed for “anything-a range- just anything”.
I finally gave her a range that I knew was in line with current estimates in my field and in that part of the country. She thanked me profusely, and said a hiring manager would be getting back to me in “a few days” to set up an interview. However, it has been three work days now, and no call. I don’t expect to hear from them again, as I am assuming that this was their primary screening tool to weed out those who they feel they cannot afford.
Is this becoming more common these days? Should I have stuck to my guns and turned down her request? This seems awfully mercenary, but it might be good business practice, given the employment climate and economy. Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone else?
Best,
Matthew

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