Should you accept an unexpected phone interview?
Q: I had an unexpected call last week from an employer and did my best to answer her questions. I thought about not taking the call but went ahead, and we had a good discussion. My questions are, should you go ahead and interview with an employer or try to reschedule when you are mentally ready? Since I answered the call, is it too late to make a good impression with the employer?
A:
First impressions can be challenging to overcome. However, consider following up with the interviewer through email or a call to gather a sense of the next steps.
When you are in an active job search, the goal is to get invitations for interviews, and when your phone rings, it is tempting to answer it. The challenge with an impromptu interview is how prepared you are to talk about your background and ask good questions.
A job search is typically full of surprises, and one of the things you can control is how prepared you are when unexpected meetings occur, such as networking or a screening interview.
Here are some indications that you are not ready for an interview regardless of the situation.
• Failing to have your act together. Your resume and LinkedIn profiles are essential. However, your behavior during an interview is often a reflection of how you might conduct yourself while working. Having your act together implies answering questions professionally, taking a thoughtful approach with your answers. Consider being transparent and if the interview caught you off guard, asking to reschedule could be an option.
• Letting stress get to you. Feeling stress during interviews can boost your energy. But stress that creates rambling answers is not a good sign. The more prepared you are, the less stress you show.
• Lacking enthusiasm. Focus smiling over the phone by radiating enthusiasm and energy through your answers and during the discussion. People can sense interest by your tone of voice.
• Failing to ask questions. Even though interviews can happen unexpectedly, be prepared to ask questions. Building rapport immediately sends a message that you listen well and are comfortable communicating. The questions you ask also help you determine if this is a good opportunity for you and help you define the employer’s needs. Interviewing is a two-way street.
• Overlooking the next steps. An unplanned interview can catch you off guard. However, ending the call without inquiring about the next steps can leave you guessing. Ask about following up with the employer and the next steps with the hiring process.
• Minimizing interview practice. Every interview shares common questions, but no two interviewers are alike. Be mindful of the interviewer and why they are interested in knowing more about your background. When you fail to practice interviewing, you tend to wing your answers, and you may leave out valuable information.
First impressions can be challenging to overcome. However, consider following up with the interviewer via email or a call to gather a sense of the next steps.
Kimberly Thompson, M.Ed. is a national board-certified counselor and career coach. Send questions to kim@careerrescue.com or visit her blog at http://blog.chron.com/ careerrescue/ .