A great way to deal with an overwhelming number of applicants is to conduct phone screens. Phone screens will allow you to get a feel for the candidates before bringing them in for a face-to-face interview. It can save you a lot of time and aggravation and allows you to get in contact with more applicants without bringing them all in for interviews. Here are some tips for conducting phone screens:
- Don’t Call Everyone: The phone screen is the second step in weeding out the applicants (the first is eliminating anyone whose resume is not a good fit). Choose the resumes that appear to be the best fit for the position and only call those people.
- Arrange a Time: Although it may be more fitting to call the applicants and ask questions right on the spot, sometimes it is better to set up a time in the future that is convenient for both of you. This will allow both you and the candidate to be prepared and distraction-free for your conversation.
- Be Prepared: Before the phone screen you should review the resume and highlight/take notes of things you have questions about. You should also have the job description and a list of interview questions in front of you to refer back to during the conversation.
- Introduce Yourself: Start the conversation by introducing yourself and giving the candidate an overview of both the open position and the company.
- Clarify Details: The purpose of the phone screen is to get a feel for the candidate’s background and personality. The best way to do this is to ask some basic interview questions and have them “walk you through” their job experience. Make sure that their resume is accurate and up-to-date and use this time to ask for clarification of any resume gaps.
- Keep it Short: Phone screens should last 15-30 minutes. This should be enough time for you to figure out if the person is worth bringing in for an in-person interview.
- End on a Good Note: You should end the phone-screen on a consistent note for all applicants. Thank them for speaking with you and let them know that you will be contacting them in the future regarding their application status.
As mentioned before, the best thing about phone screening is that it allows you to come into contact with more applicants without spending days interviewing the wrong people. Use this time to your advantage and immediately eliminate anyone who isn’t the right fit.
