Not an April Fools’ Day joke: 10 tips to nail your phone screen
Oh hey!
Late March/early April is an exciting time of year for me. We just finished celebrating my daughter's birthday (her favorite present was her first pair of Doc Martens) and my head is buzzing with April Fools’ Day joke ideas. I always have fun on April 1. When I first started running Green Corps, I played an elaborate joke on my Board requesting that one of the leadership teams relocate to Montreal. That was back when remote work was unheard of. We all had a good laugh.
This is no joke: this newsletter is about how to nail your first phone interview with an organization. Just like having a laugh with someone can build camaraderie, knowing how to navigate the initial interview can be the foundation for a relationship with your interviewer.
Last week I did a series of calls with people on the job hunt and a number of people asked me how to get in front of hiring managers and the answer is that you have to go through the process and impress people along the way. Often phone screens are your first chance to be impressive.
10 Tips to nail your initial phone screen:
Prepare for the phone screen. I always tell people to review the job description line by line as most of the questions are going to come directly from there. Have an answer for how you’ve done every requirement. If you don’t have an example, prepare a story of when you’ve done something new and how you nailed it.
Be ready to answer an opening softball question. Prepare your answer to something like: “Tell me about yourself” or “Tell me why you are interested in this role.” This is your chance to make a strong first impression. Write down your answer and practice it with a friend.
Research. Set a google alert about the organization. Read the website. Also research the person you are interviewing with. Look them up on LinkedIn. You look like a rock star if you mention something about that person’s background.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Try to just be present during the conversation. Turn off notifications and be focused. Don’t worry if your interviewer is late or if the conversation goes long or short. There are plenty of times when I’m excited about a candidate and I’ve kept the conversation short. In my head I’m just trying to figure out if I should move this person on. Once I’ve made that decision, I might try and hop off the phone if I feel like they don’t need anything else from me.
Don’t ask too many questions. It drives me bonkers when someone asks me a bunch of questions about the organization and the vision. I'm the recruiter and I don’t know everything about the organization. We have a lot of clients who are incorporating Q&A sessions into the process so that candidates can ask all of their questions. Keep your questions for a more appropriate time.
Do ask about the timeline. This is a reasonable request and your interviewer can give you insight on what to expect.
Send a thank you note. There is a trend to avoid this part of the process. I have seen an organization come down to two finalists: one sent a thank you note and one did not. The person who sent the thank you note got the job. This also helps to cultivate the relationship. You can get the email address from a calendar invite. Send the thank you note right after you meet with the person.
Build your network. Send the interviewer a LinkedIn invite. Always think about building your network.
Do not ask for feedback if you don’t get the job. My fancy lawyer told me not to give feedback and I don’t know any of my colleagues who do.
Keep focused on the goal. Your goal in the initial phone screen is to get to the next round. Double down on suggestion #1: Prepare.
I am highlighting 10 opportunities this week. Be sure to check out all 42 of our searches. Twenty of those positions are remote.
Opportunities NRG is hiring for:
VP, Development at Movement Labs; $150,000-$200,000; Remote
Lead Community Organizer at Direct Action and Research Training Center (DART); $60,000-$70,000; Bradenton, FL
National Policy Associate at Azul; $60,000-$65,000; Washington, D.C.
Political Experiments Associate at Movement Labs; $50,000-$58,000; Remote
Human Resources Associate at UTEC; $51,000-$66,000; Lowell, MA
Policy Director at NAPAWF; $90,000-$110,000; Washington, D.C.
Opportunities NRG is hiring for in education:
Director of Philanthropy (Washington, D.C.) at BUILD; $95,000-$110,000; Washington, D.C.
Manager of Community Outreach at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles; $62,500-$70,000; Los Angeles, CA
Teacher Resident at Libertas College Prep; $29,000 stipend; Los Angeles, CA
Senior Director of Academics at Nashville Classical; $130,000-$145,000; Nashville, TN
In addition to this list, you can find more opportunities on the website.
Follow NRG on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on all of the roles we are hiring for. Also, we are upgrading the NRG Talent Network. If you signed up for the Talent Network any time before 2-3 weeks ago, then be on the lookout for an email from me in the next few weeks. We’ll need some updated information from you.
Happy almost April Fools’ Day,
Naomi
P.S. If you want assistance with your phone interview skills, sign up right now for 15 minutes with Kristin to learn how NRG’s coaching programs can help you. Whether you’re an entry- or senior-level candidate, Check out the programs we’re offering on our website, and get in touch with us.
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