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Conquering the telephone interview

So, you’ve studied incredibly hard and come to the end of your journey in education. Or you’ve blagged it and you’re glad to be out. Either way, the door to the future is open for you to do what you want and if you’re feeling nervous, excited, driven, or just confused about what’s next – don’t worry – you’re not alone.

Every year PGL’s Recruitment team speaks to thousands of young people, many of whom have just left education. Many are applying for their first job, and many have never participated in an interview before. We, at PGL, conduct our interviews via telephone. That means you won’t have to borrow your Mum’s car to get to the interview, you won’t have to wear your Dad’s tie or show up in a suit, and you won’t have to sit nervously in a waiting room before your name is called.

However, in order to be successful, telephone interviews have their own unique mountains that you will have to climb (that was an outdoor adventure-related metaphor, get it?).

For National Careers Week we’ve spoken to our Recruitment Officers to give you some tips on conquering the formidable zip-wire-through-the-trees that is the telephone interview (that was another one!).

Remember, every company you interview with has different expectations but if you want to work with PGL – we have all of these amazing jobs, by the way – these tips will definitely help you.

Don’t answer your phone on the side of a mountain!

If you’re sailing on a boat, stood on a windy mountain top, travelling on train, on your way to the supermarket, or minding a litter of crying kittens it’s probably not the best time to participate in a telephone interview. Organise a time where you know you’ll be in a place where you can hear and concentrate on the call. If it’s a morning interview, get up, wake up and be ready. If you sound like you’ve had to scramble across your bedroom floor to answer the phone because you had to retrieve it from last night’s going out clothes, it’s probably because you have!

Do your research.

A job is a big commitment. Like a relationship, a place at University, or a mortgage agreement - you shouldn’t make a decision without knowing what you’re getting yourself into. Research the job, the location you’ll be working at, and the company you’ll be working for. Being armed with that information during your interview will demonstrate you’re a serious applicant. For instance, if you apply to become a Watersports Instructor at one of our landlocked activity centres (with no man-made lakes) it’s unlikely you’ve studied our opportunities too closely.

What do you sound like?

We’re not talking about your voice or your accent – we’re talking about your enthusiasm and your manner. The PGL experience is all about fun, both for our guests and our staff. So if you’re grumpy or rude it’s not going to create a great impression! We anticipate a certain amount of nervousness from our interviewees so try not to worry. Nerves, in general, are good because it means you want to do well in the interview. Relax and just be yourself. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation!

One. Word. Answers. Are. Not. Always. Helpful.

The interview is likely to explore the details you’ve already submitted in your application, and your life and work experiences. Basically, we want to find out if you can do the job which you’ve applied for. We’re not expecting a Piers Morgan Life Stories-length answer to every question about your personal history, but strong and concise answers will build up a positive picture of your capabilities. Brief answers with little detail might not reflect the right aptitude. Again, regardless of what role you’ve applied for, enthusiasm is one of the keys to working with PGL.

That’s about it! If you do have any questions about our telephone interviews or working for PGL, our Recruitment team are a friendly bunch, don’t be afraid to get in touch.

 

PGL Recruitment Team