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5 Mistakes Hiring Managers Make in Phone Screens

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Conducting phone screens are a massive time-saver for hiring managers. Not only is scheduling them much easier, but you can assess more candidates – in less time – than you’re able to do during in-person interviews.

For the candidate, it’s more practical, too. With phone screens, they don’t need to take a day off work and invest in an expensive new suit only to find out in the first two minutes of the interview that the job isn’t really a good fit for them.

However, as Tempe recruiters, there are some mistakes PrideStaff knows that hiring managers make during phone screens that can sabotage even the best efforts. Here’s a look at 5 – and how to avoid them:

Talking the whole time.

It’s important to give the candidate a basic overview of the job and the key qualities you’re looking for. That way, if it’s not a good match for what they’re seeking, they can self-select out without wasting a ton of your time or their own.

However, if you’re doing all the talking, without letting candidates get a word in edge-wise, then it defeats the whole purpose of using a phone interview to screen candidates. Make sure it’s a balanced conversation, with both parties talking and listening.

Not asking about the basics.

When it comes to finding good-fit candidates, you need people who can meet the basic requirements of the job. That means those who are available to work the necessary hours and days, who can travel if need be, and who are on the same page as you when it comes to salary. It’s therefore important to ask about these basics during your phone screen. That way, you won’t waste an hour or more with a face-to-face interview, only to find out the candidate can’t work the right hours or is expecting a far higher salary than what you can afford.

Missing the interview.

Sometimes, emergencies happen. But just because you’re busy, doesn’t mean it’s ok to miss the phone screen or keep rescheduling it. Once isn’t a big deal. If you it keeps happening, however, you’re sending the message to the candidate that their time isn’t valuable.

Taking another call during it.

When you’re interviewing a candidate in person, you give them your full attention. A phone screen should be no different. If you want to truly assess their skills and abilities, as well as make a positive impression on them, you can’t put them on hold, or multi-task during the interview. For phone screens to be effective, you need to focus solely on the candidate and what they’re saying.

Not taking notes.

You think you’ll remember what the candidate said during the screen. But chances are, you won’t. That’s why it’s so important to take notes throughout each conversation. You’ll be better able to evaluate candidates individually at the end of the process, as well as compare them.

Do you need more help with phone screens – or any other aspect of the hiring process?

Call the experts at PrideStaff. Companies from all over the city trust our Tempe recruiters to source and screen top quality candidates for a range of positions. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.

 

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