What is your experience with phone interviews?

[aaronchow]

Just curious. How long does a phone interview usually last? I had a phone interview that lasted around 15 minutes. Is that a bad sign?

The interviewer kept on asking me a bunch of standard questions, and while I was answering, she typed everything up but also didn't give me a lot of time to fully answer one question. And at the end, she emailed me an "application form" that basically repeats the same questions again.

I had a feeling that she doesn't like me, so she tried to get rid of me quick. I hope my feelings are wrong, but this was a one of a kind interview that I've ever had in my life...

 

[balamw]

This sounds like an HR screen rather than a phone interview. If the correct boxes are checked with what she typed you may actually get a real phone interview.

B

 

[blevins321]

If it was just the first round, that one is called the nutjob review . Short ones are Ok because it's just an info gathering session for the first in personal or supplemental in depth phone interview.

 

[basesloaded190]

Most "real" phone interviews are around 30-45 mins. Sounds like your situation was more of a screening process than an actual interview. Don't get worried about the typing, even in a real phone interview they will most likely be typing your answers down.

 

[bruinsrme]

This sounds like an HR screen rather than a phone interview. If the correct boxes are checked with what she typed you may actually get a real phone interview.

B

Exactly

I have had phone interviews last 15 minutes and some that ahve lasted 90 minutes.
The 90 minute one was a change in career fields and with a couple of transfers to different people, I ended up getting this job.

Some were very friendly and a lot of elaboration while others were name rank serial number.

 

[aaronchow]

Thank god if this is the case! I thought I messed up big time...

 

[codymac]

If it was just the first round, that one is called the nutjob review . Short ones are Ok because it's just an info gathering session for the first in personal or supplemental in depth phone interview.

We have a winner.


For me, HR just sends resumes based on keyword matches and the like. From there, I give a short phone interview as a sanity check - it's a 15-20 minute BS detector and to make sure the candidate can communicate. I'll likely have a half-dozen or so candidates to call after culling through what HR has sent and I simply don't have enough time to go too in depth.

I wouldn't sweat it too much if they're still in contact with you.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Most "real" phone interviews are around 30-45 mins. Sounds like your situation was more of a screening process than an actual interview. Don't get worried about the typing, even in a real phone interview they will most likely be typing your answers down.

Exactly. This sounds much more like an initial screening process, rather than a full interview.

Cheers