[xuai431]

I just finished a phone interview with a HR from a great company concerning a staff accountant position. Questions are quite straightforward. She asked me about multitasking, decision-making, bring new ideas to the team and Excel experiences. I answered those questions, but I had a headache that time and someone around me keeps making noise which totally screwed up my moods. Although I answered those questions and try to focus at my best, I do not think I do a great job. I think I did not state my answers clearly and in an organized way. I had the pain and was full of fear, worry. I did not ask too much questions due to my terrible situation.

After the interview, I sent an email to explain my situation, about my headache. I apologized sincerely about not dong my best. But I like this position a lot. I hope I can speak with her again. She relied and agreed to talk with me again tomorrow.

I want to ask for some advises about what I should say tomorrow. I do have a couple more questions about the position. But what else?

Thank you all!

AUD - 96 June3
BEC - 87 July 2

[Anonymous]

I would first off do everything in my power to make sure that tomorrow you're in a great state of mind and environment. If that means going and renting a hotel room to have somewhere peaceful to talk (since most hotels are vacant mid-day…), then do it. Not sure if the noise issue was something likely to be repeated or not, or if you have family in the area that has a calmer area that you could borrow their house for an hour, etc., but I'd do whatever it takes. Then I'd make sure to sleep well tonight, and maybe even take a preventative tylenol a bit before the phone interview, if you're prone to having stress-headaches and worried that you might get another from the pending call.

As for what to do on the call itself…when you're the interviewer, it's always more about *how* someone answers than *what* they answer. So, “can you multi-task?” 75% of the candidates are going to say “yes” in one way or another. But that doesn't mean 75% of the candidates are equal, cause everyone's way of answering that question is going to be a bit different. You've already got a preview of what she'll be asking, which is a nice benefit; she's also already (based on your interpretation of how the call went) got a negative view of you, which is a drawback. So, think through the expected questions, what answers you gave, how you can answer slightly differently that will be better, and how to make your answers sound as much as possible like you're always 100% polished, professional, intelligent, etc. You don't want to sound like you prepared for the interview; you want to sound like you're naturally always so on-the-ball that it doesn't take any preparation to be at that level.

Asking good questions is important. HR won't always have the answers to those questions; usually asking those questions becomes more important with the hiring manager. However, having some questions that will set you apart in a positive way will still be good.

I think the biggest thing, though, is giving off a good impression of you as a person. The answers to the questions that aren't behavioral (things like Excel knowledge) are probably just a checkbox on HR's form “Candidate Excel knowledge: [ ] Yes [ ] No [ ] Questionable”. So, you've probably given the right answers already, but may not have given them the right way to get the HR person comfortable with you as a person.

[xuai431]

@Lilla. Thank you for your advice. I think I have made my point on answering those questions,about what I did and gave some examples, but not in a very organized way. I personally like an answer concise and clear. For the phone call tomorrow, I think it wont be the same interview as today. I do not think she will ask those questions again. I believe I will be the one asking questions and talking. I want to know, except those questions I prepared, such as I want to know their training for new hires, about their international offices. What else can I say? Or I just prepare a lot of questions?

AUD - 96 June3
BEC - 87 July 2

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that this is your opportunity to impress her with who you are as a person. So, try to engage her. If you can get a conversation flowing, so that at the end of it she's like “Man, that was a really enjoyable call, I'd love having that person be part of the company”, then you win. So, maybe ask her some questions about if or what interactions she has with the accounting department, what her favorites parts of working for XYZ Company are, things like that which might draw her into conversation. Something that's just a specific answer won't make for a long call or an in-depth conversation. You want to show you are interested in gaining that information, but you also want to have a conversation.

Also, questions and conversation that show your interest in and knowledge of the company. You mention they have international offices, so do some research on that. Rather than just asking her about international offices, see if you can find something about them having offices in Singapore that are going through growth, and then maybe you can say that you read about the growth in the Singapore office, and were curious if this role you're interviewing for would have involvement with the international offices, assisting with their accounting or coordinating with counterparts in those offices etc. Something like that.

[Author]

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