Best Practices for Conducting Phone Interviews with Consultants

With the advent of virtual and global teams, it isn't always possible to conduct an in-person or video interview; therefore phone interviews are becoming an ever more present reality in the world of work. There are several advantages to telephone interviews. They are a great time and money saver and can often indicate whether or not a consultant is suitable for a project, especially in instances where virtual communications will be commonplace.

When you are interviewing consultants for an upcoming project over the phone, here is what you can do to make your phone interview a success.

Schedule in Advance - Ensure that you book enough time for the interview, including advance preparation time. Pay special attention to time zones, and have all the necessary dialing information, including phone numbers, passwords, and emergency contact information.

Be Prepared - Ensure that all resumes and other documentation such as interview questions and work samples are handy. Familiarize yourself with the consultant's profile before the interview, as moments of silence while scanning their profile is even more awkward over the phone.