Telephone interviews have become one of the most popular ways to conduct a one-on-one meeting when geography presents a challenge. Essentially, this is simply a situation in which a telephone call is used to create the foundation for an interactive meeting in which one party is conducting an interview with a second party. There are a few applications that are normally associated with this type of interview that make it both time and cost efficient.
It has become very popular to use a telephone interview to interview potential employees. In some instances, this type of interaction is used as a screening method. People who express interest in a particular position with a company have a chance to speak with a representative of the corporation and answer some basic questions. Since location is not an issue, it is possible for applicants who live in remote areas to apply for work and have the chance to make a good impression. If the responses meet with approval, then arrangements can be made for the individual to travel to a designated location for a face-to-face meeting with the employer.
With so many companies using the services of remote employees, the telephone is often the ideal medium for a job interview. This makes it possible for people who are well versed in customer care, indirect sales, and other work that can primarily be conducted over the telephone to apply for a job with just about any company that sees value in telecommuting. From this perspective, interviews over the telephone are not only convenient, they also provide the employer with a first hand experience of the phone presence of the individual.
Along with job interviews, the telephone interview can also be helpful for individuals who are involved with the news media. Writers who need to speak with an expert regarding material or facts related to a project often find that that many busy people are willing to carve out time for ten-minute phone call and answer a few questions. Communicating in this way allows the writer to get information quickly, and without taking up a lot of the expert’s time. The result is two happy professionals who can use the extra time to get on with other tasks.
For many decades, radio personalities have relied on telephone interviews with celebrities such as music stars and other public figures. The idea is to set up an interview that can be broadcast live or recorded for playback later. The celebrity does not have to come to the radio station and does not even have to be in the same city. Musical performers often use this strategy as a way of promoting an upcoming performance in a given city. In other instances, the radio announcer may use the interview to discuss matters of local political interest with elected officials. There is also the ability to interview authors of books that have interest to the listening audience, and as a means of allowing a the director of a local, state, or national charity to answer questions about an upcoming fundraising project of drive.
