Was I mislead? Telephone Interview

[Miggymoggymugwumps]

I'll start by saying that despite being employed for more years than I care to remember I have never had a telephone interview so I don't know if my experience was the norm.

Last week as part of the recruitment process for an Admin job I was offered a telephone interview. The person giving the interview told me at the beginning that it wasn't a formal interview but just a relaxed and friendly informal chat to get an idea of my personality, skills and to outline the basic aspects of the role.

So she started the process and we chatted for about 15 minutes, I thought it went well as the conversation was unscripted and natural.
Today I got notification that I was unsuccessful {which is fine} and the feedback as to why. This is what has annoyed me, as apparently although I came across as open, personable and enthusiastic I did not follow interview etiquette as my answers were not structured enough plus I should not have asked questions during our interaction as it is customary to wait until the end.

That's fine but she specifically told me it wasn't a formal interview so I approached it accordingly!!! Surely it was a bit unfair to tell me it was casual if she wanted a more professional response. If I got it wrong I'm more than happy to be told but wondered what you all think?

Consider it as a lucky escape, a manager who can not articulate correctly what they want isn't one you want to work for !

personally even if i was told it was an informal chat i still would have treated it as if it was a proper interview sat in front of someone. it is at least good that they gave you feedback so you know for next time. although you don’t want it to sound robotic and scripted it would be a good idea to have a general idea of answers to the typical questions that get asked at an interview. try not to worry about it and just use it as a good learning experience for next time.

I’ve conducted a lot of telephone interviews and would always make sure the candidate understood the format of the interview. If ‘no questions until the end’ was a policy, she could have made that clear.

I do wonder if some hiring managers are still stuck in the ‘You’d be very lucky to get this job’ mentality and forget that it’s actually in their interest to fill a vacancy.

You're talking to a potential employer = it's an interview, even if they say it's an "informal chat"

A lucky escape me thinks.

I hope the next one is far more transparent!

Wtf? Yanbu.

personally even if i was told it was an informal chat i still would have treated it as if it was a proper interview sat in front of someone. it is at least good that they gave you feedback so you know for next time

^^ It pretty much doesn't matter what they say. Between the people who draw up the job specification, any recruitment agencies, the people who dispense the information about the interviews, the people who actually conduct the screening interviews etc. - it's best to assume that it's the phone equivalent of 'smart business casual dress'.

It's unusual to have any feedback. I hope you find a position that suits you - Good Luck, OP.

They sound like they either don't know how to interview or aren't great to work for . I've been told interviews will be informal chat, but I never believe them now from experience. At one place i walked in to an 'informal chat' to find a panel of 6 who were weirdly aggressive. I made sure to tell agency & HR it wasnt informal & that I felt like a defendant not an applicant to - as one panel member was so snide about my CV & my accent. (usually people say I don't have one). But yes to leaving questions to the end in any interview I think. And try and think what might be asked so you have polished answers.

Unless the role was as a phone interview etiquette advisor I'm not sure why a misunderstanding (caused by her poor communication no less!) about the format of the interview is a reason not to consider you any further. Consider this a bullet dodged - she sounds like the kind of manager who will time your toilet breaks.

I've had this happen. I don't think there is much informal about a 'chat' in which you can be dropped from the selection process though, and it is odd for them to pretend otherwise.

I agree with those that said you've had a lucky escape!

An interview is a two way thing. How arrogant. I would want to ask questions going along. As others have said. Lucky escape.

This is weird. It is definitely normal to get questions back during a phone interview - to the extent I would specify otherwise if I didn't want that to happen.

I agree with PP OP. I think you should look at this as a lucky escape!

Poor practice from the interviewing manager not to set expectations on questions etc at the start IMO.

I'm also thinking a bullet dodged.

As above - there are some managers/recruiters who believe they have a golden goose to offer lowly workers. And no doubt with their attitudes about your "informality" they'd also be super irritating to work for (who else can imagine the unwritten dress code of being expected to have your hair up for example?!)

That being said, do take their advice on board and try and be slightly more professional during your next informal interview. If someone is generous enough to give you feedback it's worth considering it.

I once went into an ‘informal welcome to the day chat’ that turned into a panel interview which inc the CEO.

It’s bad form to not be upfront and try and blindside people I think.

A lucky escape indeed! Don't let it get you down OP.

If the recruiter had wanted a formal interview, they should have held a face-to-face interview. How can a formal interview be conducted over the phone? Skype maybe, but not a phone.