Help! Telephone call/role play test

[laurielee]

I've been invited to interview for a job I'm really interested in. First there is a panel interview, including presentation, followed by a series of tests, one of which is to be a 'telephone call/role play test'. I have never heard of this before, let alone encountered one! Do I just sit in a room with a phone and wait for it to ring and then try and deal with an supposedly angry member of public on the other end of the phone? Arghh - the thought terrifies me! Has anyone had any experience of this type of thing?

For information, the position is in volunteer management.

dont panic! it'll prob be something to test you can listen to facts properly,i had a similar test in a interview and it was to see how much we took in correctly. It might also be to check you can stay calm and not get flustered. good luck

I recently got asked to do a telephone role play during a training course, with about 20 people watching/listening - there was no phone involved, just the trainer going ring ring . I just had to stop myself giggling and focus on what I was saying rather than who was watching. It was fine.

Good Luck!

Laurilee, have you experience of dealing successfully with unhappy customers?

Think about what you did and how you did it, and make sure you transfer that know-how to the role play.

Post back if you need any more help. Good luck.

Thanks all. Unfortunately, I have had plenty of experience dealing with unhappy customers, so hopefully that will put me in good stead! I find these sort of role play things very difficult and get terribly nervous. Makes it even harder when it's a job you really want, doesn't it?

Ramyr - I hope I don't start nervous laughing - eek!