It can be specific to a given project or allow you an opportunity to go into your aspirations and goals for your career in general. Most recruiting companies, due to the sheer number of resumes they review each week, will wait until a project looms before conducting an in-depth interview. Once again, the goal is to disqualify. Concentrate less on your feelings of inadequacy and more on how to make the other person feel at ease. The ability to speak succinctly about your past experiences and accomplishments will be critical.
Many technical professionals launch into long, drawn-out answers to telephone interview questions.
Although good communication seems to be up to both of you, typically that dead air will be your responsibility to fill . Although you are always judged on your ability to listen well, nowhere in the recruiting process do listening skills become more important than in the telephone interview. You'll find that your nerves will sometimes make this very difficult. I suggest that you close off all thoughts about whatever is going on around you and concentrate on the words and voice of the interviewer. It should be remembered that since so much of your success in this situation is determined by your comfort in the surroundings you are in during the call, make certain that you get yourself situated properly.