If they want to interview you, does that mean you already technically qualify?

It just means that they have selected your resume for an interview. You still have to demonstrate skills they want.

I don’t waste my time interviewing anyone unqualified.

Yes, I know, but since they’ve selected my resume it should mean I have qualified for minimum right? hah

It could be that someone is doing your boyfriend’s sister a favor by interviewing you.

You should be prepared for all sorts of questions. Don’t be nervous, do your best and see where it goes.

It most likely means you have most of the qualifications. It isn’t uncommon for a company to interview someone with most, but not all of the qualifications. If they feel confident you are competent and a fast learner, they may not be very concerned you have all the prerequisites.

Smile while you talk on the phone, people can hear your smile. Don’t use a speaker phone. Read a little about the company. Have a couple if questions ready. Do not talk about money, vacation, or benefits, unless the interviewer brings it up. At the end state that you are very interested in the position if you are.

It could mean that they are a bunch of sadistic sick puppies and they want to bring you in so that they can humiliate you.

It could mean that their HR rules require them to interview ‘n’ people before making a decision and you are just there to fill out a quota.

It could mean that they saw something in your resume that caught their eye and made them more curious.

There’s no way to tell. I have experienced all three.

Your connections have gotten your foot in the door. The rest is up to you.Your bf’s sister will be able to provide you with lots of help.

Do your homework about the company so you come in really well-informed.

Good luck.

Thanks. I’ve been reading up a lot on questions and answers online. I know my answers but I think I need to practice speaking them because sometimes they don’t come out right if you know what I mean lol.

I’m just curious because my friend went through this and I for sure thought she was going to get the job but she never got it even though she made it to the third interview step. I wonder why. She does have a snobby vibe to her though.

I honestly don’t know how could I compare to those that might have HR experience when I don’t have any.

It means you’re one of 20 people that appear to have the qualifications they’re looking for.
Remember, @chelle21689, the less said, the better.

You demonstrate the qualities that may fit with their organization.
They are now trying to determine how good a fit you are and they are willing to train you in areas deficient if necessary. Depends on there priorities.

Notwithstanding a few less-than-positive comments above, I say better you got a call than none at all—now be optimistic and go for it. Skills and experience are certainly the major part of landing a position, but they are not the only criteria—at least they weren’t for me when I was being interviewed or doing the interviewing. How you come off in person is an important part, too. So do your best in the interview—be yourself!—and then let us know what happens.

GOOD LUCK !!!

I will add my good wishes for your outcome and support the wonderful advise provided by several above. Smiling while you speak is very important—that alert, interested tone will absolutely be heard at the other end. Given that this is the interview you’ve been wanting, your genuine attraction to the company should be telegraphed. Practice the voice (in your words) you’ll use to convey that interest.

If you feel that you didn’t answer a question to the best of your ability or perhaps you didn’t quite understand what was being asked, don’t be shy about saying so . . . “Before we move on, I want to go back to our discussion of XYZ. I’m not sure my words properly expressed my thoughts—I really think . . .

Again, best of luck; and let us know the outcome!

Thanks everyone. I’ve printed off some questions and thought about what to say. I think I may sort of have to rehearse a bit…but not too much so it sounds that it has been…but enough to know what I’m going to say. I’m keeping in mind I may not get the job so I don’t get my hopes up even though I’m putting a lot of effort into it.

Good idea. Do you have some one to rehearse with? Be prepared to answer “What are some of you strengths AND what are some of your weaknesses.” I hate that question! I always say, “I am very well organized, but it doesn’t come all that naturally to me. It’s critical in a job setting that one is organized, so I’ve learned the skill.”

Your efforts will pay off. I’m in the job market myself.Not long ago it took me 3 days to get my application and resume just right for a job I was applying for. I know they got it, because I called to make sure they had received it. However, I didn’t hear back from them. :( You win some, you lose some.
Another tip: I created a folder called “Jobs” and put it on my tool bar. In it I have Monster Jobs, pre set with my location info, our local paper, preset to the classifieds/jobs sections, Craigs list (pre set.) Also, on fb there is a Cowley County Buy/Sell/Trade section. They have a subsection for jobs in this area. I saved that that Jobs folder. Also, the city jobs website, and the county jobs website. I check them all every day. It’s very quick, very easy, because it’s all pre-sorted, and it ensures I don’t miss a thing.

Good luck!

These people are busy and don’t have time to waste. They’ve invited you for an interview because they found quality in your resume, cover letter, or other communication. Congratulations!

When you get to the interview stage, you change from job applicant to job candidate. Good luck with everything.

Regardless of whether you’re being interviewed because they trust your best friend’s sister’s recommendation or not, even if it turned out you weren’t a super fit for the current job, you could be considered for another job where you DO fit, so it’s still a great opportunity to do your best, especially considering that you’re interested in HR, and this would provide double the learning opportunity for you.
Tips for phone interviews include being dressed professionally, so it makes it easier for you to feel that you’re in an interview and act accordingly. Do your best to make sure no one interrupts you and that you’re in a place without background noise that will distract you or will amuse the interviewer (negatively). If an interruption does inevitably happen, I recommend mentioning it briefly to let the interviewer know why you are acting distracted, because otherwise you might come off as strange. You don’t need to explain every detail, you just have to say, “Somebody walked in and distracted me, I apologize for not having heard your question, or for briefly forgetting what you asked. I did everything possible to avoid interruptions, but…” It’ll also help you be more natural again.
Personally, I recommend standing up to project energy in your voice.
Sometimes the first phone interviews are short and for screening initially (questions such as how much do you want to earn, what kinds of jobs do you like, are you available part-time or full-time are useful even for placing you properly in a database, and can save lots of time for the next interviewer, who might possibly be more experienced), so if you are open to other types of jobs within the company, if there’s a chance to do so, it might be good to mention it…
Definitely demonstrate how your client service skills and above all attitude will benefit the company. Find out what skills are needed for HR, and when possible, try to find similar activities you’ve done in other places. For example, if that HR representative job were to include the job task of organizing events for employees, and you never did that at work, but you did that successfully in your personal life, you could mention that. It’s a good idea for you to write those experiences down so that you can portray them the way you need to. Sometimes the job description is available on the company’s website. That would help you especially, because if you haven’t worked in that field before, if you at least know certain basic terms that they use or know approximately what the job entails, you might sound like you know a bit more….

Great answers everyone. One more thing…
If they ask whats my weakness is it bad to say I tend to care a lot about what others think? As in I want to be seen as a good hard worker and I always think about what actions reflect on the company? I can’t think of a weakness that sounds good

Somebody at the company really wants the boss to not hire the girl with the big tits.

I know…I HATE that weakness question! Try to think of something that’s relatively easy to “overcome.”
Guys how does saying “I tend to care a lot about what others think?” sound? I don’t know. I briefly watched a show the other day. This very, very successful woman said not only does society hold women back, women hold themselves back. They’re more afraid to stand up and say what they want, whereas men don’t have a problem with it. I can say I have that problem too. I’m not sure how concern about “what others think,” could be perceived….. it could go either way.

Recognizing your “weakness” is a strength. Compensating for it is another strength. As an employer, I’ve moved away from the term “weakness,” and I talk instead about our personality traits having a bright side and a dark side. Were I asking the question, it would be phrased: “Knowing that your strong personality traits can work for or against you depending on the situation, describe what you would term your “fatal flaw” and talk to me about how that has been used to create positive outcomes.”

Using your stated “weakness” of tending to care a lot what others think, you might say something like . . .

I can be quite sensitive to what others think, which I see more on the positive side. Knowing this about myself, I tend to approach situations being mindful of others’ perceptions. I feel I have keen instincts and can quickly read the other person. (Obviously, I made this up—use your own words—but stress the positive outcomes rather than the negative implications.)

As a side note, and related to Dutchess III’s observation about men, I terminated a male employee this morning. He proceeded to (very effectively) negotiate the terms of his departure, and I have to admire that. We women must learn this important skill!

Awesome! Thanks

I know in my field that employers usually have their minimal requirements which must be met to even be considered for a position. Then an employer will have what they call preferred skills which they consider a plus in addition to meeting the minimal requirements. A poorly written resume may eliminate you for consideration even if you meet the minimal requirements and have a good deal of extras to offer the employer too. Sometimes it’s who you know, not what you know like I’d learnt was the case with my last job so perhaps you could get lucky regardless.