This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
There’s a weird behavior going around, and I have to say, I think I’ve only seen it in people under 30.
We have a specific time scheduled for a phone interview. I call you at that exact time, precisely on the dot because I’m neurotic that way.
You answer after quite a few rings and sound like you’re genuinely curious to hear who might be on the other end.
I identify myself and you say something like “Oh … hi” with a distinct tone in your voice that really sounds like you weren’t fully prepared to hear me on the other end of the phone.
More experienced candidates don’t do this. Good interview or bad, they generally at least sound prepared from the minute they answer the phone.
Why are younger candidates doing this? It’s as if they think it’s some kind of charade where we pretend I just happen to be calling them unexpectedly. And it is very strange.