To Interview By Phone Or Not?

Starting With A Confession

I confess right away I hate the phone. I prefer to deal with things by email or messages. Yet twice I was tempted to conduct telephone interviews (2018). And for two reasons: 

• I wanted to experience what it's like to conduct telephone interviews 

• And it would boost my turnover a bit.

Call Center Office

So I spent a few days in a real small-scale call center office with others to call. I could only call, not be called and everyone had headphones on. A program choose randomly the people or companies to call from a database of customers, who agreed in advance with the customer they were available for surveys.

Not Cold Calling

I was lucky it wasn't completely cold calling, because both times they were already customers of the client. Admittedly, they were not informed in advance that they would be called for this particular interview, but the company I called for had a relationship with them that it was eager to strengthen. This brought less tension and less angry people when I called. Calling was not that bad, so I did it a second time, but still..... 

Please Companies Think Of My Ears And Turn Down The Waiting Music

When I call a company I am sometimes put on hold. Geez, those companies have the music on hold loud. I'm not a fan of music, none! So for me it was a torment to be on hold. And I couldn't turn it down, because when someone finally answered I had to know to start conducting the interview. Please companies think of my ears and turn down the waiting music.

Please Be Kind

Another thing that bothered me a bit is that I bothered people about what they were doing for a questionnaire. Most did not object and took the time to participate or made a call back appointment. But some, fortunately the minority, were not amused that they were called and wanted to know where I got their number and if I wanted to call back. Very understandable, I don't like to be called either.

No No No No

Something I didn't like and will never like is that I got rejected all the time. Well, not me personally, but the survey I was supposed to take with the person I was calling. But still, one after the other feels a bit like a rejection when I am busy all day.

Get Used To It

What I also had to get used to was the three of  us sitting in an office and hearing each other on the phone all day. Especially if I finally got a person on the line and the person next to me at the same time too. Then I hear that person asking a question and I shouldn't get confused and keep asking my questions. Exhausting!!

Is It More Effective Than Other Forms Of Surveying?

Calling all day is tough for someone who doesn't like to call. Fortunately, most of the time I am listening and taking notes. Is it more effective than other forms of surveying? Calling is not my favorite way of surveying just give me face-to-face or online, but yes it is effective for certain target group that would otherwise not be reached:

• with an online survey 

• face-to-face 

• It costs less than face-to -face. 

Would I Do It Again?

If I'm asked again and don't have another project I'd probably do it again, but I'd rather do online surveys for companies or face-to-face or analyzing them. It also depends on the survey and the company. I was already working for this company on another project and had had a helpdesktraining answering questions by phone.