Why waste time?

What is the point of a phone interview?
I had a phone interview for the markets division at a top Asset Management firm and it was only 5 min.
It was an unexpected one and i just got asked where I am studying and what and will I have to relocate and my eligibility to work in this country.
The only proper question was why this company and it was easy i.e talk about a few points about the company and it seems the hr was trying to rush me so much.
It seems a pointless thing to do so why do companies waste time like this? why not shortlist candidates for a super day?

4 Comments
 

Similar thing happened to me. Got an unexpected call around 9:30 in the morning (thankfully I was on campus doing work and not at the gym/just waking up). HR rep asked if I had a few minutes to talk and I assumed she was going to invite me for in-office interview...when I said yes she asked a few basic questions and went into some behaviorals about my background and their company/industry. Probably talked for about 15 minutes before she said she would be in touch if they would be moving along with my application.

They are actually a very well respected asset manager in the area, ended up getting a superday for a week later and just heard back last week with an offer. Interesting how this kind of stuff works out sometimes.

"I must create a system or be enslaved by another man's." William Blake
 

yeah that is exactly what happened except I was zoned out after a really tough lecture haha. I also thought it was an invite for a interview and not an actual interview. I only got asked why this company and it was so rushed. How do they distinguish with so little info from the phone interview?

 

Yeah very informal. I was thinking the same thing...how do they decide to bring you in for a superday after talking for 10-15 minutes knowing you're unprepared. I had been in touch with the company and followed up a few times to see when they were starting first rounds and hadn't heard back since September haha. Thankfully knew something about the company atleast, would probably sound like an idiot if it was a company I wasnt prepared for.

Just curious, what did they give you in terms of "next steps"

"I must create a system or be enslaved by another man's." William Blake
 

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