Phone Interviews

General process:

1. Put a thingy on the phone (in between handset and bottom part) to plug into your computer
2. Plug thing into your computer
3. Use special, stupid software to record from phone.

Things I forgot this time:

1. Even though it's only one "thingy," you still need the whole ziplock baggy of "Konexx USB Phone 2 PC" crap to get it to work
2. Don't need microphone, or little 3" bit of adapter that plugs into microphone (Yes, this actually confused me for a while today)
3. Konexx software only works in Windows (only tested in XP) which means...
4. ...the software can get confused about finding the USB device, even if you tell Parallels to "Remember this association"
5. Each phone is treated as a completely new "device" for the software to figure out, and if you plug the same phone into different USB ports, it may again think it's in entirely new and uncharted territory.
6. Probably only works on the soon-to-be-obsolete office phones we have now
7. Office ladies will loan you a phone for conference room
8. Dial 9, then 1 (area code and number), then long distance code. I forgot the 1.

Tips for 3 and 4:

• Everything has to be plugged in, battened down and shipshape on the phone before the software will recognize the device.
• If the software asks if you want to run an application (EnumPrep) to check the USB ports again, do it. Every time it asks.
• With the "Abort" or "Retry" pop-up window, click Retry a few times, unplug and replug, and then click it a few more times. I know it sounds stupid, but it often works on the third Retry.
• It's a good sign when the Taskbar balloon tells you it's found a new device. Restarting Windows might help.
• Plan 30 minutes of prep time in interview space because it NEVER works the first 4 times

Things I've learned since I started this:

• The program won't install on Windows 7. In fact, it's a fun little thing where it pops-up an error (something about how it can't recognize the OS) about twice a second. Forever. Just keeps going. Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.

Genius Tip!!!

• Hole-punch the interview guide on the right-hand side so that you can have it on the left and a blank sheet for notes on the right in a three-ring binder.  I'm going to trademark this technological advancement as a "Travelling Mobility Portable Carry-Case 'Interview in a Binder' - Type Binder for Interviews."