TL;DR - How do you handle it when a potential employer calls you out of the blue for a spur-of-the-moment phone interview and you don’t really have time to prepare?

I’m currently employed but looking for another job. This is important in the sense of understanding that I’m not just sitting around all day waiting. Today, something happened for the second time in the couple months I’ve been actively looking: Ambush Phone Call.

I call it that because, like a lot of people, I’ve become relatively accustomed to an unspoken process… receiving an email or text first: “Hi… got your resume… interested in talking… would you have a few minutes to chat by phone later/tomorrow/this week?” This was a random, no-warning voice call wanting to do a quick interview over the phone. Right then and there.

Not going to go off on a tirade here. Truthfully, it’s nice to get interest of any kind.

But… I absolutely was not prepared. I think I botched this quite thoroughly. Had completely forgotten I applied for this particular job. Had no idea who was calling. Had no time to research the company or position at all. Had to ask what the name of the company was (embarrassing - though, other party also wasn’t speaking clearly). I was actively in the middle of another task and dealing with family. When I did realize it was a job call, I went down a nervous wormhole talking about experience, technical knowledge… and duties they probably didn’t care about.

Not the end of the world. It wasn’t the world’s greatest opportunity. But I likely would have aced a screening on this specific position if I had been more prepared, and had the time to better align my narrative with the specific job description.

Question Is: How do you handle these situations?

• Is it rude to politely request a callback the next day or later after you’ve had time to settle down and prepare?

Feel a little foolish and disappointed with myself, to be honest. But it does honestly make me cringe slightly when potential employers do this. I did follow up with an email thanking them for the call, and a bit more eloquent verbiage about my experience. I doubt that will be enough.

I just want this to be a learning experience so that I do better when this happens again (because I’m sure it will).