Top Phone Interview Tips to Ace Your Job Search
Get hired faster with these foolproof phone interview tips
Phone interviews are a popular recruitment practice for a reason. During telephone interviews, recruiters can quickly assess the candidate's experience, background, and expectations to decide whether to invite them to an in-person interview.
A phone interview is your first touchpoint with an employer. Yet, it also has its challenges and requires preparation. Today, we will guide you through the phone interview preparation process. Plus, you will find specific practices and expert tips to make a great impression on hiring managers over the phone.
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Why do companies use phone interviews?
There are many reasons for a hiring manager to speak to you on the phone before scheduling an in-person meeting. Here are just some of them:
- Initial screening - many recruiters prefer to screen candidates before scheduling an in-person interview. They want to get a sense of the candidate's work style, personality, and values before moving further in the hiring process.
- It's cost-effective - scheduling many in-person interviews is time-consuming and costly for an organization. It is more effective to speak to a candidate on the phone and invite the best ones for an in-person job interview.
- Assessment of communication skills - by speaking to the candidate on the phone, an experienced recruiter can evaluate their communication style and cultural fit. So, they can decide whether they should move further with them.
- Great for remote candidates - if the candidate lives far away, a phone or video interview is a great solution. You can start the recruitment process remotely and invite the candidate to the office in the latter stages if needed.
Video interviews are also on the rise. According to HBR, 86% of employers use technology in the recruitment process. If you have a video interview scheduled, read our guide on how to ace your next Zoom interview.
Now, let's go back to phone interview tips and preparation.
Before your phone interview
If you have a phone interview scheduled, take these steps to prepare thoroughly:
Research the company.
Study the company's website, social media, and job description. By doing this, you can have a small talk about the company's news and impress the interviewer. Plus, you'll show that you are truly interested in the role.
Test your phone signal.
Make sure that there is enough money on your balance and that the network signal is good. Your phone should be charged and work properly. Make a test call to your friend or family member to ensure that everything works smoothly. You don't want to miss the opportunity because of the poorly working cell phone.
Be ready to speak about yourself.
A short self-presentation speech is a key component of any phone interview. Prepare an introduction of 5-6 sentences covering your skills, experience, and achievements. Although this is a short response, organize it as a small elevator pitch. Use an introduction, then reiterate the main career highlights, and summarize why you are looking for the new opportunity.
Prepare answers to common phone interview questions.
During the phone interview, they'll probably ask questions about your strengths, weaknesses, and experience, as well as behavioral questions. Practice answering these common questions. It will help you sound more confident and prepared.
Prepare your questions to ask the interviewer.
You'll need to ask your own questions, too. Prepare questions about the company's culture, job responsibilities, growth opportunities, and more. It will show your true interest in joining the company.
Find a quiet location.
Choose a place where no one will interrupt you. Ask your family members not to bother you and turn off the TV and laptop notifications. Occasional interruptions can prevent the interviewer from hearing you clearly. Plus, you will struggle to focus on the conversation if it's noisy around.
Have a copy of your resume at hand.
If you have 10+ years of experience, you might have a hard time recalling some project or achievement on the go. Having a resume and cover letter at hand will help you be organized.
During the phone interview
Phone interviews last only about 15 minutes, so you want to make a great impression instantly. To ensure a smooth and professional conversation with a recruiter, follow these recommendations:
Answer the phone professionally.
Use the proper phone interview etiquette - use the interviewer's title and full name during the conversation. Avoid slang and abbreviations that you use when texting with friends. Keep your tone and language professional. If you're using a voicemail, make sure that your message is professional and friendly as well.
Have a cheat sheet.
Prepare a cheat sheet with answers to the popular questions. If you get stuck at some point, you can go through it quickly and give a structured response. Write your key career milestones and achievements, too. Thus, when asked about your major achievements or examples of leadership skills, you'll have an answer at your fingertips.
Take notes during a phone conversation.
You'll probably want to take notes to clarify something later or simply to remember important points. Have a notebook and a pen near you. You can take notes on a laptop, but keep in mind that tapping can be distracting.
Listen actively.
Practice active listening to make an impression that you are engaged in a conversation and not just listening passively. Avoid interrupting the recruiter. When they are speaking, use sounds like "I see", "good", and similar ones, as there is no visual aspect in a phone conversation and you cannot communicate engagement with your body language.
Speak slowly and clearly.
You may take a few seconds before giving a response to ensure they are done speaking. If the network connection isn't perfect, speak slowly so that the interviewer understands clearly what you are saying. Maintain a friendly and neutral tone.
Be ready to negotiate salary.
When asked about salary, reply with a range rather than giving a fixed number. It will help you negotiate your salary during the interview process. Also, research the average salaries in your industry and be ready to prove why you're worth the money you ask for.
Express enthusiasm and excitement.
In a situation where they can't see you, showing excitement with your voice is the only way to show the employer that you're truly interested. Use a positive voice when speaking about your experience or the possibility of joining the company.
After the phone interview
Congratulations, you've made it! Now, a few final steps to help you make a perfect impression:
Send a thank-you note.
Send a polite follow-up note to the interviewer's email address. Express gratitude for the opportunity and reiterate a couple of key points from the conversation. Keep it super short - one or two paragraphs are more than enough. Only one out of four job-seekers follow up after the interview, so this is your chance to get remembered.
Ask about the next steps.
Clarify the next steps in the interview process and when you can expect to hear from them. You can ask about it at the end of the conversation or in your follow-up letter. You should know in advance when to expect feedback, as this will give you more clarity in the job search process.
Follow up.
If the interviewer didn't get back to you within the agreed time, follow up. If you were not given a time frame, the common standard is to follow up after a week. Send them a short friendly message inquiring about the status of your candidacy. Keep it polite and express your continued interest.
Keep applying for jobs.
No matter how great the opportunity is, keep sending out your resume and attending interviews until you have an offer at hand. Thus, you can find the best opportunity that fits your expectations. Plus, the more opportunities you have, the better terms you can negotiate with the company.
Top 10 popular phone interview questions
Usually, phone interview questions are very similar to those asked during in-person interviews. The hiring manager wants to know about your qualifications, why you want to work here, and whether you fit the requirements. Here are some popular questions you might hear (and you want to be prepared to answer).
- Walk me through your resume.
- Why are you interested in joining our organization?
- What is your project or achievement that you are especially proud of?
- What are your biggest weaknesses?
- Why are you leaving your previous position?
- What are your expectations from the next job?
- What is your desired salary?
- How would you like to be managed?
- When can you start?
- Do you have any questions for me?
More phone interview tips to get you fully prepared
To make sure that you're all set for the upcoming interview, follow these recommendations:
- Be concise. Phone interviews are much shorter than in-person ones. So, no need to reiterate all the jobs you've had since your graduation in 2005. Focus on the most important points. The interviewer will clarify later if something from your early career caught their interest.
- Be honest. With background checks, it is easy to reveal that you never went to Yale or worked for Nvidia. So, honesty is the best strategy. If you lack experience in something, admit it and tell about your unpaid projects, for example.
- Be positive. Even if you are leaving the job because of a toxic environment or awful boss, it's best not to bring this up. Use a neutral explanation, for example, that there was no room for growth or that your preferred leadership style didn't match with what the company offered.
- Be ready to address concerns. If you have a career gap or changed industries, your interviewer is most likely to bring this up. Prepare a response in advance so that you sound confident and give a solid explanation.
- Be ready for the conversation on time. If for some reason you cannot take an interview call, it's best to inform the interviewer at least the day in advance and ask to reschedule. Don't call the interviewer from a public place or when driving somewhere.
Phone interviews are the introductory step towards the in-person or video interview. Yet, they require preparation and practice. With the above tips, you will ace the next phone interview with ease and increase your chance of joining the dream company. Good luck with your job search!
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