All interviews are intimidating, often involving unexpected questions and unfamiliar faces.
But phone interviews can be especially so since you can’t use your body language or winning smile to create a good first impression. That’s why it’s increasingly important to prepare for this interview type to gain the confidence needed to ace any question while showing off your character.
All interviews give you the chance to showcase your proficiencies and employee strengths — whether you’re answering phone interview questions or not. You just need to know how to prepare for a phone interview to articulate yourself well and persuasively express why you’re a great fit.
What’s a phone interview?
A phone interview is an interview an employer hosts over the phone. While not face-to-face, the goal is the same: recruiters and hiring managers are searching for the right candidate for a vacant role.
In hiring processes where you undergo several interviews to gain a job offer, a phone screen interview typically comes first — and this is slightly different than your typical phone interview. Hiring managers use screening interviews to ask questions about basic requirements — like location and education level — before offering more comprehensive second interviews. For this reason, screening interviews are generally shorter than traditional ones, with interviewers seeking simple answers that highlight your competency and skill set.
A regular phone interview often follows the screening process and is longer than a screening call, typically lasting about 30–60 minutes. In this call, the interviewer may pose questions to reveal your technical knowledge and proficiency in various industry-specific applications. They might also ask behavioral interview questions requiring specific examples demonstrating your communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.
What to expect from a phone interview
It can be nerve-wracking to discover that a first interview is over the phone. Perhaps you’ve always relied on in-person interviews to show your charisma through body language or are someone who finds phone interactions uncomfortable. Regardless, with some preparation, you’ll have all the tools to succeed.
Because phone interviews are about 30–60 minutes long, depending on yours, you might have a fairly short time to impress the listener.
Instead of providing long answers that cover every aspect of your past experiences, prepare short points the recruiter can quickly jot down while you speak. This makes it easier for them to note skills you mention that align with the job description.
If this interview goes well, you’ll likely receive a second phone or in-person meeting. During this chat, you might talk with future team members who want to ensure you’re a good team fit. Or perhaps your second interview will be a more technical call where you work through a role-specific problem with them.
13 phone interview tips to help you ace that call
Being a job seeker isn’t easy.
You spend countless hours and lots of mental energy crafting the perfect resume and cover letter, searching for relevant roles, and submitting applications. And all this effort might not lead to an interview. According to Forbes, roughly 118 candidates apply for any given job — but only 20% land an interview. That means every minute counts, and you want to make sure your answers help you move on to the next stage.
Here are 13 tips to remember during the interview process to improve your chances as a candidate.
1. Confirm the scheduled time
With employees working remotely worldwide, you must remember to confirm the meeting time in both your and their time zone. Being late for or entirely missing an interview sets an unprofessional first impression — the opposite of your intention.
2. Know who’s calling
Finding out who’s conducting the phone interview can give you a better idea of the questions they'll ask. If it’s a recruiter, they may stick to the standard “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want to work here?” questions. And if you’re chatting with a potential future teammate, the questions might be more in-depth and technical. Plus, it’s nice to greet the person by name and know who you’ll be talking to.
3. Keep your resume, cover letter, and portfolio handy
Having your resume, cover letter, and portfolio open on your desktop or within reach ensures you feel prepared to give accurate answers if they ask about an experience or qualification-based question. They’ve likely seen it, but you can give them specific references, such as, “As you’ll see on page 12 of my portfolio…” to quickly guide them to relevant information.
4. Research the company
Showcasing your company research is an excellent way to convey your interest and respect for the interviewer’s time. Check out information on the company’s website and social media pages, incorporating this research into your answers. And ask questions during the interview to show interest in their company culture. This confirms for the listener that you’re genuinely interested in working with them.
5. Create sample answers
Carefully read the job description and take note of the specific requirements and skills they’re looking for. You’ll want to select past work experience examples that fit the position requirements as closely as possible.
As it’s a phone interview, you can keep sample answers beside you, either on paper or in an online document, to refer to during the discussion.
6. Practice professionalism
If you usually only have phone calls with friends and family, the conversations most likely had a casual undertone. But it’s best to communicate professionally during a phone interview.
Take your time, answer politely, and listen carefully when the recruiter speaks. And, even though they can’t see you, wearing your interview attire may put you into a more professional mindset.
7. Prepare answers to common interview questions
Practicing common interview questions can help you become familiar with the interview process and feel more confident framing your answers. Try rehearsing aloud or with a friend to test different vocal tones and timing in a mock interview.
8. Choose the right location
If you live with others, find a quiet room and ask them to avoid disrupting you until a certain time (preferably a little after the interview so you have a moment to de-stress). This will help you concentrate on the interviewer's words and not worry about potential distractions. If it’s not possible to find a quiet place in your home, consider a friend’s empty apartment or a meeting room in a coworking space.
9. Be honest
Although you may want to embellish your work experience to secure a job, your new team will quickly unearth your dishonesty when the position starts. Being honest with the recruiter about which skills you do and don’t possess sets realistic expectations and shows your integrity.
Equally important is to be honest with yourself on whether or not you want the position. If you’re in a place to be picky, turning down a job you’re uninterested in will save you and the recruiter time.
10. Smile
Even though the interviewer can’t see you, smiling actually affects your tone of voice, instilling trust in the listener and showcasing that you’re happy and at ease. Answer their questions professionally, but allow yourself to smile or laugh if they make a joke.
11. Charge your device
When preparing for an interview, you likely have numerous thoughts and worries running through your mind. And a phone on low battery should be the least of your concerns. Make sure to fully charge your device, as you never know how long the interview will take, and where you have your notes set up may not be near your closest charging station.
12. Frame your answers
If your phone interview is short, how you frame your answers really counts. Lead with the most vital information — like skills that reflect the job description and values concurrent with the company’s — in case the interviewer wants to move on to the next question quickly. If you begin your answer with less important information and they decide to move forward, you could miss your opportunity to mention that experience entirely.
13. Prepare follow-up questions
End-of-interview questions show the recruiter your interest in the position and allow you to settle any uncertainties about the role. Prepare to ask questions about the work environment, how teams interact with each other, or the position itself.
13 phone interview questions and how to respond
Practicing sample questions and answers is a great way to prepare for in-person or on-the-phone interviews. Here are eight common phone interview questions with tips on responding to help you prepare for your next interview.
1. “Why should we hire you?”
This question prompts you to share your elevator pitch about yourself, highlighting your greatest accomplishments and employee strengths. Before the interview, prepare your answer by noting several qualities and experiences you think set you apart from other candidates. If you find it hard to list your strengths, work with a close friend to gain an outsider’s perspective.
2. “Could you walk me through your resume?”
While you might feel tempted to cover every detail in a long-winded answer, instead draw the listener’s attention to your resume’s highlight reel. Emphasize your major accomplishments and contributions to previous teams. And when they seem interested in a particular bit of experience or qualification, offer concise but important details that aren’t on your resume to further bolster their knowledge of your qualifications.
3. “Why did you leave your last job?”
Here, the recruiter may be looking for possible red flags to indicate whether or not the same situation will happen to them. It’s best to keep your answer as positive as possible and stress your desire to grow in your career. Don’t say anything overly negative about your previous company or employer, as that can seem unprofessional. Instead, keep things matter of fact and emphasize the changes you’re looking to make, whether that’s more opportunities for development or a better work-life balance. Keep it constructive.
4. “Tell me about your professional journey thus far.”
The listener wants to hear the story behind your career path to better understand where you’re headed. Your answer should also express your eagerness to learn, work ethic, and ambition. They’ve already seen your previous roles on your resume, but they’re looking to hear how you tell a story about who you are and why you’ve accepted these past positions.
5. “Why do you want to work here?”
This is an excellent opportunity to relay the information you learned about the company during your research. Mention 2–3 things you admire about the workplace and how the position might advance your career. It also helps to emphasize what you can contribute to the company, like how your robust portfolio might help you mentor their junior employees while you take on your first management role.
6. “What are your employee strengths?”
Mention strengths you possess that are relevant to the job opening and additional skills you believe could help you stand apart from other candidates. These can relate to technical or soft skills.
7. “What’s your greatest weakness?”
Provide the interviewer with answers that show your self-awareness and willingness to improve. Everyone has weaknesses, and they’re just trying to test whether or not you have the potential to learn and grow with the team.
8. “Tell me about a workplace challenge and how you handled it.”
Here, the recruiter is trying to gauge how well you fare under pressure and what sort of problem-solver you are. Use the STAR method to frame your response, which walks the interviewer through the situation, your tasks and responsibilities, the action you took to overcome the challenge, and the result achieved through your efforts. Offering this information clearly and concisely helps the interviewer understand your approach in these situations.
9. “Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?”
This question tests whether your long-term career goals align with the role you’re applying for. Even if you’re unsure of your long-term plans, you should highlight the skills you wish to develop that resemble what you’ll learn from the role to prove the role aligns with your career goals. This shows the recruiter you’re willing to adapt and dedicate yourself to the position, even if it isn’t where you stay forever.
If you do have a 3 or 5 year plan, detail how this position fits into it to reassure the recruiter that you intend to stick around and learn from the role.
10. “What motivates you at work?”
Recruiters or hiring managers likely want to know what drives you to succeed and whether that fits into the company culture. Align your answer as closely as possible with their company values while honestly reflecting your strengths. If collaboration motivates you more than autonomy, let them know that you’re a self-starter but prefer being a team-player.
11. “Can you describe yourself?”
Instead of listing off your professional experience, dive a little deeper into who you are as an individual. This is a way for the recruiter to determine what you view as your personal skills and whether they align with the role. You can express professional attributes such as being results-driven, an excellent leader, or a great collaborator through personal anecdotes.
12. “What type of management style do you prefer?”
This question assesses whether or not you’d fit well with the current manager in the new job. Although you can't know what management style your potential manager has prior to answering this question, it’s best to be honest. You don’t want to end up on a team where you can’t thrive, but you can reflect your flexibility by listing a few ways you prefer to be managed.
13. “Do you have any questions?”
Asking some concluding questions shows that you’ve been actively listening to the recruiter during the call and are curious to learn more about the company and position. Ask what a typical day looks like in your role to see whether it aligns with what you’re looking for or what successful candidates look like for this position. Any insights are valuable, and asking demonstrates your eagerness to learn before you’ve even begun.
Nail your next interview
Phone interviews are intimidating, no matter the job opportunity you’re applying for. And knowing how to answer interview questions over the phone takes creativity.
Even though the interviewer can’t see you, you can still showcase your personality through your professional tone of voice and answers. And try wearing professional attire to dress for the part and allow yourself to smile to reduce tension.
When answering phone interview questions, take your time. The calmer you are, the better you’ll remember what you practiced so you can offer them informative and friendly answers. Then, it’s up to both of you to decide whether this role is a good fit.
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