Essential Phone Interview Questions You Need to Know

This is really important to understand the purpose of an interview to make you introduced with the format of an interview, to let you know the most frequently asked interview questions and last but not the least, it will help you to know how to answer those questions.

This guide helps you to tackle these skills and make you a good fit for your job role. This guide gives you insights on:

• Preparing for phone interview
• Understanding the purpose of phone interview
• Need of phone interview question
• Basic phone interview questions
• Behavioral questions
• Career Goals and Motivation
• Salary and logistics
• Phone interview questions
• FAQ
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Preparing for a Phone Interview

Telephone interviews or phone screen interview can be conducted before one can move to the next level of the actual face to face interview. But this step should not take as a regular conversation, instead it plays a crucial step in the hiring process through the phone screening. It can be considered as a good chance to describe your professional experience.

Phone interviews, sometimes called phone screens, are typically used by hiring manager to find good fit candidates for current job responsibilities by asking them some specific questions. Phone interviews, often referred to as phone screening, serve several purposes to hiring managers and is considered as initial phone interview.

Understanding the purpose of phone interview

Phone interviews are good at the first one of screening as they tend to get rid of a lot of candidates effectively. They offer an easy method of evaluating relevant education, verbal and written skills, and compatibility to meet the organization before the call or face-to-face interview.

This method would suit best for firms most employers that want to make a shorter list of potential candidates and select the best one rather soon. This way, during the phone interviews, employers do not waste their time and money talking to the candidates that obviously do not meet all the requirements for the given position.

Furthermore, the phone interviews arrange the ways to discuss the current position, expected wage, and the period of notice much earlier in the process. This stage also gives the employer a rudimentary feel of passion and interest of the candidate for the position and/or organization.

Need of Phone interview question

For both the sides of the employment process, it is essential to understand why phone interviewing is used. Phone interviews commonly known as phone screens are in most cases intended to act as a first filter that provides information on the subsequent positions.

The main purpose of interviewing is to make a decision on the minimum criteria and confirm that a candidate meets the skill set and requirements for the given position. Also, phone interviews help the employers rate the candidates’ communication skills, which are important irrespective of the position.

It allows to talk about practicalities like wages, working notice, and time that will be required to proceed to the next stages of the job interview process.

When one knows that a certain interview is going to be conducted through the phone, then they will frame answers in a manner that is relevant to the job and hence show how fit they are for that job.

For the employers, the absorption stage last job, the interview is crucial in the kind of prospects that they are to be hired for the next round of interviews thus enhancing efficiency of the employer in the whole proceeding. Below mentioned are few reasons for the need of phone interview:

Assess Basic Qualifications:

Evaluate yourself against what is provided in the job description to determine your ability to do the job or not and also consider the work ethic of the company's culture.

Evaluate Communication Skills:

Define the level of clarity you have when writing official papers or just using official language.

Discuss Logistics:

Understand how frequently and to what extent you will be willing to work, the wages you would like to get, and the time you can take before starting a new job.

Basic Phone Interview Questions

“Tell me about yourself” and other introductory questions:

This question is most often asked while and before the interview session, so you can be in a position to distinguish the behavior required during the interview session.

Here's how to craft an effective response. Below is a guideline of what one should do when writing a good response/refutation:

Start with a Brief Background:

This, in turn, should start with the writing of a Brief Background. It is necessary to specify the name, company and accomplishment: specifying in relation to the last corporate organization, the last related jobs corresponding to the applied job.

Example:

Highlight Key Achievements:

There are some specific tasks that may be characteristic for a certain state in which one can really document particular performance by understanding the job description, that proves the required competencies.

Example:

Review Your Resume and the Job Description:

Go back to the resume and the job advertisement to clearly understand the requirements of the job. Be ready to elaborate on what is being done at the current company and how the existing responsibilities render one suitable for the new job.

Example:

Practice Your Answers:

Be prepared for questions about jobs done in the call center and your strengths as well as your weaknesses.

Example:

Prepare Your Environment:

Any form of interjection and or disturbance such as knocks on the door or cracking of a joke should be avoided or done to a minimal level. During a telephonic translation, it is imperative that a good line is enjoyed on the phone.

“What do you know about our company?”

When the interviewer says: ‘’Tell me what you want to hear and know about our company?’’ it is equally pertinent to give honest answers that show the knowledge about the company and its goals, objectives, and major successes during the recent period.

For example, the notes on the company’s product line, environmental responsibility, or recent achievements might prove your earnestness. Furthermore, it is also important to get to know the company culture of which the below aspects are some of the critical components.

You should be in a position to elaborate on how the company’s core values correspond with your personal/ professional beliefs; exposing the company’s best desire to foster collaboration, creativity, and organizational improvement.

Another thing is that describing the work environment, the company’s teams, and future professional growth can also make clear that you fit right candidate the position. Exhibiting that you are drooling for this job and the company as well will definitely leave the hiring manager impressed as compared to other candidates.

Behavioral Questions

Situational questions are often constituted as behavioral questions in the interview process because they aim at grasping how the candidate has behaved in the past interactions employees and may react in the future ones. These questions may be in the style of ‘Tell me about a situation where’ and the answers are usually solution based and may try to review the candidate’s pressure handling and organizational compatibility with the company culture. When answering answers to answer these questions, it is necessary to answer them to demonstrate situations where one applied the skills and outcome of the situations.

“Describe a time when you overcame a challenge”.

Example for Engineer:

“How did you handle a difficult situation?”

When addressing specific questions about how you handled a challenging situation, concentrate on the specific steps you took to solve it, including your approach to problem solving and the actions taken by you as well as the results achieved.

Example for Handling a Situation:

Career Goals and Motivation

Understanding your career goals and motivation is essential for aligning your professional aspirations with the right opportunities. Continuous growth is among the career objectives and making meaningful contributions in my field of interest.

Example:

“What are you looking for in your next job?”

You can consider this example: "With my next employment, I want to remain in an atmosphere that will let me grow and keep learning. I seek a job with opportunities for career development where I can bring in what I know and work together with a highly innovative and forward-looking group. I love organizations that encourage collaboration, innovation, and learning. Besides, I would want to hear something like something that aligns with my career path over the long term, providing clear routes of progression as well as chances to make significant contributions".

Moreover, an understanding or workplace culture that encourages work-life balance is important to me because it boosts morale and productivity.

Example Store Associate:

Example Shoe Salesman:

Example Salesperson:

“Why should we hire you?”

This is the most common question asked by hiring manager to many candidates in a phone interview during the first-round screening interview. So, one must be well prepared with this question and can give a good answer while talking to the interviewer during the next interview after the screening interview.

Example English Teacher:

Example Experienced Teacher:

Salary and Logistics

Addressing topics matter of salary and logistics, it is important to address both compensation expectations and practical matters such as when you will be available, your notice period and your requirements for working arrangements. Employers seek candidates who understand how much they are worth in the market and whose salary expectations can fit with the employer’s budget. Moreover, addressing logistical concerns such as current job status, relocation conditions or flexibility of working hours demonstrates seriousness and preparedness about the position.

“What are your salary requirements?”

When asked about your salary requirement range it is very essential that you provide a well-informed range that reflects on your skills, experience, as well as industry standards. Knowing what typical salaries are for this role in your area and taking into account your personal financial needs will help you come up with a competitive yet fair figure.

Example Nail Technician:

Example Marketing Assistant:

Example Digital Marketing Specialist:

Phone Interview Tips

Preparing for a phone interview requires some unique strategies compared to in-person interviews. Make sure you have your resume in perfect condition. Here are some essential tips to help you excel:

Dress the Part:

Even though the interviewer can’t see you, dressing professionally can help you get into the right mindset and project confidence.

Stand or Sit Up Straight:

Your posture affects your voice. Standing or sitting up straight can help you speak more clearly and confidently.

Use a Headset:

Using a headset frees your hands and ensures better audio quality so that your phone interview answers are appropriate to the job description.

Keep a Glass of Water Nearby:

In order to avoid dry throat which can heavily impact your voice quality, make sure that you keep your body hydrated.

Eliminate Distractions:

Make sure that your phone is fully charged and on silent mode, and also ensure that pets or kids are away from you as they may interrupt you.