10 Phone Interview Questions with Answers & Preparation Tips

In most job search processes, after your resume passes the first screening, you will be invited to an interview. There are many types of job interviews, and phone interviews are typically done by companies to decide whether or not to proceed to the next step of the hiring process. Phone interviews are also referred to as telephonic interviews, phone call interviews or call interviews.

There are two highly similar terms with similar meanings:

• Phone screenings are short 15 to 30 minutes calls to help companies quickly know whether or not you are qualified for a position. An in-person interview usually follows if the company decides so. 
• Phone interviews are typically longer, more in-depth conversations for both parties to know each other, and to decide whether or not you are a good match. 

Having a phone interview with a recruiter might be nerve wrecking, but worry not. In this article, we’ll explain 10 of the most common phone interview questions and answer examples to help you prepare for phone interviews, as well as some bonus tips for a successful phone interview.

As the name suggests, phone interviews are simply interviews conducted over the phone. Interview questions asked during a phone interview are similar to those in in-person interviews. However since facial expressions are not visible, you will rely more on your verbal communication skills.

Recruiters choose to conduct phone call interviews for two main reasons:

• To quickly validate your qualifications and decide whether to continue the recruitment process with you. This could save time and resources for both parties.  
• Telephonic interviews instead of in-person interviews could help avoid the inconvenience of travel, especially if you live far away from the company. 

Below are 8 phone job interview tips highly recommended for you to prepare before your phone call interview with the recruiter. 

💡 Take it seriously.

Remember that this is a telephonic interview conversation, instead of a casual phone call with your childhood friend. Answer professionally, but avoid being too stiff.

💡 Keep yourself away from potential distractions.

As phone interviews are usually done from your own house, keep in mind potential audio distractions like the sound of your fan, pets, neighbors’ car honks, or even your own family members’ chatting voice. 

💡 Do thorough research of the company and the position.

This tip applies to any kind of role and interview type. Interviewees who know more about the target company and role requirements can answer questions better, ask relevant questions and negotiate better. It also signals that a candidate puts in effort and is genuinely interested in the position. 

💡 Listen actively and don’t interrupt the interviewer.

This is one thing to pay extra attention to when conducting an interview via telephone. Pay extra attention to the interviewer’s tone of voice and be careful to not speak at the same time as him or her to avoid any misunderstandings or miscommunications.

💡 Don’t speak too fast.

In phone interviews, unlike in in-person interviews, the interviewer cannot see your gestures or non-verbal cues. It will take more effort and focused attention for them to properly catch what you are saying, so make sure to speak at a good pace clearly.

💡 Prepare for common interview questions.

Phone interview questions are similar to those in regular interviews. A very important step is to prepare questions to ask at the end of a phone interview. “Do you have any questions for us?” might sound like a mere simple question to end the interview, but it is actually a great chance for you to ask questions about the company, which will strongly signal that you come fully prepared. 

💡 Send a thank-you note afterwards.

Thanking the interviewer after a phone interview via email helps you leave a good impression on the interviewer. It shows your appreciation for their time and also allows them to remember you better.

💡 Smile when you speak.

This might sound trivial, but interviewers can tell whether you are smiling when speaking. Your tone of voice can sound more positive and cheerful if you smile when speaking. Having a positive attitude and sounding enthusiastic when answering questions will leave an overall better impression on the recruiter.

Below are 10 most common phone interview questions to help with your phone interview preparation.

This is almost always the question asked at the start of any interview. The interviewer will expect to hear a well-prepared response that explains your basic profile, your motivation to apply for that position and how you are a good fit.

This is just a simple, straightforward phone interview question that you can answer truthfully. You can explain if you knew it from your friend, a website. etc., and add why you are interested in taking action and applying for this job. 

A useful phone interview advice is to never talk bad about your previous company as this could project a future behavior for when you leave this role. This could also help them see if there is anything in particular that you value highly in a job, such as salary, teamwork, working hours, etc. 

Related to the previous question, recruiters ask this question in a telephonic interview to see what you put more weight in when deciding whether to work in a position or company. You may show that your values align with the company’s mission and vision, or that you like the company culture or products. 

This phone interview question aims to test whether or not you have a basic understanding of the company, whether through past experience and knowledge, or through your own research. If you really wish to land the job, make sure to conduct some research about what the company does and try to align these with your own career goals or aspirations.

The information that recruiters wish to know is whether you are looking at other options aside from this position. This would also slightly affect the following phone call interview negotiations such as salary and other considerations. The key to answer this question truthfully, and with confidence instead of desperation. 

Preparing two of each of your strengths and weaknesses during a phone interview will prevent you from accidentally “exposing” yourself. For example, getting too excited when explaining your strengths may make you come off as a show-off, and saying that you’re bad at a certain skill important for the job will give off a negative impression on the recruiter. 

Do not panic upon hearing this phone interview question. Indicating a range of salary that you expect gives recruiters an idea of how confident you are in your skills. Make sure to do ample research regarding the salary range tied with your working experience and credentials among your industry.

Some companies might need to fill a position as soon as possible, and some might just want to know your schedule for the next arrangements. This highly depends on your personal plan, so make sure to know your preference before the phone interview on when to start the position if you’re admitted. 

Be sure to prepare for this one, as recruiters will want to know what you’re still unsure about related details of this role. You could ask about the skills needed to fulfill the job responsibilities, or any other questions showcasing your passion for the company and your eagerness to fulfill the role requirements. 

You now already know useful tips for a phone interview and questions that are commonly asked. It is also helpful to see these 5 phone interview conversation samples for different roles. In your phone interview preparation, depending on your preference, you could even consider creating a ‘phone interview script’ beforehand. 

Telephonic Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers

Q: Please briefly introduce yourself.

A: Having graduated with a degree in Business Administration, I consider myself an efficient team-player, and any kind of event planning activities has always been inspiring and fun for me. As I have worked with various teams, I am now experienced in internal and external communications, which I believe would be a key skill needed for this role.

Phone Interview Questions for Customer Service Representatives

Q: What made you quit your previous customer service role?

A: Instead of being assessed on conversation quality with customers, we were assessed based on the duration of calls, which I don’t quite agree with. I believe that customer service representatives should handle customer inquiries in the most pleasant way possible and provide assistance to satisfy the customer’s needs, even though it might take more time. 

Phone Interview Questions for Banking Officers

Q: Where are you in your job search process?

A: I am actively interviewing for three other roles. While each has their own learning opportunities, I find the one in your company the most exciting. As an experienced bank officer, I can see that your company is focusing on digitizing the document signing process, a trend I highly support and can contribute greatly to. 

Phone Interview Questions for HR Specialists

Q: Why do you want to work here?

A: I found your company’s scientific approach to hiring people most fascinating. As I am a social scientist with 4 years of experience, I can contribute more in providing more data-oriented analysis and judgment when hiring new recruits. Not only does this support the company’s new policy, but it’s also both my professional field and personal interest. 

Questions to Ask at the End of a Phone Interview

Q: Do you have any other related questions?

A: Yes, actually. If everything goes well and I am admitted as your company’s Sales intern, as I have some spare time before starting in this position, may I know what kind of other skills are crucial in handling the responsibilities well, aside from the Microsoft Excel skills listed on the job description?

--- Originally written by Evelyn Peng ---