Phone Interview Questions & Tips to Get You to the Next Round

What Are Your Strengths? What Is Your Biggest Flaw? Why Should We Hire You? Why Do You left Your Previous job?… All these are common phone interview questions. Below will show you how to answer these phone interview questions perfectly? What’s more, I will also show you how to conduct phone interviews to get to the nest round.

You will likely have to endure a terrible phone interview when looking for work. Companies use phone interviews, also known as phone screens, to reduce the number of applicants they will invite in for in-person interviews.

You must perform flawlessly on the phone interview because it is the first step in the selection process, which will improve your chances of moving on to the next stage. You benefit greatly from the visual cues the interviewer provides you during an in-person interview. That is why the phone interview is so difficult.

Without letting them see your face, you must show that you are a good fit for the job and express your enthusiasm for the organization. In a limited amount of time, you have a lot to say.

Phone Interview Questions And Answers

Here are the most common telephone interview questions and answers:

1. What Are Your Strengths?

The employer wants to know what skills you can bring to the organization. Make sure your best abilities and accomplishments are relevant to the organization while concentrating on them.

2. What Is Your Biggest Flaw?

In contrast to the strengths question, the interviewer is more interested in how you respond to this question than in the answer itself. Use responses that demonstrate your self-awareness and willingness to grow.

3. Why Should We Hire You?

Whether or not it is posed in a phone interview, this question can be tricky. But if you’re prepared, it can be a fantastic chance to deliver the ideal elevator pitch. Summarize your most important points and avoid being overly modest if you want to promote yourself.

4. Why Do You left Your Previous job?

It can be challenging to answer one of the most common phone interview questions, especially if you didn’t leave your previous employer on friendly terms. Don’t say anything that might cause the new company to wonder if the same circumstance might return.

5. Tell Me About Yourself

This common phone interview query is more specific than it appears to be. Don’t discuss your birthplace, preferred sport, and other personal details. Instead, they would prefer a response that was pertinent to them, much like how you had customized your resume for the particular job.

6. Why Would You Like to Work Here?

Never say something like “because I need work,” please. Really, compliments are what the interviewer is looking for, so show it. Make it clear that you’re ecstatic about the opportunity to work there.

7. Describe Your Current Job Responsibilities

Make a selection of the most important tasks, then discuss them. Don’t tell them everything you did because not everything will be important to them; relevance is key.

8. What Management Style Do You Use?

Regardless of the job you’re applying for, you might be asked a management question because the hiring manager will evaluate your leadership potential and prospects based on how you respond during the phone interview. Share a succinct success tale from when you oversaw a team or project.

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Many people don’t know where they want to be in five years, but this phone screening question is asked to determine whether the company is a good fit for you and if your long-term professional goals are compatible with the company.

10. What Motivates You?

This is a complicated question with no one correct response. The right response is possible, though.

Think about your strengths, and decide what your interests and passions are. Obtain a copy of the company’s values. To correctly respond to the question, use them as a reference.

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Prepare for a Phone Interview

Just as with any interview you want to be prepared. You should make sure to adhere to these recommendations in advance if the call is scheduled.

• Research the company.Reread the job description to refresh your memory on the duties of the position. Investigate the business further. This will make you feel more at ease and give you the opportunity to inquire specifically about the job and the company. It will also enable you to determine later on whether you will be a good fit for the organization.
• Prepare your answers.Having a list of responses to common interview questions will give you confidence during the interview, even though you can’t predict what questions they’ll ask.
• Prepare a list of inquiries of your own.Prepare any inquiries you might have about the position or the business. See a list of questions you should be asking during an interview.
• Keep all of your resources close at hand.You should keep a copy of your resume, job description, list of questions, and list of responses close at hand in case you need to refer to them.
• To feel more at ease during the call, spend some time practicing asking and answering questions aloud.

Check Your Surroundings

Make sure you choose a quiet location for your phone interview where you won’t be distracted, away from your children or pets who can create background noise. To avoid typing on your keyboard, keep a notepad nearby so you can take notes as you go.

So that there are no pings during the interview, turn off all of your notifications and mute your computer. If your throat starts to feel dry, keep a glass of water nearby. If you’re answering the call on a cell phone, check to see that you have good reception and that the battery is fully charged. Having your notes prepared in front of you if you took any about the business.

Additionally, you should have a copy of your resume in front of you and the job description for the position you’re applying for so you can refer to them if necessary. To avoid fumbling with papers throughout the interview, keep any additional notes or important points you want to bring up organized.

Phone Interview Etiquette

There are ways to present yourself well in interviews, just like in any other situation. Utilize the advice in this article to make yourself stand out and advance to the next round of interviews.

• Take the call yourself.Make sure you’re waiting by the phone when they call, especially if you’re anticipating the call. Inform your family that you’ll be expecting a crucial call so that they can give you space to answer the phone and take the call. Put your name in when you answer the phone. For example, “This is John Smith.”
• Smile when talking.Making a deliberate effort to smile during a phone interview may seem strange, but it makes a significant difference. It makes you sound upbeat and pleasant.
• Observe the interviewer’s lead. They might have a brief conversation or immediately get to the point, depending on the interviewer. Follow their lead.
• Pay close attention to the interviewer. To avoid distractions, it’s crucial to purge the space. To ensure that your response is appropriate, you should pay close attention to what is being said. The interviewer might be missing crucial information that could help you land a second interview if you don’t pay close attention to what they’re asking and don’t respond to the best of your knowledge.
• Don’t interrupt.Prior to responding, let the interviewer finish the question. It’s possible that the answer to the question won’t be what you expect. Additionally, cutting someone off is rude. You want to leave a good impression.
• Disable Call Waiting.To avoid being distracted by more incoming calls, if at all possible, turn off call waiting.

Tips for Starting and Answering a Phone Interview

Answer the phone with a cheerful and upbeat demeanor. Instead of responding with “Hello,” say your full name so the interviewer knows they are speaking to the right person. To prevent your three-year-old from unintentionally answering the phone for you, keep the phone out of their reach.

Even though you are receiving the call at home, you must maintain your professionalism. Straighten up in your seat or even stand up; your tone will reflect this. Let the interviewer start; before starting the interview, they will likely explain why they are conducting a phone interview and briefly describe the position. You cannot interrupt the interviewer, which might be difficult during a phone interview.

You can even wait a short while to gather your thoughts before you respond if you want to wait until they have finished speaking. Take notes at all times so you can refer to them if necessary before responding to the interviewer.

Conquer the Middle

Your voice needs to convey a lot of information when you’re speaking. In a traditional interview, you can gauge the interviewer’s interest and engagement from their body language.

Your tone is extremely important when speaking on the phone because your voice conveys so much information. The interviewer will be able to tell if you’re smiling or not, even though it might sound corny. Perform some basic voice exercises to warm up your voice if you haven’t spoken for a while.

Before the End of the Phone Interview

When the phone interview is about to end, make sure you’ve gotten the information you required. Nothing is worse than reviewing the interview afterward and reflecting on all the things you could have and should have said.

Ask About the Interview Timeline

Managing your expectations for when you can anticipate hearing from the recruiter, the number of interviews involved in the process, etc. is important, as we mentioned earlier. will be super helpful for you to stay calm, motivated, and optimistic throughout the process.

Asking the recruiter to describe the interview process, the subsequent steps, and a potential timeline before the phone interview is over will help you understand what to expect.

You can incorporate the details they provide into any follow-up emails you send by using the information they provide.

Ask If They Have More Questions for You

You asked and naturally responded to questions throughout the phone interview.

Your interviewer might ask you if you have any additional questions at the end of the phone interview.

Respond in kind.

Any last-minute inquiries from the interviewer? This communicates to the interviewer your willingness to take on additional challenges and your active participation in the conversation.

After the Phone Interview

folks, that’s all, right? False! You still need to put in some effort after the phone interview to ensure that you get a job.

Take Time to Reflect

After the interview is over, spend 10 to 15 minutes writing out any questions you were given, thinking about how you thought you did, and even writing out anything you want to work on between now and a potential second interview.

It’s crucial to do this as soon as possible because the details are still fresh in your memory, and as you conduct more interviews, you’ll compile a list of questions to prepare for in the future and become aware of any adjustments you should make.

When you do this, you’re assuming the position of being your own career coach.

Write a Follow-up Thank You Email

The official term for this rule is the “Interview Thank You Rule,” and it’s straightforward: after each new employee you speak with during a job interview, thank them for their time.

Even hiring managers have told us that unless a candidate sends a post-interview thank you email, they will not advance the candidate in the process.

Therefore, after your phone interview, immediately afterward, compose and send a thank-you email to the recruiter and anyone else who interviewed you.

Ask for the recruiter’s email address at the conclusion of the phone interview if you don’t already have it. Additionally, if you don’t have the emails of the other candidates you interviewed with, still list them out. All thank-you letters should be sent to the recruiter with a request that they forward them to [person’s name].

Phone Interview Do’s and Don’ts

Never eat, chew gum, smoke, or consume alcohol while on the phone.

Do keep water close at hand in case you need to sip some if your mouth starts to dry out or you start to cough.

Avoid engaging in conversation with others while on the phone.

Avoid background noise.

Distractions should be removed from the room so that you can concentrate on the call.

Avoid interjecting during the interview.

Do ask questions. See a list of questions you should be asking during an interview.

Do take your time when responding to the inquiries. Avoiding confusion by providing thoughtful responses is preferable. Learn more about what to say and what not to say during an interview.

Make sure to take notes so you can later recall the conversation.

Final Tips

Your confidence will increase, and the recruiter or hiring manager will be impressed, if you approach the phone interview in the same manner as an in-person one. You may be able to maintain your focus and confidence if you dress as if you were going to an in-person interview and pay attention to your body language. Standing during an interview makes you more vivacious and, as a result, can help you feel more confident.

After the interview, express your gratitude to the recruiter or hiring manager and inquire about the next steps. As well as that, if you don’t already have it, request their email address. After you hang up, you can quickly follow up with them via email to say thank you.

After the interview is over, go over your notes and make a list of everything you might need later, including the questions that were asked and your responses, as well as the questions you asked and their responses. If you receive a job offer or an invitation for an in-person interview, these notes will help you get ready.