Phone Interview Questions and Tips



Telephone interview techniques and advice for a professional and persuasive performance



There are a number of common phone interview questions used to screen candidates prior to in-house interviews. They are also typically used to assess candidates who are geographically distanced from the employer. Phone interview questions are also commonly used by specialist recruitment agencies and headhunters acting on behalf of employers, as the first step in the recruitment process. Through networking, contacts and by searching candidates' resumes in job sites, recruitment agencies and headhunting services identify candidates for preliminary telephone interviews. They then call candidates by phone for brief discussions. Be mindful of the fact that any direct telephone contact either by an employer, recruitment agency or heading hunting service should be treated as an interview.

The following phone interview tips highlight typical questions. You may be asked something like: "tell me about yourself". This is designed to gauge not just career-related information, but also your ability to communicate effectively and your level of confidence. Typical questions are:

  • Can you please tell me a little about yourself?
  • why did you apply for the position?
  • how would you summarise your main skills
  • what projects have you undertaken lately?
  • what do you know about our organization?
  • what are your reasons for considering leaving your current job?
  • how do you see yourself in five years time?
  • what benefits/inputs do you think you can bring to this company?
  • please tell me about your salary expectations
  • finally, do you have any questions you wish to ask?

Readiness for telephone interviews should be an integral part of your overall job interview preparation. As always, first impressions are extremely important. You should conduct yourself in a calm and confident manner. Although good telephone manner and the ability to answer questions are vital; and become easier with practice and adequate preparation.

Try to incorporate the following into your preparation:

  • prepare for likely questions
  • familiarise yourself with your resume/CV and its chronology
  • practice answering questions in a mock interview with a friend, partner or relation
  • never answer a question unless you understand it clearly
  • if unsure about a question, ask for clarification
  • answer questions directly without deviating

What to do after the phone interview

At the end of the interview, ask for the interviewer's name and email address, then send him/her a brief thank you note. As always with all job interviews, adequate preparation is the key to success. By following these professional phone interview tips, you will enhance your chances for securing the job.


Phone Interview Tips and Questions
TELEPHONE INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES