Tips for Conquering the Phone Interview

Why Employers Love Phone Interviews (and Why You Should Too)

• Speed & Cost‑Efficiency: Recruiters can evaluate up to five candidates in the time it takes to host one in‑person meeting. This is because, on average, a telephonic interview lasts about 15 minutes.
• Communication Check: If a role involves customer or stakeholder interaction, phone skills are the ultimate litmus test. 
• Level Playing Field: No visual biases, your voice and answers do the talking.

This is the reason why 57% of the interviewers still prefer an interview over a call. 

Phone Interview Tips from Experts

1. Scan the Job Description

Before the interview, go through the job description once again and highlight the top three skills the employer is looking for, and prepare to answer questions around those skills.

2. Research the Company

Visit the company’s website and understand their mission and vision. Additionally, you should analyze the company’s social presence (LinkedIn and Twitter) to further understand how they operate. 

Why? Aligning your answer with the mission of your future employer can boost your chances of getting to the next interview round. Plus, it shows that you’ve done your research. 

3. Set Up Your Interview Zone (A Quiet Space)

This goes without saying, but be sure you have a quiet place where you will have no interruptions. You do not want your interview disrupted by your dog, sounding alarm, or background noise from the television. You need to give your phone interview your undivided attention. Make sure the phone you use has good reception, and make sure your cellphone is properly charged. You don’t want to have your phone go dead mid-sentence. Here’s a quick checklist to help you organize a quiet space:

4. Rehearse Your Core Script

This includes essential points like the first thing you should say during the call, what you do best, and why you want this job. Also, make sure to memorize at least two questions that you’d want to ask the interviewer. 

What is the first thing you say in a phone interview?

Begin with a professional greeting and follow it up by stating your full name and confirming if you’re speaking to the right person. For example, you might say, “Good morning/afternoon, this is Martin Zandi. Am I speaking with CCI’s Jan Perkins?” Also, asking a genuine question like “Can you hear me clearly?” is acceptable.

How to answer what you do best in a phone interview?

Remember the top three skills from the job description? Speak directly on those, quantify your accomplishments with examples, and demonstrate how your strengths align with the company’s needs

Why do you want this job?

Be honest and focus on demonstrating your genuine interest and how your skills and experience align with the role and the company’s needs

What questions should I ask the interviewer?

You’d want to show engagement and interest in the company as well as the role you’re applying for. So, ask questions like “What is a typical day in this role?” or “What are the long-term goals of the company?”

5. Practice Your Speech

Before you schedule the interview, it is highly recommended that you rehearse in front of the mirror and even record yourself and hear how you sound. 

Keep in mind that your interviewer(s) do not know you and have never seen you. Smile while you’re speaking (even if they can’t see you) because sales professionals state that smiling while speaking really enhances the tone of your voice. Try to let your enthusiasm and excitement come through. 

6. When Is the Best Time for a Phone Interview?

Now, when it comes to scheduling your telephonic interview, you need to decide on a time slot, but which one’s the right one?

Insights from the Reddit community reveal that candidates feel and perform best on the following schedule: 

• Day: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
• Time: 10–11 a.m. or 1–3 p.m. (local time)
• Avoid: Monday mornings (rush) and Friday afternoons (fatigue)

When should you confirm the call?

The sweet spot is 24–48 hours after you receive the invite—soon enough to stay fresh in mind, but with time to prepare.

What if my interview is suddenly changed to a virtual interview?

If you happen to come across a situation like this, it’s best to adapt professionally and positively. Acknowledge the change, express continued interest, and ensure you have a suitable environment and setup for the video call. This demonstrates flexibility and enthusiasm, which can be well-received.

NOTE: Prepare for the Virtual Interview with our industry-approved tips.

7. Common Phone Interview Questions (with Answers)

The following are some of the most common questions asked by interviewers during telephonic screening:

Q: “Tell Me About Yourself”?

To answer such a question, simply follow the rule: Present → Past → Future. Let’s see it as an example:

“I’m an IT support specialist who loves translating tech jargon into plain English. In my last role at TECHCompany, I resolved 40+ tickets a day while maintaining a 97 % CSAT rating. I’m now eager to apply that customer‑centric mindset to [Company]’s growing help‑desk team.”

If you don’t have prior experience, focus on discussing your abilities and transferable skills. 

Q: “Why Should We Hire You?”

Match your top skill to their most significant pain point. Let’s understand this with a continued example of the same IT support candidate. 

“Your posting mentions needing someone who can reduce the ticket backlog. I streamlined a triage workflow that cut average resolution time by 38 %. I’d love to replicate—and improve—that success here.”

Q: “Describe a Challenge You Faced and How You Handled It.”

Once again, you’d need to follow a rule to answer this question, which is the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. 

Q: “When Can You Start?”

Be honest but flexible. If you’re occupied with something or you cannot negotiate your notice period, mention it. 

Phone Interview Mistakes To Avoid

Now that you have a better understanding of what you should do, here’s a list of things you shouldn’t do for a successful interview session:

Speaking in paragraphs without pauses

Yes, you don’t want to give the impression that you’re unfamiliar with the specifics of the role, but speaking like a race commentator will not help either. Take your time and speak in a confident and composed manner.

Multitasking

It is one thing to note the key points of the interview, but typing or browsing the internet (to look up answers) will be reflected in your voice with abrupt pauses and filler words like “um”, “like”, and “you know”. 

Talking About Salary

Yes, we understand salary is one of the most important factors when applying; however, save the topic of salary for later rounds unless the interviewer brings it up.

Asking for Follow Up

Depending on the policy of the company, either the interviewer will tell you right away about the follow-up or ask you to wait for a couple of days. So, asking them right away if you’re selected or not will not help. 

What is the right time to ask for a follow-up?

It is best to wait for at least a week via email.

How to ask about a follow-up?

Here’s a sample of a simple, to-the-point way of inquiring about a follow-up session: 

Subject: Thank You – [Your Name], Phone Interview on [Date]

Body:

Hi [Interviewer Name],

Thank you for speaking with me about the [Role] position. Our discussion about [specific topic] reinforced my excitement to contribute my [skill] to [Company]. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information. I look forward to the next steps.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Final Words

Although an interview over a call removes essential visual cues like body language and a smile, with solid research and practice, you can transform a short phone call into an opportunity for your dream role. 

Follow these tips for a successful round and best of luck!

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