How to prepare for a phone interview
Great news! You sent off your application and have been asked to attend a phone interview. Many companies will screen applicants on a phone interview before offering longer, more in-depth interviews in person with senior members of the team. For remote positions, a phone interview may be the only stage.
How to prepare for a phone interview
Do your research
Treat it like any other interview—and prepare, prepare, prepare. Too many people make the mistake of winging a phone interview, only to find themselves stumbling over their answers and spoiling their chances.
First, take a look at the job description to understand exactly what role you’re interviewing for and what the interviewer may ask you over the phone.
Then, research the company. Browse their website, Google them to gather recent news updates, and scroll through their social media. Get a sense of not just what your specific role would entail and what the team does, but the company’s history, mission, and overall vibe. This will help you in tailoring your answers and asking thoughtful questions.
Practice your answers
Next on the list is preparing your answers to possible questions that may come up. Common phone interview questions include:
Why are you applying for this position?
Why do you want this job?
Tell me what you know about the role
Why do you want to work here?
What are your salary expectations?
Once you’re confident with your answers, compile two to three questions to ask the interviewer at the end.
Phone interviews are more complex as it’s harder to build those personal relationships. To ensure you’re making the right impression, phone a friend and ask them to listen to your responses and provide feedback.
Write down interview prompts
The beauty of phone interviews is that you can have notes right in front of you. We often freeze up when we’re nervous, so why risk forgetting everything?
Take the research you did, the answers you prepared, and the questions you have and jot them down into a notebook, on a sticky note, or in a one-page document. And stick to bullet points to help it sound natural — you don’t want your answers to sound like you’re reading off a script.
Find the right location
At home, this may mean locking yourself in a room away from family, roommates, or pets. At work, this may mean finding a coffee shop nearby or settling for your car or a quiet side street. Wherever you decide to go, scope it out a day or two early for all the necessities—a comfy seat, minimal distractions, and good phone service.
Book time on your calendar so people know they can’t bother you during that time, lock your bedroom door so your roommates or family members don’t stroll in, and silence any notifications on your phone or laptop. If you’re in a public place, try facing away from a window or toward a wall so you aren’t distracted by things happening around you.
During your phone interview
Remember your manners
You don’t have to jump straight into business! At least, not if they aren’t. Feel free to ask them how their day’s going. Engaging in small talk is a polite and easy way to keep the good vibes rolling and connect with your interviewer—just keep it brief and business appropriate.
Be an active listener
Be attentive, ask insightful questions and engage with the interviewer. This will show that you’re taking the interview seriously and that you genuinely care about what they have to say.
One of the biggest mistakes people make in phone interviews is not sounding energetic and excited enough. Since the person can’t see you, you need to work extra hard to show that you’re enthusiastic about the role. To help convey this, smile while you talk - this will inject emotion into your voice.
Speak clearly
Self-awareness is crucial when you’re talking on the phone. With only your voice to carry you through, you want to make sure everything you’re saying is clear and concise. If you’re nervous, it’s easy to speak too quickly on the phone - catch yourself when you start to ramble.
After your phone interview
Write down important points
Take a minute or two after you hang up to jot down any key points you want to remember. Maybe they mentioned a new product they launched that you want to check out, or something about the culture you want to follow up on via email, or a person to reach out to. You won’t regret being extra prepared when you go to write your thank you note or enter the next round of interviews.
Send a ‘thank you’ note
Follow up with your interviewer shortly after your call. The same day is ideal, but a day after at the latest. Useful things to cover are:
•Thank them for speaking with you
•Highlight notable conversation topics
•Re-emphasise your passion for the role and company
•Keep it short and sweet
Follow up
If you don’t receive any response from the interviewer after a couple of weeks, consider following up. It’s possible they’re still interviewing other candidates, but in the event they’re not, it will give you an idea of where you stand as they narrow down their candidate selection.
When you’re better prepared for your interview, you’re more likely to have a favourable outcome. Regardless of what happens, preparing and having a phone interview is a great learning experience for future interviews of the same nature – just don’t forget to charge your phone!
For help preparing for specific phone interviews, contact your Sanctuary consultant who will be happy to help or browse our Careers Guidance page.
