How to succeed during a phone interview

A common stage in a recruitment process is a phone interview. Many employers use these as an opportunity to speak with applicants and decide whether to invite them to a face to face interview. It is usually the second stage of an application process after the applicant has submitted their CV/cover letter/application form.

The purpose of a phone interview is for the employer to get to know the candidate. You will likely be asked a bit about yourself and questions such as why you are interested in the job or what you know about the company.

Before the interview 

Assuming you know that you have a phone interview scheduled (some companies may phone you by surprise but more on this later)….

The company will have told you when they will phone and who you will be speaking to. 

Make sure you have somewhere quiet to take the call where you know you will not be disturbed. Tell anyone else who is likely to be around that you have a phone interview and that they should be sure to keep the noise down (and not come in and disturb you). 

You don’t need to dress up as you would have done for a face to face interview. Instead wear something you are comfortable in. 

Whilst it is absolutely fine to have some basic notes on front of you, you should avoid the temptation to write out your answers. Interviewers can tell when someone is reading from a script. 

Have a glass of water and a notepad and pen beside you. It is also a good idea to have a copy of your CV in front of you to refer to if needed. 

During the interview 

Let the interviewer lead the conversation. Some interviewers may engage in some small talk before the interview. For example, they may ask how your day has been or if you’ve got much planned for the rest of the day. Others may jump straight into the questions. 

Introduce yourself to the interviewer. Call them Mr, Mrs or Ms until they invite you to use their first name. 

Listen to the questions carefully and do not interrupt the interviewer. Allow them to finish what they are saying before you begin speaking. If you are unsure of what the questions means it is perfectly fine to ask the interviewer to repeat it or for clarification. 

Don’t eat anything or chew gum. You absolutely do not want your answers to be mumbled as you are in the middle of eating a snack. Having a quick sip of water is fine (if possible try to wait until the interviewer is speaking). 

Just like a face to face interview, you should also have some questions prepared to ask the interviewer. If you don’t ask any questions the interviewer may wonder if you are actually interested in the job.

Surprise Phone Calls 

Some employers may not tell you about a phone interview in advance and may call you out of the blue. 

If possible try to take the call. However, if you are genuinely not able to proceed with the interview politely explain this to the interviewer and ask if you can reschedule the call. Don’t worry if you need to do this. The interviewer will understand that as they have phoned you by surprise you may not be free to talk. 

Top Tip – You never know whether an interviewer will call you by surprise. For this reason you should make sure you answer your phone politely (especially if you do not recognise the number) and have a professional voice mail.