Phone interviews are often the first stage in an interviewing process and allow you to start the conversation around your interest and suitability for the role, as well as culture, compensation, and overall fit. In order to make a strong first impression, it's crucial you show up to the phone interview feeling prepared and confident about what you bring to the table! The tips below can help you prepare for the 3 stages of a phone interview and nail the first round of the interview process.
Stages of a Phone Interview:
- Preparation: Ensure you go into the phone interview with an idea of who you will be speaking to, what department they are representing (HR versus Hiring Manager interview preparation will differ), and why you are interested in the position you are interviewing for
- It's a good idea to ask ahead of time what the structure of the call will be and if they would like you to prepare anything ahead of time.
- Make sure it's clear who will be calling who for the interview and double check the time zone of the invite.
- During the Interview: Have your ringer on and be ready 5-10 minutes before the actual interview time just in case.
- Without the usual body language cues that exist in a video or in-person interview, it can be difficult for either the interviewer or interviewee to know what the other is thinking. If you are struggling with a question and require more time to think, feel free to ask for a minute to think over the question (silence on the call may make the interviewer think the call has been disconnected).
- After the Interview: Have some questions prepared ahead of time and jotted down so that you can refer back to them.
- Ensure these questions are not regarding something that can easily be found on the job posting/description but rather show that you've given the opportunity a lot of thought (ex: ask about the department's vision in the next 6-12 months, the growth opportunities in the role, or any challenges you may face taking this role on)
- This may be a good time to bring up compensation if the interviewer has not done so already. It's important to ensure there is alignment between what the role offers and what you are targeting before moving forward in the interview process.
Final tips!
- Avoid reading off your notes, the interviewer can often tell
- Prepare some jot notes that you can glance at without relying on a "script"
- Make sure you have minimal distractions
- This can involve putting your phone on "do not disturb", finding a quiet room, or even testing your headphones ahead of time to ensure they work fine
- End the call with a good understanding of what the next step in the process will be and the timeline you can expect
- If you like everything you've heard and are interested in the opportunity, don't be afraid to let the interviewer know. This does not mean you are guaranteed to sign back if you make it to the offer stage, but it can help signal to the interviewer that you feel the interview went well (harder for them to sense this over the phone without the body language cues or facial expressions you would normally rely on in a video or in-person interview)