Top 10 phone interview questions and answers

Top 10 phone interview questions and

answers

Useful materials: • interviewquestions360.com/free-ebook-145-interview-questions-and-answers

• interviewquestions360.com/free-ebook-top-18-secrets-to-win-every-job-interviews



In this pdf file, you can ref phone interview tips, phone interview questions and answers materials related such as:

• types of interview questions

• interview thank you letters

• interview secrets

• job interview mistakes

• interview dress tips…



Useful free ebooks for phone interview:

• interviewquestions360.com/free-ebook-145-interview-questions-and-answers


• interviewquestions360.com/13-types-of-interview-questions-and-how-to-face-them

• interviewquestions360.com/job-interview-checklist-40-points

• interviewquestions360.com/top-8-interview-thank-you-letter-samples

• interviewquestions360.com/free-42-cover-letter-samples

• interviewquestions360.com/free-48-resume-samples

• interviewquestions360.com/top-15-ways-to-search-new-jobs



http://interviewquestions360.com/free-ebook-145-interview-questions-and-answers













http://interviewquestions360.com/free-ebook-top-18-secrets-to-win-every-job-interviews



















1. What is phone interview?

A telephone interview is a pre-scheduled interview that takes place between a recruiter and a candidate who has applied for a job role that takes place over the telephone. Telephone interviews are usually fairly straightforward and are mainly used to screen poor candidates out of an interview process, rather than to test high quality ones. Often, all recruiters will be looking for from candidates during a telephone interview will be a calm, confident telephone manner and an intelligent set of responses to interview questions.



Top 9 phone interview tips



1. Know whether you can take the call when it comes.

Hopefully, you'll be able to schedule the call for a time when you can focus completely. Be in a quiet place where you are comfortable and unlikely to be interrupted (or overheard, if you are not at home). Sometimes you can't schedule the call. So, if you are driving the kids to school or dripping outside the shower, ask if you could schedule a later time. Of course, you need to feel the interviewer out; if he hesitates to schedule another time, you might want to plunge forward and do the best you can, considering you might not be getting another opportunity to present yourself.



2. Have the documentation you need at your fingertips.

Having easy access to the company and job information will allow you to confidently respond to questions without fumbling regarding which job you are talking about. So have a copy of both the job description and a copy of the resume or application you submitted in front of you before the interview starts.



3. Know your answers to the common questions.

Brief "yes" and "no" responses will not move a telephone interview forward, but will end it quickly. So, start by practicing your answers to the common interview questions now so that you are ready when the unplanned telephone interview occurs. (See the list in the column on the right or at the bottom of this article.) Paint visual pictures with your words by telling stories that demonstrate results you achieved or contributed to. Answers that express the who, what, when, where, how, and why. Those answers will make you stand out.



4. Be happy and confident:

While talking on the phone might not come naturally to you, you can take some comfort by having an interview without the pressures of sitting in front of three or four members of the company all staring at you. If you relax and smile as much as possible while speaking, it will allow you to give positive answers and sound confident which is much more likely to impress your employer as it emphasizes your enthusiasm.



5. If you have a web portfolio or a complete LinkedIn profile, direct the interviewer to it, if possible.

Imagine this: The interviewer asks you to describe a challenge you have faced. Ask if the interviewer has access to the Internet. If the answer is yes, suggest the interviewer visit your web portfolio or LinkedIn profile (URL's hopefully on your resume), and have her click on your project highlights page. There, the interviewer will see what you have made public, perhaps an outline of key projects and a terrific graph that expresses your results.



6. Avoid selfish questions during the interview.

Now is not the time to ask about benefits or salary. Initial interviews, until you have an offer, are about selling yourself to the employer until you are the key applicant they want to hire. You do not have any power until that time and will just show that your emphasis is not on being a good fit but just on what is in it for you.



7. Don’t hang up without asking for the next step plus contact information.

The interviewer is bringing the call to an end but there has been no talk of a next step. Speak up! Express your enthusiasm for moving forward and ask about the next step. If an in-person interview is not scheduled at the end of the call, find out when you can follow up with the employer. Be sure to ask for contact information (name, phone number, and email address) of the person who will be your contact.



8. Stand up and take note!

Believe it or not, standing up and walking around can help your voice to come across more effectively. A clear voice is key down the phone as it allows your potential employer to hear you easily and shows that you have good communication skills. If at all possible, attempt to avoid words like “erm” and “umm” as it can imply that nerves affect you.



9. Say thank you, in writing.

Sure, it was a telephone interview but that is no reason for not taking the time to exercise simple but powerful courtesies. Write a thank you letter and mail it, unless your main communication has been through email with the interviewer. Don’t just say thank you but make a point of reiterating strengths and value for the position.



Top 10 phone interview questions and

answers



1. Could you tell me a little about yourself?

Most interviewers use this question not only to gather information, but also to assess your poise, style of delivery and communication ability. Don't launch into a mini-speech about your childhood, schooling, hobbies, early career and personal likes and dislikes. Instead, briefly cite recent personal and professional work experiences that relate to the position you're seeking and that support your credentials. Better yet, prepare a personal branding statement that quickly describes who you are and what you can bring to the company.



2. What are your greatest strengths?

Briefly summarize your work experience and your strongest qualities and achievements that are directly related to the responsibilities of the job you are applying for. One proven approach is to include four specific skills that employers value highly: self-motivation, initiative, the ability to work in a team and a willingness to work long hours.



3. .What are your weaknesses?

Realize that most interviewers don't expect you to be perfect or reveal your true weaknesses. Turn this question around and present a personal weakness as a professional strength. Let's assume that you're detail-oriented, a workaholic and that you neglect friends and family when working on important projects. You can turn these weaknesses around by saying that you're very meticulous and remain involved in projects until you've ironed out all the problems, even if it means working after hours or on the weekend.

Another tactic is to discuss an area where you're seeking improvement, and then highlight the steps you're taking to meet that goal. Perhaps you're an accountant, and are working to improve your knowledge of payroll procedures by taking courses at a local college, or maybe you're an IT professional earning additional certifications.



4. Why did you apply for this job?

The interviewer wants to gauge your level of interest. Here’s a good way to answer the question: “This job is a great fit for me. My skills and background in XYZ mean that I’d be successful in this role, which would benefit us both.” Talk about how you meet their qualifications and exceed them in some way. (By the way: Make sure you listen carefully to the name of the company when you receive a call, especially if you’ve applied for several jobs. You don’t want to accidentally refer to the wrong company or job position.)



5. Why are you leaving your current position?

Usually asked at the start of an interview, this is an opportunity to find out straight away how good you are at thinking on your feet.

The easiest way to think on your feet in this situation is simply to think ahead. It may sound obvious, but if you know the question is likely to come up, a little time rehearsing a potential answer will help you remain calm and collected.

It’s also advisable to avoid being overly critical of your current employer, or going into too much detail about the reason you’re looking to move on. It may seem satisfying at the time to vent about your frustrations, but you’ll only send alarm bells ringing to your perspective employer.



6. What do you know about the company?

Many employers ask this question at some point in the process to find out what your preparation skills are like. In other words, it’s research time…

Take some time to look at what the company do, what the role entails, and any other information you can get to help paint a picture of the business. The company website is the best place to start, but feel free to look at as many sources as possible. Showing a range of different research will really start demonstrating to the employer how much you want the job.

Having all the notes you need to hand will also really help even the most cotton-mouthed candidates relax into the interview.



7. What are your greatest achievements?

Similar in intention to the previous question, a recruiter may ask this as a way of vetting which candidates are telling the truth on their CV.

So if it’s written down for a recruiter to see, make sure you can actually quantify each individual accomplishment listed, and answer a few questions around them. And by questions, we mean more than reading the exact same sentence they’ve already read.

Remember, it may sound impressive to tell people all about your achievements as Assistant Regional Manager, but if you can’t expand on them when asked, you’ll not be able to keep the pretence up for long…



8. What salary are you looking for?

Speaking about salary can be awkward for some applicants, and during a telephone interview is no exception.

Honesty is the best policy here. Give a broad salary range which you feel is realistic to the role, its responsibilities and your previous experience. Any further negotiations can be brought up later in the interview stage.

Finally, always ensure that you don’t aim too low with what you’re asking. Otherwise you might just come out with less than what you’re worth. To find out your true market rate, take a look at our average salary checker.



9. What is the most important thing you’re looking for in a company/job?

And no, the answer should never be more money!!! Even if that is the real answer!! The correct answer should be; a new challenge with an opportunity for growth and development. Employers truly want candidates that can offer an immediate impact on their business, including applicable skills, education and experience, but also candidates that are interested in new challenges and want to continue to develop and grow within new work environments!



10. Do you have any questions?

As with all interviews, this one is pretty much a no brainer. The advantages of being asked this in a telephone interview, however, is that you can think of them beforehand (standard) and actually write them down to have in front of you without the recruiter even knowing (covert). That way you can avoid the dreaded awkward silence at the end of the interview, something especially painful on the phone.



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• interviewquestions360.com/top-36-situational-interview-questions

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download

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answers-ebook-pdf-download

• interviewquestions360.com/top-30-phone-interview-questions

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• interviewquestions360.com/45-internship-interview-questions

• interviewquestions360.com/15-tips-for-job-interview-attire (dress code,

clothes, what to wear)

• interviewquestions360.com/top-15-written-test-examples

• interviewquestions360.com/top-15-closing-statements

• interviewquestions360.com/20-case- study-examples for job interview




• interviewquestions360.com/top-25-scenarios-interview-questions

• interviewquestions360.com/top-25-tips-for-interview-preparation

• interviewquestions360.com/top-10-tips-to-answer-biggest-weakness-and-

strengths-questions

• interviewquestions360.com/tips-to-answer-question-tell-me-about-yourself

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• interviewquestions360.com/18-job-interview-exam-samples

• interviewquestions360.com/Q-A-25-questions-with-answers

• interview questions and answers free pdf download




• interviewquestions360.com/12-followup-email-thank-you-letter-samples

• interviewquestions360.com/15-tips-for-job-interview-withour-no-experience

• interviewquestions360.com/15-presentation-ideas-for-job-interview

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• interviewquestions360.com/12-tips-to-answer-education-knowledge-questions

You can download this free pdf file: interview questions and answers by registering an account from slideshare.net




• interviewquestions360.com/15-screening-interview-questions

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• interviewquestions360.com/top-9-career-path-tips

• interviewquestions360.com/top-14-career-objectives

• interviewquestions360.com/top-12-career-promotion-tips

• interviewquestions360.com/11-performance-appraisal-methods (includes appraisal templates and forms)

• interviewquestions360.com/top-28-performance-appraisal-forms

• interviewquestions360.com/top-12-salary-negotiation-tips

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Fields related:

The above interview questions can be used for fields as:

Construction, manufacturing, healthcare, non profit, advertising, agile, architecture, automotive,

agency, budget, building, business development, consulting, communication, clinical research,

design, software development, product development, interior design, web development,

engineering, education, events, electrical, exhibition, energy, ngo, finance, fashion, green card, oil

gas, hospital, it, marketing, media, mining, nhs, non technical, oil and gas, offshore,

pharmaceutical, real estate, retail, research, human resources, telecommunications, technology,

technical, senior, digital, software, web, clinical, hr, infrastructure, business, erp, creative, ict,

hvac, sales, quality management, uk, implementation, network, operations, architectural,

environmental, crm, website, interactive, security, supply chain, logistics, training, project

management, administrative management…

The above interview questions also can be used for job title levels: entry level, junior, senior,

assistant, associate, administrator, clerk, coordinator, consultant, controller, director, engineer,

executive, leader, manager, officer, specialist, supervisor, VP …



Documents

Top 10 phone interview questions and answers