Many employers are using a phone interview to do their first round of pre-employment screening. Phone interviews allow managers to review resumes and narrow down to their top three to five candidates to bring in for a face to face meeting. However, for job seekers the phone conversation may be more frightening than an in person interview. If you are contacted to set up a phone interview you should know some of the basics such as making sure you are in a location where your call will not be disturbed by children or pets and that you treat it just like any other professional interview.
10 Most Common Phone Interview Questions (And How to Handle Them)
- Why did you leave your last job? They want to know if it was about your career growth or your relationships in the office. Never air your dirty laundry.
- What is your current salary? This is not the time to start a salary negotiation. They want to get an idea of where you are now. Answer the question honestly without any caveats.
- What salary are you seeking? This is also not a negotiation. They just want to know if you fit within their budget. Tell them your number but that you would welcome a discussion when the time is right.
- Will you relocate? If your phone interview is due to proximity of the job this is an essential question. If you aren’t willing to relocate, this isn’t the job for you.
- Are you willing to travel? This may also be dependent on the job itself. Think hard about your career goals and whether or not travel makes sense for you.
- Rate your skill level on a scale of 1-10. They want to know that you are specifically skilled in the requirements of the job. They will be more specific about the exact experience they are looking for. Be honest.
- What are your long term career goals? Companies do want to see employees with a drive to succeed. Research the company and fit your career goals within their business model.
- What are your strengths? This is where you can share specifics of your background and any accomplishments that set you apart from your competition.
- What is your biggest weakness? The key here is to be honest but offer the solution you’ve determined to help you improve.
- When could you start working here? If you are currently working let them know that you will need to provide at least a two week notice from the time you receive a job offer. They will appreciate this.
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