Phone Interview Preparation

The purpose of a phone interview is to get the Face-to-Face interview! Because….

• It’s the Next step! - Rarely hired over the phone
• Don’t try to “SELL YOURSELF” – this is not a sales pitch to the manager, this is a phone screen to learn
more about your work experience, to learn about the job in more detail, and to see if you would be a
good fit—if so, then that will lead to the in-person interview

You get eliminated because...

• Technical difficulties:
o Use a land line if possible; if using a cell phone, make sure you are in an area with good service
o Ensure there is no background noise or distractions, and you are in a quiet room
• Unprepared:
o Review the job description beforehand, have questions for the manager, know your own
resume
• Tardy/Late:
o If you are calling the manager or a bridge line, call in at least 3 minutes early. Stay on the line for
10 minutes just in case the manager is running late, don’t hang up after just a few minutes
o If the manager is calling you, make sure you are ready at least 5 minutes prior to the phone call
• Uninformed:
o Do your research on the manager (LinkedIn, Google)—know their name and title
o Research the position and the company, know some facts!
• Un-Professional:
o Keep it work related, stay on track, and look at this like it’s a face-to-face interview, it is just
as important

Preparing for the Phone call

• Have an opening statement
o Here is your opening statement: Hello Mr./Miss (Manager Name) – I just wanted to first off
thank you for scheduling time to speak with me today, as I know you are very busy! I’m excited
about this role with (company name). I do have a few questions about this role, and I am
interested in knowing as to what you saw in my resume that prompted you to schedule this call?
• Qualifying Questions
o Lead w/qualifying questions:
▪ “Can you tell me more about the history and scope of the job that may not be in the job
description?”
▪ “Can you tell me what results you’d expect from the candidate in this job the first 30-60-
90 days?”
▪ “What skills, experiences and work attributes are you hoping to find in the ideal
candidate?”
▪ “What impact does it have on your group if this position goes unfilled?”
• Close for the F2F
 Phone Interview Preparation

o Tell the manager you are interested: “After speaking with you and learning more about the
position and what it entails, I believe I’d be a great fit for this role and attribute to the company.
I’m really interested in moving forward and would love to set up a time to meet with you in-
person to discuss this opportunity more.”

Other Tips
• SMILE! You can tell when someone is or is not smiling through the phone—positive attitude and
demeanor will show through the phone!
• Make sure to thank the manager at the end for their time, and reiterate your interest in the position
• Do not ask about contract duration, possibility of extension, conversion, etc. This is not the time, and
you should know this information from your recruiter already.

Skype/Zoom video
• Be in a controlled environment – do not take the video call in your car, in the kitchen, etc. If you have a
home office, do it there, or against an empty wall.
• You can be seen—so dress professionally like you would for a face-to-face interview
• Same tips as phone interview (opening statement, qualifying questions, close for face-to-face
interview, smile!)

You never get a 2nd chance...

• We’ve prepped thousands of candidates in the over the years...we know what works & what doesn’t,
trust us!
• If you follow these guidelines, there is a good chance you will move to the next step
• Do not be afraid to use that opening statement – it can really set you apart from the competition. If you
don’t do this, you will most likely sound like everyone else. If you sound like everyone else, you will not
get selected to move forward. The managers will remember these details!

GOOD LUCK!