25 Phone Interview Tips

Phone Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself / Tell me about your background

Describe yourself

Why are you applying for this position?

Why do you want this jon?

Tell me what you know the role

Why do you want to work here?

Why are you looking for jobs?

What are you passionate about?

What are your salary expectations?

Are you interviewing with other companies?

Phone interview tips

1. Confirm the scheduled time

Before the day of your interview, confirm the date and time so you’re sure to pick up when the call comes in. Writing down the scheduled time, adding it to your calendar or setting it as a reminder on your phone are great ways to make sure you are ready for the scheduled interview. Your punctuality can help make a good impression on your prospective employer.

2. Reschedule, if necessary

If you’re unable to meet at the suggested time, consider suggesting other times that are more convenient for you.

3. Research the company

Review the company’s website, social media and recent activity to learn more about its values, goals and company culture. Knowing the company you’re interviewing with provides you with good insight to use during the interview. Make note of certain details about the company, and mention them should the opportunity arise.

寻找能分享您价值的公司。

公司为研究人员提供的福利。

了解公司的业务运营。公司如何赚钱？谁购买他们的产品或服务，并且获得很高的评价？该公司是一家初创企业，还是已经经营了一段时间的企业，随着时间的推移，它是如何成长的？这家公司在哪个行业？

研究公司的领导。当一家公司引起您的兴趣时，您应该了解谁在引领潮流。阅读“关于我们”页面和公司网站上的员工简历，以研究在公司内担任重要职位的员工。寻找高管和部门主管的社交媒体资料，他们的职位是什么样的？他们为代表这个行业的品牌或工作而感到自豪吗？一些公司领导人可能接受过采访或写过书籍和文章，可让您深入了解他们的想法。

将您的研究扩展到新闻和近期事件。

向您的网络征询意见。

扫描新闻头条是否有红线。

留出必要的时间进行正确的研究。

查看相关的本地新闻报道，论坛和商业期刊。

了解您想工作的公司类型。

在面试中分享研究成果时要有策略性。

4. Know who will be calling you

In many cases, you’ll be interviewing a recruiter, hiring manager or your direct supervisor. Do an online search to determine your interviewer’s role at the company. If you’re interviewing with a recruiter, you’ll get more general questions regarding your experience. An interview with your direct supervisor, however, means you’ll get in-depth questions related to your industry and role.

5. Look over the job description

Understanding what the employer is looking for in an employee and what your responsibilities will be can help you tailor your answers to various interview questions. If they’re looking for an employee with certain design software skills and who has experience creating graphics for B2B companies, you’ll want to mention this during your interview.

6. Be an active listener

Be attentive, ask insightful questions and engage with the recruiter. This will show that you’re taking the interview seriously and that you genuinely care about what they have to say. Practicing with friends or family could be greatly beneficial. Make sure you’re listening to every word, and follow-up with questions that show you were actively listening to what they were saying.

7. Be professional

It’s important to be respectful and kind throughout your interview. This professional tone can leave a good impression on your interview, and they’ll remember that as they consider their hiring decision. Depending on who you’re interviewing with, if you’re hired, they’ll also be your future colleague, so it’s important to be professional and eloquent in your tone and answers.

8. Smile

Even though you’ll be speaking over the phone, smiling during your interview can promote a positive tone in your voice. Though your interviewer won’t be able to see your smile, they’ll be able to hear it. Practice smiling as you speak in the mirror or with family or friends.

9. Consider your salary expectations

Many employers ask about your salary expectations. Research the average salary in your industry when considering what you’d like to get paid, but be reasonable. It’s also wise to offer them a salary range. This will let your interviewer know that you are flexible.

10. Charge your phone

If you’re using your cell phone for the interview, make sure it’s fully charged and in working condition the day of your interview. It’s also a good idea to do a test call. Have someone call you to make sure your line is clear and that your phone can properly accept calls. Be ready 10-15 minutes before the actual interview time to ensure your phone is working properly.

11. Have your resume and portfolio ready

It’s possible the interviewer will want to ask you questions related to your resume or portfolio. Make sure you have all the necessary documents for reference. You can print these out or have them open on your computer.

12. Prepare your notes

If there are certain things you want to mention during your interviews, such as your specific job duties at a previous employer or your qualifications and how they meet the job description, make note of it as you reference your resume and portfolio. Make sure your notes are clear and legible so you can readily access them if need be.

13. Consider possible interview questions

Research common interview questions so you know what you might be expected to answer. Many interview questions fall into the same categories—adaptability, leadership, collaboration, culture fit, prioritization and development. Determining the questions they might ask can help you gain confidence since you’ll know what to expect. Reviewing highly anticipated questions will ease any nerves going into the interview.

14. Prepare your answers to common interview questions

After researching common interview questions, consider how you’ll answer each. Write your answers in a bullet list, highlighting specific experiences you can draw on to demonstrate your answer. Because you’ll be on the phone, it can be helpful to have notes in front of you during the interview to help you answer. Rehearse your answers without looking at your notes for more practice.

15. Speak clearly

Carefully articulate your words and take your time as you answer each question. Interviewers may be better able to understand you and observe your communication skills. This skill is important in any industry, so demonstrating your excellent communication skills during the interview process can help your interviewer determine your abilities.

16. Be conversational

Maintain a friendly yet professional tone rather than sounding rehearsed. Practice your answers to common interview questions with friends or family or record yourself speaking. Ask your family or friends for feedback in regards to your voice tone, language and speaking speed. In the same manner, playback your recording, and determine how you can improve. During your interview, be polite and prepared to engage in small talk to warm up. As it’s common to exchange pleasantries at the beginning of the call, you may consider preparing something topical (weather, upcoming event, etc.) to speak to.

17. Take notes

Taking notes throughout the interview can help you remember important matters the interviewer discussed. Have a pen and paper or use your computer for note-taking. This can be useful in referencing any salaries, job responsibilities or other relevant company information you may have discussed with the interviewer.

18. Dress professionally

Even though you’ll be speaking over the phone, consider dressing as if you were having an in-person interview. This, along with sitting up tall, can help boost your confidence during the interview so avoid sitting in your pajamas or slouching on the couch.

19. Find a quiet environment

Find a quiet space where you’ll be able to hear the interviewer loud and clear. This will make sure you listen to everything they have to say and that you get all of the information you need. Turn off the television or music, and close the door to the space you’re using for your interview. Remove any background noise and interview in a quiet space to demonstrate your professional courtesy and let your interviewer know you’re taking this job interview seriously.

20. Eliminate distractions (消除干扰)

As you wait for the phone to ring, remove any current or potential distractions. In addition to turning off the television or music, close any unnecessary tabs or windows on your computer or cell phone to ensure your attention is focused on the interview. You can also let potential callers, like friends and family, know that you will be unavailable for a certain amount of time, including the time you need to prepare for the interview.

21. Set a professional voicemail (设置专业语音信箱)

In the event you can’t answer the phone when they initially call, leave a good impression by having a professional and friendly voicemail. For example, “Hi, you’ve reached Jane. I’m sorry I missed your call. Please leave a detailed message and a call back number, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.”

22. Prepare questions you want to ask

Interviewers want to know you’re interested in the position you’re applying for. Display your interest by asking insightful questions at the end of the interview. Some questions you could ask include:

*What will my daily responsibilities include? * ()
What is the workplace environment like?
What is your favorite part of working for the company?

我的日常职责包括什么？

工作环境如何？

您最喜欢在公司工作的哪一部分？

23. Ask about the next steps

Asking your interviewer about the next steps in the interview process is a good way to express your continued interest in the role and the company. While some employers might be ready to offer you a job, others might have you come in for an in-person interview as they narrow down their candidate search. Knowing the answer to this question will give you an idea of what to expect so you can prepare for the next steps.

24. Send a thank-you email

Soon after your phone interview, send your interviewer a thank-you email. Make sure to thank them for their time, include a few relevant details you discussed and express your continued interest in the role. It’s important to properly address the interviewer and send your email within 24 hours. If there’s something you forgot to mention or you’d like them to elaborate on a certain topic, this is a great opportunity to ask.

主题行：今天很高兴与您交谈！

亲爱的奥威奎女士，

感谢您抽出宝贵的时间与我讨论营销协调员的角色。很高兴认识您，并进一步了解该职位。

我很高兴有机会加入Horizon Marketing，并对您分享的有关即将推出的品牌活动的详细信息特别感兴趣。我对承担一些项目管理的前景充满热情，并将我在成功协调跨职能计划中的经验带到桌面上。

谈话后，我有信心我的营销背景和对品牌增长的兴趣将使我能够有效地满足工作要求并支持Horizon的愿景。如果我可以为您提供任何进一步的信息或我的工作样本，请随时与我联系。我期待着您的回音。

再次感谢， 杰里·门德尔森*（*Jerry Mendelson） 555-555-5555 jerrym@email.com

25. Follow up

If you don’t hear back from the interviewer within a week or two, consider following up. It’s possible they’re still interviewing other candidates, but in the event they’re not, it will give you an idea of where you stand as they narrow down their candidate selection.

When you’re better prepared for your interview, you’re more likely to have a favorable outcome. Regardless of what happens, preparing and having a phone interview is a great learning experience for future interviews of the same nature.

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