If you’ve a cellphone interview developing, there are some questions you might be very prone to be requested… and practising them can instantly assist you really feel assured and be able to “wow” the interviewer so you possibly can transfer on to the following stage!
I’m going to stroll you thru the commonest cellphone interview questions and finest solutions, so you will get employed quicker.
Let’s get began…
Phone Interview Questions and Answers
1. Tell me about your self
The key right here is to be concise. The finest solutions to this interview query will probably be 90 seconds or much less.
You need to reply in chronological order – begin with how you bought into your present line of labor or profession path. Then speak about key accomplishments you’ve had alongside the way in which, key profession strikes you’ve made and why. Also embody any promotions you’ve obtained.
Try to say at the very least one factor that may make you memorable and stand out (for instance, “In my last job, my team worked with Tesla to help design their latest battery monitoring technology).
And then finish your story with your current situation. Describe what you’re looking for now in your job search, and why.
See below for a full sample response, or read our full article on how to answer “tell me about yourself”.
Example response:
“I graduated five years ago with a degree in Chemistry. I took a job with Pfizer and was promoted after three years to lead projects in their cancer research division. I’ve been in this Project Manager role for two years now and even won an award for outstanding leadership this past year. Everything’s going great, but I’d like to take my career to the next level by finding opportunities to lead larger teams. I saw on your job description that you mention this is an opportunity to lead teams of 8-10 people, so I was eager to learn more.”
2. Why are you job looking out proper now?
If you’re unemployed, be direct and say so. BUT – have a great motive for why you need this explicit job too. This is tremendous essential. Employers need to really feel such as you need their job, not simply any job. I can’t stress this sufficient.
If you’re presently employed however job searching to find something better, preserve it constructive. Focus on what you need to achieve in a transfer. “I’d love to find an opportunity that will give me a bigger chance to lead and manage projects”, and many others.
Don’t badmouth your present job or employer, and don’t discuss concerning the unhealthy belongings you’re seeking to escape or get away from. Just preserve it constructive and deal with what you’d love to realize by altering jobs.
Sample reply in the event you’re unemployed:
“I was laid off four months ago so I’m in an active job search. I’m hoping to find a position that will let me continue to build my skills as a customer service supervisor. I’m particularly looking to stay in the software industry, which is one reason this job excited me.”
Sample in the event you’re presently employed whereas job looking out:
“I’ve learned a lot in my current job and enjoyed it, however, I’ve been in this position for four years and feel that to take my skills to the next level, I should expose myself to a new work environment to continue challenging myself. I saw your job description mentions ___, which is one of the key things I hope to continue doing in my next role, so this seemed like a great job to apply for and have an interview to discuss.“
3. How did you hear about this position?
The best responses to this question will be straight-forward and clear. For example, these are all good answers for how you heard about the job:
- You found them researching online
- You were familiar with them before you started job searching
- You found them in a press release or news article
- A colleague told you about them
- A recruiter contacted you about them
- Etc.
We’ve also put a few word-for-word answer examples below, or you can read our complete guide to answering “how did you find out about this position?”
Example reply:
“A colleague recommended your organization to me. I went on your website to learn more and saw this position listed. It seemed like a great fit and a move that could help advance my career, so I was eager to learn more and have an interview.”
Or:
“A recruiter contacted me last week and the position sounded like a great fit for my skills and experience, so I became interested.”
4. What are you aware about our firm?
With this query, you need to showcase your data and exhibit that you simply did analysis earlier than applying for the job.
Employers don’t need to rent somebody who’s simply making use of to each job, and not taking the time to study something concerning the firm. They need somebody who utilized for a motive and desires to work at THEIR firm.
For assist with firm analysis, we have now a full article on how to research a company before your interview.
And for assist along with your interview reply after you’ve researched the employer, you possibly can see the instance response under or learn our full article on how to answer, “what do you know about our company?”
Example reply:
“I know you’re one of the top alarm system manufacturers in the US. I did some reading on your website and discovered that you create alarms for businesses and office buildings, not just individual homes. I also did some reading on your corporate culture and it sounds like you do a lot to support the development of your employees, and get involved in community service too. That’s something I care a lot about and something that attracts me to an employer.”
5. Why would you like this job?
With this query, the employer desires to see that you’ve an actual reason for wanting their particular job (somewhat than simply needing any job you will get). This is essential to them and you’ll not get employed in the event you can’t present them why you need this particular job.
So your reply to this cellphone interview query ought to include two key items:
- What you’re searching for in your job search total
- Something you observed about their job that excites you or is a match for what you need
Now let’s take a look at a full instance for answering “why did you apply for this particular position?”
Sample reply:
“One of the key things I’m targeting in my job search right now is an opportunity to work more directly with customers and clients. I really enjoy that aspect of my work, but my last job took me a bit away from that. I saw on your job description that 50% of this job is interacting with clients, either on the phone or in-person, and that excited me.”
6. What different jobs have you ever been interviewing for?
Here’s why employers ask this: They need to be certain that their job matches the overall theme of what you’re searching for.
Your reply is just going to fret them or increase a “red flag” if all the opposite jobs you’re making use of for are WAY totally different than this job.
So to present an excellent reply right here, present the employer that their job matches the general theme of different jobs you’re taking a look at.
And in the event that they do ask for firm names, you possibly can refuse by saying, “I’d like to keep the names of the other companies confidential. I’d do the same for your company if another interviewer asked me.”
See examples under or learn our information to answers for “what other companies are you interviewing with?”
Sample reply:
“I’ve been applying and interviewing at small and mid-sized banks and financial firms like yours. I spent the first 4 years of my career with Bank of America, so I’m hoping to experience a smaller work environment now to round-out my skill set. I’d like to keep the names of the other companies confidential, though. I’d do the same for your company if another employer were to ask me.”
7. How is your job search going to this point?
Employers ask this in a cellphone interview to get a way of how issues are going for you total, how a lot different corporations have an interest, and even how quickly you may need job affords (in the event that they such as you, they don’t need to transfer too slowly and lose the possibility to give you the job).
The one factor you don’t need to do along with your reply is sound such as you’re fully struggling to find a job.
If you aren’t getting many interviews or in the event you simply began taking cellphone interviews, you possibly can at all times say: “I’m just beginning to take interviews, but it’s going well so far.”
If you’ve had a number of interviews however they didn’t go effectively, you possibly can say that you simply haven’t discovered the appropriate match but. So for instance, you would possibly say, “I’ve had a couple of phone interviews so far but haven’t found a great fit yet.”
Sample reply:
“Things are going well so far. I’m just beginning to take phone interviews, and I’m still very early in my job search. I expect to have some face-to-face interviews soon.”
8. Tell me about your most up-to-date job. What had been you accountable for every day?
With this interview query, be prepared to reply with particular accomplishments and particulars of what you probably did.
What did you study? Which particular instruments and applied sciences did you’re employed with? What outcomes did you assist your organization or group obtain?
Try to organize particular particulars to speak about earlier than your interview. You ideally need to have the ability to share outcomes you achieved and the way you helped your organization become profitable, get monetary savings, save time, and many others.
Also, you need your examples to be related to THEIR wants. So prepare by studying the job description, and then point out issues that will probably be related for this explicit job!
Example cellphone interview reply:
“One of the biggest areas I was responsible for in my last job was to ensure our website had as close to 100% up-time as possible. I achieved the best result in our company’s 29-year history last year by making some key changes and optimizations immediately after being hired. I saw on your job description that you seem to be looking for someone who can do similar work for you. Your company is in a similar stage to my last employer when they hired me – in terms of size and growth. So it’s something I could help with immediately in this role.”
9. What are your wage expectations?
Do NOT give a quantity right here. If you say a quantity that’s too excessive, you’ll scare them off. If you go too low, you’ll damage your negotiating energy later. It’s a no-win scenario for you.
They’re not even positive they need to rent you or proceed interviewing you but, so you haven’t any leverage. They’re simply gathering information that may assist them.
The finest technique for this interview query is to inform them you don’t have a quantity in thoughts but. That manner, they’ll’t push you or stress you with a number of questions.
Here’s learn how to reply this query in a cellphone interview:
“I don’t have a specific number in mind. Right now I’m focused on finding the position that’s the best fit for my skills and my career. Once I’ve done that, I’m willing to consider any offer you feel is fair.”
If they push again, simply repeat, “I really don’t have a number in mind yet”.
If you need extra assist, right here’s a full article on how to answer salary expectations questions.
10. When are you accessible to begin?
If they ask this late in a face-to-face interview, it’s a sign your interview went well. However, in the event you’re listening to it in a cellphone interview, they’re often simply making an attempt to get a way of your availability and present job hunt scenario.
So… If you’re presently employed, inform them you’d must give a two week notice to your present employer (or no matter is normal in your organization).
Example:
“I’d need to give my current employer a two-week notice, and then I was hoping to take one week off before starting. So I could be available to start three weeks after a job offer is accepted.”
If you’re unemployed, you possibly can nonetheless inform them you’d like one or two weeks earlier than beginning, nevertheless it’s as much as you. See the instance script under for the way you are able to do this:
(*15*)
Also, in the event you’re applying for jobs in a different city or state, you could be requested how quickly you possibly can relocate, whether or not you’ll require relocation help and extra. So be prepared for that sort of query too!
11. What questions do you’ve for me?
Always have questions to ask the interviewer. It could make the distinction between getting employed and not getting a callback after the cellphone interview. (Because it exhibits curiosity within the place, and it exhibits that you simply’re being selective and cautious in your job search and that you simply’re not determined).
You can ask concerning the job duties, objectives, the group, the corporate total, the coaching you’ll obtain, how your efficiency will probably be measured, and questions concerning the precise interview course of (like “when can I expect to hear feedback?”)
If you’re having an interview with a recruiter, here are some good questions to ask them.
12. What sort of labor setting do you favor?
Employers need to be sure that your character is a match for his or her work setting. This is totally different than figuring out in case your abilities are a match for his or her job.
So after among the competency-based questions within the interview, they’ll seemingly ask about how you favor to work, kinds of corporations/environments you’ve loved previously, and many others.
To reply, you possibly can both describe an setting that you simply really feel is just like theirs, or exhibit that you could work effectively in quite a lot of environments.
For extra assist with this, learn our guide to answering “what type of work environment do you prefer?”
13. Why will you succeed on this place?
Some interviewers will come out and straight ask why you suppose you’ll be a hit of their job. Don’t be timid when answering – that is your likelihood to point out confidence and clarify precisely how one can assist them, and how your expertise will probably be useful to you of their job.
Here’s extra information on answering “Why do you think you would do well in this job?”
14. What motivates you?
Motivation is a priority each employer has, irrespective of how proficient/certified you might be. If you’re not coming to work motivated, your work will undergo. So they’re prone to ask one or two cellphone interview questions to seek out out what drives you, what pursuits you, and many others.
And one of the vital frequent of those questions is, “what motivates you to come to work each day?”
You ought to be capable of title one thing apart from cash if you wish to impress the interviewer with this query. Do some considering forward of time and give you the rationale you intend on giving.
15. How would you describe your self?
Finally, the interviewer might ask an open-ended query like “how would you describe yourself?” as they’re attending to know you.
Keep your reply skilled right here and solely speak about your character and attributes as an worker. And attempt to give an instance in the event you can.
Sample reply:
“I’d describe myself as detail-oriented and team-oriented. For example, in my current job, I’m responsible for managing multiple projects and I often coordinate with 10-15 people across different departments each day. I’m also responsible for reporting project milestones to our clients, so I have to stay extremely organized and on top of things.”
Steps After Your Phone Interview
Along with practising the cellphone interview questions above, you also needs to have a plan for learn how to impress the employer after the interview. Here are the 2 most essential issues to do after each interview:
First, at all times finish your interview by asking when you possibly can anticipate to listen to concerning the subsequent steps. That manner, you possibly can follow-up by email to ask for feedback if that point has handed (and you’ll have much less anxiousness whereas ready after the cellphone interview).
And secondly, ship a thank-you letter or email inside 24 hours of the interview to reaffirm your curiosity within the place and present the employer you admire their time on the cellphone.
This will assist you make a powerful impression and preserve your self on high of the hiring supervisor’s thoughts as they’re making their resolution!
UPDATE:
If you’ve cellphone interviews developing and don’t need to go away something to likelihood, I’ve created a brand new information the place you possibly can copy my actual step-by-step methodology for getting job affords. You can get more details here.