How to Ace a Phone Interview [VIDEO]

Mastering phone interviews is a great way to kick off the hiring process on a positive note. Here are some tips that will help you ace your next phone interview and get you one step closer to your next role.

Transcript

The interview process typically includes multiple parts. The first part is commonly a phone interview. And since a phone interview is likely your first time communicating with an employer, it’s your chance to leave a lasting, first impression. Here are some tips for acing a phone interview and securing your spot for the next interview round.

1. Stick to the most important parts

During phone interviews it’s important to stick to the most important parts. Your phone interview will typically cover the basics of your resume, your interest in the company, and more general information about you as a candidate. When answering the recruiters questions, it’s important to be clear and concise and not be long-winded. Due to the nature of phone interviews, if your answer is getting to be too long, you won’t be able to read the body language of your recruiter and it will be harder to notice if they are interested in your response or if it is boring them. If you’re asked more specific questions, stick to the most relevant facts, and leave the lengthy and elaborate answers for later interview rounds.

One common phone interview question is “Why are you interested in working at this company?” If you get this question, here’s an example of how NOT to answer"

“Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to work at a company that made the world a better place. I believe companies should give back in some form and really take care of their employees and community. Over the years I’ve held different positions at companies that only cared about meeting numbers and were greedy with their profits by refusing to give back to those who need it the most. I was always unhappy in these positions because they didn’t align with my values. When I decided I wanted to make a career move I was drawn to your company’s values and how the company has made a lasting impact in the local community through fundraising and volunteer efforts. I would be thrilled to be a part of a team that truly makes a difference in the world.”

While all of this may be true, a long-winded answer like this provides more details than the recruiter needs. Instead, you can accomplish the same sentiment with a brief answer like this:

“Working at a company that aligns with my values is very important to me. I’ve seen the work the company has done in the local community through fundraising and volunteer work and I admire it a lot. It would be an honor to work at your company that prioritizes people’s lives outside of the office.”

2. Use an Enthusiastic Tone

Using an enthusiastic tone is critical during phone interviews. These interviews are vastly different from virtual or in-person interviews in the sense that the recruiter can only hear you, instead of also seeing you. This makes the tone of your voice incredibly important. So, while an answer like this may seem like the right information when asked about your resume:

“After graduating from college in 2020, I took on my first corporate role as a social media manager. On a weekly basis I post 3 to 4 times on our main social media platforms, Instagram and Linkedin. In the four years I’ve worked here I’ve noticed a lot of growth in my confidence and abilities.”

It’s much better to emphasize your response with an enthusiastic tone of voice, like this:

“After graduating from college in 2020, I took on my first corporate role as a social media manager! On a weekly basis I post 3 to 4 times on our main social media platforms, Instagram and Linkedin. In the four years I’ve worked here I’ve noticed a lot of growth in my confidence and abilities.”

The same statement can have a vastly different impact depending on your delivery.

Using these tips, you’ll impress your recruiter and hopefully find yourself in a virtual or in-person interview next. For more career advice, check out Vault.com.