10 Tips to Prepare for a Phone Interview (Before & During)

Preparing for a phone interview starts with understanding the role, reviewing your resume, and practicing your speaking. A phone interview is often the employer’s first step to assess your communication skills and professionalism, so stay calm and organized. Since they can’t see your body language, your tone, pacing, and clarity matter a lot.

Your voice reveals your confidence and communication style, so speak clearly and maintain a steady tone.

Let’s find out why! 

Why is Phone Interview Prep a Must?

Though phone interviews may seem easier because of no long commute, no in-person nerves, and no awkward waiting in the lobby, but once the phone rings, reality hits!

Your palms get sweaty, your mind travels through spaces while answering “tell me about yourself”, you overthink every pause, or talk too fast to fill in that awkward silence.

Introverts often struggle to sound confident and express themselves while talking to a stranger over the phone. On the other hand, an extrovert’s frustration peaks while communicating without any visual cues or body language.

Either way, a phone interview is more difficult than it sounds, but it is an effective candidate screening tool. According to reports, 68% of companies rely on phone interviews for candidate screening.

The good thing is with the right preparation, you can easily turn this phone screening into an opportunity. 

At Positive Realist, we help job seekers in Las Vegas build confidence and improve communication to ace their phone interviews. If you’re also waiting for your next interview, our phone interview preparation coaching will make sure you feel ready and confident.

10 Practical Tips to Prepare for a Phone Interview

Unlike in-person interviews, your first impression is all about your voice and tone. You can break phone interview prep into three stages: before, during, and after.

Here are the practical tips from experts that actually work:

Before the Interview: Preparation is the Key

It is wise to prepare for your interview in advance to avoid last-minute trouble.

Here is how you can do this:

1- Research the Role and Company

The first step in preparing for a phone interview is to thoroughly research the company and role. Go through the job description in detail to understand the role requirements and whether it aligns with your career goals.

Knowing the company gives you an idea of its culture and goals. Furthermore, you can tailor your answers to their needs and ask relevant questions that show your seriousness about the role.

For example, a company is hiring for a marketing role and recently launched a product. Instead of telling them about your experience in general, you can specifically mention the specific strategies or tools.

2- Keep Your Resume and Talking Points Ready

Before your interview, make sure you have your resume ready, mentioning all your qualifications and experiences. Make sure your CV has a simple, readable format and can pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS).

In addition, prepare a list of talking points to avoid long pauses during the interview. Keep these handy while you appear for your phone interview.

Tip: Create a phone interview cheat sheet that highlights your achievements and answers to common interview questions.

3- Practice Your Answers

As mentioned earlier, phone interviews are all about a confident voice and a professional tone that improves with practice. So, before your interview, prepare your answers to the commonly asked questions during phone screening, including:

• “Tell me about yourself” (the most common phone interview question)
• “Why do you want this role?”
• “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
• “Why do you want to leave your previous job”
• Role-specific technical questions

This can help you come up with organized responses that ease the pressure on you.

Tip: Always remember the three C’s of interviewing: character, confidence, and clarity. Make sure your answers reflect all three of these.

4- Prepare Your Environment

Now comes the important part: set up a comfortable environment to give your interview.

Find a quiet corner where you can comfortably answer the interviewee’s question without any distractions. Make sure you have a working internet connection and a fully charged device with your notepad and resume.

You can also choose to sit or stand during the interview, depending on your comfort and personal preference.

During the Interview: Every Word Counts

Now comes the interview part, and the following tips can help you ace it effortlessly:

5- Friendly Greeting

Answer your phone promptly and begin your interview with a friendly greeting rather than an uncertain ‘Hello?’ When you get an answer from the other side, state your name and thank the interviewer for the opportunity.

Tip: The start of your interview sets your tone. So make sure you speak with enthusiasm and smile when you speak.

6- Answer Questions Confidently

Now, answer the interviewer’s questions with confidence and clarity. Let them complete first and then start answering while taking small pauses.

Avoid unnecessary long pauses and maintain and modulate your tone. Keep your answer concise and clear.

Tip: You can structure your answers to behavioral questions using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

7- Ask Thoughtful Questions

Once the interviewer finishes questioning you, you can start asking the recruiter questions. 

It’s helpful to plan your questions. You can ask about responsibilities, goals, the organization, the team, etc.

Tip: Avoid asking about salary and benefits unless the recruiter brings it up first.

8- Watch for Red Flags

During the telephone interview, be conscious of the red flags as if the interviewer:

• Looks unprepared or disorganized
• Asks irrelevant or inappropriate questions
• Is unclear about the job role
• Lacks clarity on the next steps in the recruitment process

During the Interview: Follow-Up Matters

A phone interview is more likely to last for 15-30 minutes. Here are the tips to make a final post-interview impression.

9- Send Thank You Email

Once the interview is over, send a thank-you email. A thank-you email should reiterate your interest in the position and highlight a key point from your interview conversation.

10- Prepare for the Next Steps

After the phone interview, you can start preparing for the next steps, which are most probably a technical evaluation or an in-person interview. If you need to follow up, you can politely and clearly ask the recruiter for a job update.

FAQs

How to Tell if I Did Well in a Phone Interview?

An interview was good when the interviewer discussed the next steps, introduced another team member, or lasted longer than expected.

Can I Use Notes During the Interview?

Yes, you can definitely use notes during the interview that mention talking points, key achievements, etc.

What Questions Should I Ask a Recruiter During Phone Screening?

You can ask questions about their expectations of you, the company’s goals, team dynamics, and next steps in the process.

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