How to Prepare for a Phone Interview?

Remote recruitment is quickly becoming a new norm. Gartner’s survey found that 86% of organizations are conducting virtual interviews to hire candidates during the coronavirus pandemic.

And the trend doesn’t seem to slow down anytime soon. That’s probably because phone interviews offer a seamless way to screen candidates while saving time.

In this article, we will discuss the benefits of phone interviews and 4 ways to prepare for a phone interview. So, let’s get started.

Phone Interview Benefits

There are a number of advantages when it comes to conducting a phone interview. Here are some of them.

• More cost-effective than face-to-face interviews.
• Allows you to reach candidates across the globe.
• Enables you to conduct more interviews in less time.
• Easier to find a time for the interview that’s convenient for both the interviewer and interviewee.

Phone interviews also enable you to conquer the challenges caused by COVID-19 and continue hiring the best talents for your business. Now, the question is, how do you prepare for conducting a phone interview? Here’s how.

Top 4 Tips to prepare for a phone interview

Being a good interviewer requires a thorough preparation for the interview beforehand. It enables you to find the best candidates for your company while saving your time. Read on to discover practical tips to succeed in the process.

1. Define the Core Characteristics Required

The first step to prepare for a phone interview is defining the core attributes that your ideal candidate must possess. Note down a list of skills and qualities that you are looking for in an employee.

Apart from the technical skills required to do the job, you might look for employees who are:

• Good communicators
• Collaborative
• Dependable
• Humble
• Passionate and dedicated
• Confident
• Reliable and responsible
• Proactive

Having these attributes could save your company lots of time and money in the future. While talking to the candidate, you’ll get a fair idea of whether they possess these skills.

2. Ask the Right Questions

Phone interview questions can help you screen applicants, save time, and find the best ones.

Here are some questions that you can ask in a phone interview:

• Tell me something about yourself other than what’s mentioned in your resume.
• What core skills do you think you have that makes you fit for this role?
• Why do you want this job?
• Why are you leaving your current job?
• What are your expectations with this job?
• What are your salary expectations?
• Have you researched about our company? What did you like about it?
• If you are hired, how soon can you join?

Lastly, let the candidate ask you questions. This will show how interested and engaged they were throughout the interview (however, this should not be a judging factor as they might not know what to ask).

3. Look Out for the Red Flags

Not all candidates are the right fit for your organization. A wrong hire will not only cost your company but can also negatively affect your team.

As a recruiter, you need to look out for signals that indicate an applicant is not a good fit for your business. Here are some of them:

• They talk about money too much.
• Their LinkedIn profile and resume don’t match.
• They interrupt you most of the time.
• The candidate offers one-word answers without elaboration.
• They haven’t researched your company.
• The candidate badmouths their former employers.

Having said that, you might come across candidates who get nervous during the interview (they might fumble a lot or take long pauses before answering). While some recruiters consider it a red flag (or a sign of lack of confidence), it is quite normal.

Candidates might be nervous because they’re in desperate need of the job or are giving a phone interview for the first time. At times, these candidates might prove to be one of your best employees.

4. Have a Pen and Notebook Handy

If you are interviewing more than one candidate, have a pen and notebook handy to take detailed notes during the phone interview. This will help you screen the best ones after you have interviewed all the candidates.

You can even use the notes to discuss things with your colleagues or seniors to find the best candidates for your company.

Make a note of things like:

• Did the candidate do their homework (e.g., research about your company, understand the basics of the position they’re applying for, etc.)?
• Was the candidate sincerely interested in your company?
• Does the candidate have all the requisite skills and experience required for the job?

You can also add detailed feedback (if you think the candidate is the right fit) that might be helpful when referring back to them later.

Wrapping Up

Conducting a thoughtful phone interview helps you find the right pool of qualified candidates faster. Use the four tips mentioned above to prepare for a phone interview and get the most out of your time (and efforts). Happy Recruiting!

About the Author:

Swapnil Rathod is a Lead Generation expert whose passion lies in SEO and Paid Marketing. He presently works as Digital Marketing Manager at CallHippo, an Award Winning cloud-based Business Telephony Solution. He has acted as a mentor to some of the most prolific Digital Marketing Institutes in India and has mentored 5000+ students.