Hunting for a new job? Then you’re likely to encounter the phone interview, an essential but potentially nerve-racking part of the recruitment process.
These 15- to 30-minute screening interviews help employers decide whether you could be a good fit for their company. They're a great opportunity to show your interest in and suitability for the role.
Phone interviews are usually the first step in hiring and are crucial for landing an in-person interview, the next step in the process. It's essential to make an impact in this early stage – especially in competitive industries.
By preparing what to say in a phone interview, you’ve got the best chance of making a strong first impression when a prospective employer calls. Here’s what to expect in a phone interview – and tips and tricks for mastering them.
Phone interviews offer a chance to show potential employers that you have the right skills and experience for the job.
According to government research, 77% of employers say that the interview is the most important part of the recruitment process – which includes interviews over the phone. The more time you spend preparing for a phone interview, the better your chances of success. Preparation will boost your confidence and help you articulate your best qualities.
Here's how to make a great first impression.
Researching the company’s products and services shows your interest in the role. Look at the company culture, including its key mission and values, and consider how your professional experiences and your own values fit in.
Learning as much as you can about the company is your opportunity to identify the skills the business can benefit most – the skills you need to emphasise in your phone interview.
Read the job description thoroughly, and research the company online. Then, compare the role to your strengths, qualifications, and experience, then come up with relevant discussion points: examples of what you can offer the company, how your experience matches the role, and how your values align with theirs.
Next, refer to your resumé profile. This short paragraph is a blurb on your resumé that tells employers who you are at a glance. It summarises your most relevant skills and professional experiences.
If a hiring manager has scheduled a phone interview with you, it's likely because they want to hear more about your past achievements or experience based on what you’ve included in your resumé, so it’s important to have that information top of mind.
Create a 60- to 90-second personal pitch or “about me” that includes all the key details of your work history, to ensure you're ready for your interview. Practise it with a family member, friend, colleague, or an expert in your field.
Try recording your mock interview practice, then listen to it. This will help you to speak at the right pace, clearly pronounce your words, and project a confident tone.
Phone interviews generally last no longer than 30 minutes, meaning your answers need to be concise and straight to the point. Consider the most common interview questions that employers ask, such as “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want to work for us?” and come up with answers that are tailored to your skills and career aspirations.
Use the job description and your resumé as a guide to which key points and transferable skills you should highlight.
The most effective method for answering behavioural questions (questions about how you apply your skills at work) is the STAR interview technique. This provides insight into how you handle real-life scenarios using critical thinking abilities.
STAR stands for:
Situation: Describe a challenging task or difficult situation you faced at work.
Task: Explain specifically what you had to overcome.
Action: Explore the steps you took to address the challenge.
Result: Detail the situation's outcome, such as keeping a loyal customer, making a sale, or earning praise from your team.
This creates a framework for your responses to questions like “Tell me about a recent challenge at work and how you overcame it” or “Have you ever had a disagreement with a colleague? How did you resolve it?”
You'll need a quiet, distraction-free environment for a successful phone interview. Make family members or housemates aware of your call well in advance and make sure you’ve got plenty of charge on your phone and good reception.
Ideally, keep your schedule clear for at least 15 minutes before the interview, so you have time to review what you’re going to say.
Phone interviews are typically the first part of a longer recruitment process. Many of them only provide a short amount of time for you to sell your skills and experiences. Show interviewers you are well-spoken and well prepared by keeping your answers short and concise – they should ideally be under a minute long.
You want the recruiter or hiring manager to get a clear picture of your abilities and attitude, so structure your answers using the STAR technique, as illustrated below:
Question: Tell me a bit about yourself
How to answer: start with your current role and how long you've worked in the industry. Then, mention highlights/milestones in your career that are relevant to the role. End with a sentence about where you hope to be in the future, and how the role ties into this.
Question: “Why are you interested in this position?”
How to answer: employers will be excited to hire you if you are excited about the role, so be enthusiastic in how you answer this. Relate your enthusiasm to the company's mission, the duties mentioned in the job description and how you see yourself growing in the role and contributing to the company’s goals.
Question: “What do you know about our company?”
How to answer: The interviewer wants to know if you’re genuinely interested in the role and how much industry knowledge you have. Show that you have a good understanding of the company’s products and services, their business objectives and their position in the industry.
Question: “What are your salary expectations?”
How to answer: it’s not recommended to bring up salary, but you should have a range in mind in case you’re asked this question. Do plenty of research on similar job roles and the company itself to ensure you have an accurate range in mind. If you’re open to salary packaging, or to negotiating for perks, mention that as well.
Question: “Do you have any questions for us?”
How to answer: make a good impression by having thoughtful questions for the interviewer that show you’re a serious applicant. Ask about the company culture, specific role expectations, how the company measures performance, or about a typical day on the job. Keep a notepad close during the call and jot down any questions that spring to mind during the interview.
Whether you’re in the same room as the recruiter or half a world away, it’s essential to demonstrate enthusiasm and professionalism in a job interview. Consider these five phone interview tips to put your best foot forward.
Recruiters can't read your facial expressions or body language during a phone interview, so you need to focus on your tone of voice and word choice to convey your message and energy.
Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, to ensure the interviewer can easily hear and understand what you’re saying. If you need to, take a few seconds to collect your thoughts before answering a question. Give short, informative answers highlighting your most important points, using everyday language rather than jargon, complicated words, or cliches.
An enthusiastic tone can help you secure a follow-up in-person interview. Listen to the interviewer carefully and let them finish the question before you begin speaking.
You may be interviewing from home, but professionally presenting yourself can get you in the right mindset. Dress smartly, as you would for a face-to-face interview, to put you in the right frame of mind. It’s also good to be prepared for an unexpected video call.
Maintain good posture. Stand or sit up straight, ideally in a quiet, distraction-free room, to help you breathe deeply and speak with more power Smiling while you talk, even on the phone, creates a warm and friendly tone, which will help you sound relaxed and confident.
Feeling nervous before an interview is perfectly natural. To help keep nerves at bay, have your preparatory notes close by to refer to. Creating a “cheat sheet” for your answers can help you find answers quickly if you get stuck for words.
Take brief notes on questions you'd like to ask at the end, like company culture or day-to-day operations. This is also useful for future interviews, as noting the key points shows that you're genuinely interested in the company and the role.
The biggest difference between in-person and phone interviews is the lack of non-verbal cues. You'll need to find other ways to connect with the interviewer.
Use verbal cues like acknowledgements and well-timed interjections, such as “I see”, “Uh-huh” or “right!” This shows that you're actively listening and taking everything that’s being said on board.
Block out any background noise during the call by wearing headphones or earbuds, if you have them. This allows you to focus exclusively on the interviewer's voice, which can be difficult when you're not sitting face-to-face.You should also have your phone on do not disturb mode so you aren't distracted by incoming notifications.
Almost half of employers say that a job seeker's approach to work at the interview stage is important to them. Coming across professionally from the start will positively influence the interview's outcome.
For a later-stage interview, recruiters will schedule calls in advance, so be prepared at least 10 minutes before they are due to call. However, when first contacting you recruiters may call for a quick chat without warning.
Always answer the phone professionally, particularly if you're job hunting and don't recognise the number. Create a professional voicemail, too, in case you miss the call.
Introduce yourself confidently when the interview begins. State your name and greet the interviewer in an upbeat, professional tone, confirming they've reached the right person.
Example:
Hello, yes this is [your name]. I applied for the [job role] position recently. Thanks for the opportunity to chat today.
It’s also important to end the interview on a positive, professional note so you leave a strong lasting impression on the interviewer.
Express gratitude for the opportunity. A good phone interview should start and end with a thank you to the recruiter. This shows your enthusiasm for the position and your professionalism.
Ask thoughtful questions. Demonstrate your keen attention to detail by asking the interviewer any of your pre-prepared questions.
Enquire about the next steps. Wanting to know what happens next shows your eagerness to get the ball rolling and begin working for the company.
A phone interview is a critical part of the hiring process, so it’s important to be aware of pitfalls to avoid. Here are some interview mistakes that can stop you from progressing to the next step.
Knowing little about the company interviewing you shows a lack of interest in the role. Avoid giving vague answers by conducting plenty of research before the call. Phone interviews give you the chance to have notes in front of you, so you can jot down important points to remember and refer to them as you need.
Expressing your excitement about the role highlights your enthusiasm, but don't let it affect your pace. Speaking too fast may make you hard to understand and detract from the quality of your answers. Practise with a friend beforehand, or record your answers and listen back.
Try to relax before the start of the interview with a few deep-breathing exercises. Be ready early to prevent rushing, which may affect your speaking capabilities.
It’s crucial to give the interviewer your full attention – to properly hear and understand what they're saying, and because it’s the respectful thing to do.
Close any unnecessary tabs and apps on your computer or phone screen. Place only your notes and resume in front of you. Ensure you listen actively, engage with the interviewer, and provide thoughtful responses.
Phone interviews only offer a short time frame to show why you're the best person for the job. Answer questions concisely, giving plenty of detail while getting straight to the point. Your pre-prepared answers are helpful here.
Filler words such as 'um', 'uh' and' 'like' are a natural part of spoken language. However, using them too often can detract from your high-quality answers. By practising your responses, your answers will flow more easily.
Avoid using the speakerphone, as the interviewer may struggle to hear you. Wear a headset instead to block out any background noise and leave your hands free for note-taking.
If you're worried about the sound quality of your mobile phone, try to find a reliable landline instead. Test your signal strength before the call if you can.
Be sure to send a follow-up email shortly after the interview to express your gratitude for the interviewer's time. This also reiterates your interest and can increase your chances of getting an in-person interview.
Then, it's time to prepare for the potential next steps in the hiring process. Reflect on the interview. Look at your notes and write down any follow-up questions for your next interview.
Consider how the interviewer responded to your pre-prepared answers and any questions that you hadn’t anticipated. Use this interview as a learning experience by identifying any parts of that you would like to improve on for next time.
Phone interviews are your opportunity to score an in-person interview by showcasing your most relevant skills and impressing your potential employer.
The key to success over the phone is preparing your answers and making sure your environment is quiet and private. Choose a distraction-free location with a strong phone signal and good call quality, conduct thorough company research beforehand and keep your notes close by.
Practise speaking clearly and concisely to quickly make a warm, friendly, yet professional impression. But most importantly, remember to breathe, take your time, speak clearly, and give genuine answers. Confidence and research are the keys to mastering the phone interview for your next job application.
Learn more about job interview preparation with SEEK's career advice.
Many companies use phone interviews as a screening process. This allows recruiters to quickly determine the most suitable people for an in-person interview. Some employers may instead favour face-to-face interviews as the first interview stage.
Research the company using their website and thoroughly review the job description. Pick out key skills and compare them to your resumé to prepare detailed, concise interview answers. Rehearse these answers with a friend, then gather feedback on your tone and clarity. Choose a quiet, distraction-free room and test your phone signal beforehand.
A question that often starts phone interviews is, “Can you tell me about yourself?” Interviewers may also ask what attracted you to the role. Another common question is, “Can you tell me about a time you dealt with a challenging or stressful situation?” Phone interviewers commonly end with questions about salary expectations and whether the interviewee has any questions.
Speak at a steady pace to ensure interviewers can properly catch what you're saying. Project your voice by standing up or sitting straight to allow your diaphragm to expand. Leave a short gap before answering a question to avoid talking over the interviewer.
Start a phone interview by greeting the interviewer by name. Introduce yourself confidently and thank them for speaking with you. At the end of the call, thank them for their time and ask when you can expect a response about the next steps.
Most recruiters respond within one to two weeks of an interview. Ask about the next steps in the hiring process at the end of the interview, to clarify when you can expect to hear back. A follow-up email thanking the recruiter is a good way to get in touch while maintaining post-interview etiquette.