10 Excellent Phone Interview Questions and Answers

Phone interviews are beautiful for a plethora of reasons, the biggest in my opinion being that you don’t have to wear pants. However, just because you’re not meeting with the hiring manager in person doesn’t mean you don’t have to prepare. This is still an interview, and you are still expected to answer questions on the spot. Hiring managers will notice if there’s a long pause for you to Google the answer to the question you were just asked. Prepare beforehand with these 10 excellent phone interview questions and answers.

Tell Me About Yourself
A phone interview is usually the first step of the interview process, therefore the hiring manager will want to use this opportunity to get to know you. This is your chance to show them that there’s even more to the person than just what is on your resume and cover letter. Humble-brag about yourself accordingly, and follow this outline to craft a perfect answer.

What are you looking for in a new job?
This answer can vary depending on the industry i.e. if you are going from the corporate world to the nonprofit world you may be able to say that you are looking to make a difference in the world. A good general answer is to say that you want a new challenge where you can further utilize your skills to help the company flourish.

What is your perfect job?
Here is your opportunity to show that you have a career plan, and that this job will serve as a stepping-stone to achieve your goal. According to Paige Carratturo, CEO of Enertech Search Partners, “What’s critical is finding out what drives people in their careers. Most people aren’t looking for a job, they are looking for a love affair.” Choose an aspect of the job that excites you the most and focus on that in your response; your excitement will be noticed through the phone.

What is your greatest weakness?
One of the most well known interview questions out there, it’s almost a guarantee that you will be asked this in your first conversation with a hiring manager. Read the dos and don’ts of answering this question to ensure that you impress.

Why are you leaving your current employer?
A spin on the typical “why do you want a new job?” but this one focuses on your current/former employer. No matter how bad your current job is, or how bad of a relationship you may have with your boss, do not let it show in your response. Hiring managers purposely ask this question, as they want to read your reaction. Be positive throughout this response by saying you’re looking for a new challenge, have reached your maximum potential at your current job, or want a new location.

How well do you handle stress in your work?
I thrive under pressure! Cliché, but true. Make it known that you can handle working under difficult circumstances, as it’s always a new challenge for you to overcome. Stress arises in the workplace, and employers need to know that their employees can handle it. Furthermore, give an example of a time when you had to handle stress or work under pressure to prove that you do in fact thrive in these situations.

What motivates you?
Here’s your chance to take something written on your resume and further elaborate on it, while showing the hiring manager that you can think critically. Talk about projects you were in charge of that motivated you, or about how working with a specific team or clients encourages you. Do deadlines motivate you? Talk about that then, but be sure to bring everything back to a success you had at your old (or present) job.

Why do you want to work for this company?
Time to see if you did your homework on the company you’re applying for! Is there a new initiative you saw happening at this company? Talk about how you want to further that. Is there a past project/case/client/event they handled that you love? Talk about how you want to be part of that, and bring it to the next level. Show off your background knowledge on the company.

When can you start?
You may think this is a silly question to prepare for, but if you need to relocate for a job, it’s a necessary thing to think about. Another key factor is that you don’t want to come off as desperate by yelling tomorrow into the phone. Whatever date you give here you have to stick to; you don’t want to say one date and then have to call back after actually getting hired to change it, you’ll seem unreliable off the bat.

What is your ideal salary?
A risky, yet typical question to be asked in a first conversation. For instance, if you price yourself too high you may be knocking yourself out of the applicant pool. Make sure you have a reasonable salary that fits both with the level of the job you are applying for and your experience. This can be intimidating, so be sure to read about salary requirements for recent college graduates and how a salary history can help you.

As I said earlier, a phone interview is usually the first step of the interview process. The hiring manager was intrigued by your resume and cover letter, and wants to give you a chance to prove yourself a bit more. This phone interview is a chance for them to get to know about you personally, your experience, and what you’re expecting from your future. Prepare for these 10 questions, as well as these common interview questions, and you’ll be ready to rock the interview.