Phone Interview Tips - Top 5 Telephone Interview Questions

Watch Jeff & Mike The Interview Guys go through their top 5 phone interview questions. These are the 5 that you should definitely prepare thoroughly for beforehand. If you want more tips on how to handle a phone interview in general, check out our "phone interview tips" video....

MIKE
Hello, I'm Mike and this is my friend Jeff. But you probably know us as the Interview Guys.

JEFF
Today we are going to talk to you about one of the most important parts of the interview process, the Phone Interview, sometimes called a screening interview. This is often the first step in the interview process, where the company wants to go through a "feeling out" process with you so they can get a feel for the type of person you are.

MIKE
That's right Jeff. It's also a good time for the company to ask questions regarding certain requirements, like willingness to relocate, or travel, or any salary restrictions. This allows them to eliminate any candidates that won't fit their basic requirements so that they do not waste anyone's time by bringing them in for an in-person interview. After that, a lot of the questions can be similar to those asked by company's that only do in person interviews.

Okay, so there are a lot of questions that could be asked in Phone Interviews, so Jeff and I thought we would give you our list of the Top 5 most commonly asked Phone Interview Questions. The main thing to remember when answering these questions is that it's not about you, it's about them.

JEFF
Mike's right. Each question you are asked is an opportunity for you to show that you are the Perfect Candidate for the position, and you can do this by infusing your answers with the qualities, or strengths, that the company desires. Watch to the end of the video and you can find out more about how to do this. But now, on to the list!

MIKE
Number one our list is "Tell me about yourself", which you can almost guarantee will be asked on your interview. You want to answer this question by identifying the key qualities that the company is looking for in their perfect candidate and infuse those into your answer. The second part is to use an accomplishment or success story from your past to give an example of when you exemplified that quality.

JEFF
Second on our list is "Why did you apply for this job"? In this question, the interviewer is trying to get a feel for your intentions and learn about how enthusiastic you are about the company and the position. Remember not to make your answer all about you. This is another opportunity for you to target the company's desired qualities, but more importantly, show the company what you are going to do for them.

MIKE
Number three on our list is "Why are you thinking of leaving your current position?" If it was because you left voluntarily, then reference a specific characteristic that the company you are interviewing for has that you are attracted to (one that your previous employer doesn't have). If you were let go, be honest and explain the situation and own it. Explain what you learned from the experience, because the interviewer just wants to see that you dealt with it and are a better person because of it.

JEFF
Fourth on our list is "What are your key strengths and weaknesses"? For the strength, be specific and tell a brief work related example of you exhibiting that strength. Again pick an example and a strength that is based on your knowledge of what they're looking for. For the weakness question, be honest and show that you have taken steps to correct the weakness. But remember, be sure not to choose a weakness that is one of the basic requirements of the job.

MIKE
And finally, the number 5 most common question is "Do you have any questions for me/us?" By preparing some targeted questions to ask, you're showing the interviewer that you are somebody who is genuinely interested in the company. This is also another opportunity for you to find out what their requirements and hopes are, and trying to align your experience and accomplishments with what it is that they put high value in.