The telephone interview plays a crucial role in the pre-hiring process of a candidate. This means that the employer has reviewed the candidate’s resume or application and is showing some interest, which is a positive step forward, even though the candidate is still a long way from being hired! The phone interview in many cases can be a hit or miss for many candidates as it is primarily a way for the employer to check whether “you” the candidate are culturally and technically fit for their work environment. Below are some of the most common questions and answers from phone interviews.

Q. Can you tell me a bit about yourself?

A. The employer often uses this question to break the ice and get the candidate to reveal some basic personality traits. The best answer would be short and professional. Remember to stay focused as the employer doesn’t want to hear anything unrelated to your business!

Q. What is your educational background?

A. The correct answer is the honest answer. “Straight up and straight to the point” is the only thing an employer likes to hear. If you don’t have a degree and you’re not enrolled in an educational program, don’t talk about how you continue your education because the truth is you’re not!

Q. Are you currently employed and where?

A. In an ideal situation, you don’t want to leave a job without another one lined up; Always answer this question directly to the point and honestly. Note: no negative comments, even if your previous job had a bitter end!

Q. If you are not employed, when were you last employed and what is the reason you are no longer there?

A. If you are not employed, be honest about the dates of your employment both verbally and in writing on your resume. Note: Always remember, “don’t talk negatively about your past employers or work situations”, no matter how much you want to!

Q. Please tell me about your current employer (ie, what you do, how long you’ve been in business, etc.).

A. This question is used to show how well you know your own business and how detail oriented you are/can be.

Q. What is the most important thing you are looking for in a company/job?

A. And no, the answer should never be more money! Even if that’s the real answer!! The correct answer should be; a new challenge with an opportunity for growth and development. Employers really want candidates who can deliver an immediate impact on their business, including applicable skills, education, and experience, but also candidates who are interested in new challenges and want to continue to develop and grow in new work environments!

Q. Why are you considering leaving your current employer?

A.. If your answer is because you hate your boss, you just missed this opportunity! No employer likes to hear negative discussions about your current or past work commitments. Any negative discussion will be presented as “red flags” to the employer that are not good for you. Depending on your circumstance, there could be many answers to this question. Simply give a positive answer with a logical explanation such as “I decided to move so I can be closer to my family” or “I’ve been with my current employer for 8 years and have reached my full potential, so I’ve decided to pursue new and challenging opportunities.” ‘, etc.

Q. How long have you been with your current employer?

A. this is a simple closed question, just answer the question honestly! If it wasn’t a significant amount of time, just give a logical and positive explanation. “Remember, always be as positive as possible.”

Q. In the day to day of your current job, what are your main responsibilities?

A. This question is to test your ability to articulate in detail what you do at your current employer. If your memory is not that good, you should prepare yourself with some details. Note: never regurgitate information directly from your resume, as this shows that you cannot have an intellectual conversation!

Q. What size groups do you work in and do you have any group size preferences?

A. This is a question to see how comfortable you are working with other people. It is always better to be honest, with the employer and with yourself. If you really don’t like working in larger groups or with a lot of people, let them know… Maybe the job isn’t exactly for you and that’s okay because there will be many other opportunities that can bring you with your ideal work environment. Phone interviews and in-person interviews are also a perfect opportunity for you, the candidate, to interview the employer, to see if their company/job is a better fit for you!

Q. Have you received raises or promotions at your current employer?

A. This is a pretty straightforward question, whether you have or not. Either way, it’s always good to discuss your promotions, and if you haven’t been promoted, keep the conversation positive; which means no negative discussions!

Q. Do you have any managerial experience or are you more of an individual contributor?

A. If not, then it’s okay to say you’re an individual contributor, if you have managerial experience, please explain your experience and let them know; when, where, how many people he managed, his responsibilities as a manager, etc. Note: Good managers talk about their employees and the growth and development of their employees, the responsibilities of each employee, etc.

Q. What do you know about this company/job you are applying for?

A. This question is used to see if you have prepared for the interview. Candidates who have researched the company are more attractive. Companies like prepared and organized candidates.

Q. How many years of experience do you have in _________?

A. This is a closed question, please give a straight answer and the only thing to add would be your proficiency with this particular skill. Just because you have 5 years of experience in something doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a master of that skill. Being as honest as possible will help eliminate the possibility of setting yourself up for failure.

Q. We have spoken with several candidates. Why are you the one we should hire?

A. Give detailed examples of your skills and accomplishments. Be positive and emphasize how your experience matches your job description.

Q. How well do you handle stress and pressure at work? Please give an example of

How you overcame a stressful situation.

A. The correct answer is that you work well under pressure and enjoy working in a challenging environment. It’s good for the employer to know that you have the ability to de-stress while working in demanding environments with deadlines.

Q. What are your greatest strengths?

A. This is a perfect opportunity to shine! Some topics to discuss could be; ability to communicate and work well with others, leadership/management skills and experience, ability to adapt to new environments, ability to learn new skills, ability to deal with stress and deadlines, etc.

Q. What are your biggest weaknesses?

A. This is a very important question. If you answer “no weaknesses”, it sounds like you are avoiding the question or not being analytical enough to assess your own strengths and weaknesses. It is very important to give a strength that compensates your weakness to help turn your weakness into something positive like; “I’m usually a great person to call on at work and I love helping others so much that sometimes I have to put in more hours a week just to complete my required tasks.” This is a perfect example of how my strong technical skills and ability to work with others make up for my weakness.

Q. What are your current salary expectations?

A. The answer is simple, what do you earn now and how much do you honestly think your skills are worth? To determine a particular hourly rate or salary range, there are many “compensation calculators” available online to help you gauge not only what someone with your skills and years of experience should earn, but also the average compensation across different regions or in the US the world!

If you overvalue yourself, you may be simply excluding yourself from an opportunity and if you undervalue yourself, you could be undermining your value, enough that the employer senses something is wrong with you and will move on. to other candidates. Before the interview, it is in your best interest to truly understand your value!

Q. Do you have any questions?

A. Questions can be both good and bad. Typically in a phone interview there are questions you should and shouldn’t ask, such as:

Question to ask employers in a phone interview:

– What are the daily responsibilities of this job?

– How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? by whom?

– Who will review my performance? How often?

– What is the company’s plan for the next five years and how does this department fit in?

– Could you describe the management style of your company and the type of employee who is a good fit for it?

– Who is the competition of the company? What are the company’s strengths and weaknesses compared to its competition?

– What is the company’s policy on providing education, workshops and training so that employees can maintain their skills or acquire new ones?

– Etc.

Questions not to ask in a phone interview:

– Will I have to work overtime?

– Are the working hours flexible?

– Can I work from home?

– Does this job require me to pass a background and drug check?

– How much does this position pay?

– What type of health insurance does the company offer?

– Is there public transport in the area of ​​the company?

– How many weeks of vacation/sick time do you offer?