Send A Thank You Email After Phone Interview
No, this isnt a good enough thank you note!
Remember, this stage is about making good first impressions and the fact that youre doing this all via phone makes the follow up even more critical.
Make sure you not only end your phone call on a positive note, but follow up in a timely manner with a thoughtful thank you email after your interview.
Let the interviewer know you appreciated them taking time to talk to you and that you enjoyed it and that you are invested in the process.
It will help you stand out and reinforce that youre truly interested in the position. Above all remember that the focus here is on how you add value to the company, not just what your past experiences are and what youre good at.
Be Ready For Common Phone Interview Questions
Speaking of questions there are phone interview specific questions you should prepare yourself for as well.
We cant guarantee that the interviewer will ask you these, but its always better to be prepared so youre not caught off guard if they are asked! Practice answering them before your interview.
Itll not only help with nerves itll make your responses more targeted.
NOTE: We have an article dedicated to phone interview questions.
Youre Experiencing Car Troubles
Your potential employer will likely understand if you have an issue such as a problem with your car, which is out of your control. If youre experiencing car troubles, you should first attempt to figure out a new means of getting to your interview on time. If this isnt possible, however, try to get in contact with your interviewer as soon as possible to let them know.
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Do Some Research Before The Interview
Odds are youve applied to more than one company and its always helpful to know a bit about who youre talking to, from both a professional and a business standpoint.
Double check the job description youre interviewing for.
Google the company. See how theyre doing and what theyre doing.
If you know whos doing your interview you can see what sort of digital footprint they have and find out more about them on a personal level. Look them up on but dont go overboard.
Its never a good idea to send them a Facebook Friend Request before you even have the interviewin fact, its probably not a good idea afterwards either. Maybe in six months when youve already got the job and youre all good friends having lunch twice a weekbut not yet.
The best part about doing this research is it also allows you to tailor your answers when you start getting hit with those interview questions.
Tailoring your answers is the best possible way to ensure that not only are you satisfying what the interviewer is asking, youre positioning yourself to be the best possible candidate for the jobor, dare we saythe perfect candidate!
Remember as youre pouring over all those notes you culled about the company and what they stand for that your ultimate goal is to be everything they need in a candidate and that means making sure your answers are specific, targeted and tailoredin a nutshell, customized.
I: Job Interview Preparation
Each step below will prepare you for the actual interview. None of this is very time consuming but it will set you apart from everyone else applying for the job, making it easy for the company to decide who to hire
Here are the basic interview preparation steps to remember. Ive put the estimated time next to each one.
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Questions To Ask At The End Of A Phone Interview
At the end of the phone interview, your interviewer will pass it over to you and say do you have any questions for me? You should always come prepared with a few questions to ask at the end of a phone interview, because this shows youve researched the company and care about landing the position.
Here are some examples of phone screen interview questions you should have prepared:
These are some killer questions to ask at the end of an interview that will show your eagerness for learning about the position and company.
Show You Passion And Enthusiasm For The Job:
Recruiters always prefer applicants who are passionate about the job and also have the expertise required for the position. Only having the qualifications and showing no interest for the job will mean that you are not eager for the job so show your willingness to the recruiter.
This makes a good impression on the recruiter and he will recommend you to the company hiring managers when he feels that you will be a good worker and succeed in the post.
Be confident and assured during the screening call with the recruiter also be serious so he knows that you are just giving the interview seriously.
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Be Patient With The Interviewer
As a Technical Recruiter, I work with many different clients to assist with their staffing needs. While all interview processes are different, many do require a phone interview with Human Resources before moving on to the hiring manager.
This process is generally put in place by the business, and the HR Manager has no leverage in what interviews he or she conducts it simply happens as part of the hiring process.
Most HR employees arent trained in technical skills. Their job is much more PEOPLE focused. Getting the right person in the door from a personality perspective, instead of hard skills.
That said, it can be very challenging for HR representatives to conduct a thorough technical phone screen. As an IT Professional, articulating your skills to someone without any technical experience can be frustrating. Many questions youre asked during the initial phone screen may not actually pertain to your particular skill set.
For example, I had a candidate interview for a Front End Developer role. The initial process was a phone screen by HR, and instead of UI/UX questions, the interviewer focused on technologies like networking, break/fix, and hardware questions. It wasnt until the candidate pointed out that these werent questions she was normally asked, did the HR rep realize the questions were for a different position.
Set Up A Professional Voicemail
Hello? Helloooo? Just kidding, this is my voicemail. Leave a message!
Many of us have fallen for this classic voicemail prank before. One person who probably wont be laughing: the hiring manager or any recruiter that comes calling, for that matter.
Before your phone interview, go to a quiet room and set up a professional voicemail. Stick to a simple, Hi, this is . Im not available right now, but please leave your name and number and Ill get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks!
Also, dont forget to regularly clear your voicemail messages to avoid a full inbox. Nothing is more frustrating to an interviewer than playing a game of phone tag with an applicant.
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Recruiter Takes A Practice Interview:
Even though this is a preliminary interview try to be professional and adapt yourself to the suitable attitude and dress code needed for the job. These things are significant if you want to be successful in an interview stand straight and make eye contact with the recruiter have a firm handshake and look confident.
Explain to them properly why you are suitable for the job also voice you questions and confusions about the job post so that he can discuss those matters and you can understand the job better clear the confusions as it will be beneficial to both you and the recruiter his credentials will depend on your performance as has recommended you.
The recruiter is more genuine about the reality of the company you want to work for than the company hiring managers. Simply ask the recruiter all your questions and also ask for suggestions on what to wear and how to behave they are good advisors as they have been on the job for quite a long time.
Have Your Job Materials Nearby
You should feel comfortable and ready to discuss your background and skills confidently during a phone conversation. Have a copy of your resume nearby, so that you can refer to it during the interview. Also have a copy of the job posting and a copy of your cover letter if you sent one.
Consider creating a draft email or a new Word or Google file with all of the relevant information. That way, you’ll have all the detailsnotes on the company, key points you want to emphasize during the interview, your cover letter, the job posting, and so onin one spot.
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How Long Have You Worked With The Company
Knowing the relationship the recruiter has with the company is helpful. The longer the recruiter has worked with the hiring manager the more insight they should have about them.
They should hopefully have a good understanding of their management style, how they treat employees and the companys culture.
If the recruiter has delivered top talent to the employer for many years they are more likely to trust their opinion. There is a good chance they will have some sway over which candidate is hired.
Be Precise About Why You Want The Job
As mentioned earlier, often the recruiter has reached out to you, and it is important to show you are not passively taking a call, but rather have a clear interest in the role. This is why it is important to do your research on the company to understand them more deeply, and then weave that into why it fits with the career path you are charting. Specifically, you should have clarity on their mission, their ecosystem , and their products/services. Ideally, in your research, you will find something that truly connects with your experience and/or professional interests and speaking to that will show a deep interest in the opportunity.
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Is There Any Type Of Test I Should Prepare For
There may be several tests you have to take depending on the role including personality tests, aptitude tests, or others.
For example, if youre a CAD designer interviewing for an engineering staffing agency at a company there is a good chance you may have to take a CAD test to prove your skills. Ask the recruiter ahead of time if there will be one to avoid any surprises.
Powerful Job Interview Tips From A Recruiter: How To Pass An Interview
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If you think most hiring decisions are based on your experience and qualifications, then you better keep reading. Your resume gets you in the door, but how you interview determines whether youre offered the job.
This article will teach you proven job interview tips to help you pass a job interview and get the job you want. Heres what were going to cover:
- Part I: Job Interview Preparation Tips everything to do before your interview
- Part II: Interviewing Tips the best strategies to use during your interview to stand out
- Part III: Tips for After Your Interview how to make sure you get the job offer after your interview is over
These are the best interview tips that I know, from close to 5 years working as a Recruiter.
After you finish this article, youll know how to stand out from other job seekers and pass a job interview a majority of the time.
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What Have You Really Done
Employers like to see candidates who have shown steady progress via promotions during their careers.
Although not necessary, its favorable to show an employer gradual rises in title and seniority as your career progresses.
So, take a step back and think about what youve really accomplished.
What are the significant or major achievements of which you are most proud?
Write these accomplishments down on a piece of paper.
You should keep this beside you when you begin your phone interview and use it as a source of confidence and reference.
Having that list beside you will also help you to ease your nerves and feel more relaxed during the interview process and call.
Engage Candidates In A Conversation
Once you learn how to conduct a phone interview in the most effective manner possible, youll be better able to narrow down your candidate pool more quickly. But dont overlook the opportunity to create a connection with every candidate. Your initial goal should be to build rapport with candidates before asking technical or in-depth questions about their experience.
While you may get well-worn responses, consider icebreaker-type questions that build rapport, such as:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What do you know about this company?
- What attracted you to this job?
Keep in mind that your role in the onboarding process starts with the interview. Just as you are assessing the candidates job skills over the phone, they are also assessing your organization.
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Examine Example Interview Questions
Reviewing common interview questions can also help you prepare for a recruiter call. Finding questions that relate to the position you’re applying for can also help you discover related examples. Some common questions hiring managers ask during a phone interview include:
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Why do you think you’re the right fit for this position?
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Can you tell me more about your top strengths?
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What do you consider your highest professional achievement?
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How do you manage and reduce stress at work?
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Can you tell me about a time where you went out of your way to help someone?
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Skip The Money Conversation
To put it bluntly, itâs simply too early in the process for you to be the one who brings up salary expectations. âChances are if a candidate is participating in a phone interview, this is the first time they have talked with the company, and the first call isn’t the appropriate time to talk about âwhat’s in it for you,ââ says Justina Strnad, the Talent Acquisition Manager for Shiftgig. âTrust me, if you are a great candidate and make it to next steps, the hiring team is going to be very transparent about what’s in it for you later on!â
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Write Key Career Points Down
You should write down any key points within your career progression on a sheet of paper.
That can include your previous work experience, any classes and courses you may have taken, and other skills and achievements you may have accomplished.
It should be shorter and more easily digested.
When youre speaking with the interviewer, be sure to reference this sheet.
Youll be able to remember specific skills and achievements more quickly and more efficiently with an easily readable list of references.
Questions To Ask Prior To The Interview
If you’re lucky enough to have a phone interview that is scheduled in advance, get in touch with the recruiter to figure out what to prepare. For instance, it would be really helpful to know the name of who will be interviewing you. If it’s the hiring manager, then you should read up about their scope of work and areas of interest.
Additionally, you should also try to discern what type of interview this will be. If it’s a behavioral interview, you’ll need to prepare for questions about your experiences at your previous positions, such as Describe a decision you made that was unpopular and how you handled implementing it. If it’s a product-focused interview, you might be asked questions like Have you consistently met your sales goals?. Knowing what type of interview it’ll be will help your preparation tremendously.
Another good strategy is to ask the recruiter if there’s anything in particular that you should focus your preparation on. For example, some recruiters might want to discuss more of your technical expertise, and in such a case, it’s always better to prepare points and examples ahead of time on the topic.
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Did This Person Do At Least A Little Homework
Its probably no surprise to you that at this point, researching the company before the interview is one of the first things you should do. And sure, later on in the process, you should have a firm understanding on the companys history and what theyre trying to accomplish. But when it comes to the initial conversation, the companys just trying to ensure that the candidate had at least started doing their homework.
Theres a huge difference between talking to someone whos taken a day or two to prepare themselves versus talking to someone whos trying to wing it over the phone. And recruiters can hear the difference.
One of the most extreme examples? One applicant tried to read the About Us section on our website back to me. So while you dont need to know the founders entire backstory, make sure you can tell the recruiter about the companys mission statement, a recent product announcement, or how the companys work has affected or inspired you.
