Bonus Question To Ask The Interviewer
What was your mindset when you entered your job? What were you excited to do? And how has that evolved?
Its a realistic way to talk to someone about coming into a new opportunity.
No matter what industry youre in, no matter what responsibilities you have, you always enter with one idea of what youre going to accomplish, but the best-laid plans sometimes change. So its helpful to understand how evolved as a professional, what theyve learned at the organization and what challenges they might have faced. Its a realistic way to talk to someone about coming into a new opportunity.
Why Are You Job Searching Right Now
If youre unemployed, be direct and say so. BUT have a good reason for why you want this particular job too. This is super important. Employers want to feel like you want their job, not just any job. I cant stress this enough.
If youre currently employed but job searching to find something better, keep it positive. Focus on what you want to gain in a move. Id love to find an opportunity that will give me a bigger chance to lead and manage projects, etc.
Dont badmouth your current job or employer, and dont talk about the bad things youre looking to escape or get away from. Just keep it positive and focus on what youd love to gain by changing jobs.
Sample answer if youre unemployed:
I was laid off four months ago so Im in an active job search. Im hoping to find a position that will let me continue to build my skills as a customer service supervisor. Im particularly looking to stay in the software industry, which is one reason this job excited me.
Sample if youre currently employed while job searching:
Ive learned a lot in my current job and enjoyed it, however, Ive been in this position for four years and feel that to take my skills to the next level, I should expose myself to a new work environment to continue challenging myself. I saw your job description mentions ___, which is one of the key things I hope to continue doing in my next role, so this seemed like a great job to apply for and have an interview to discuss.
Why Are Phone Interviews So Common Nowadays
Any hiring manager prefers phone interviews as it makes the process of eliminating weak or unsuitable candidates easier. 30 minutes or ever lesser is all it takes for them to analyze your credibility and potential of upholding the job position.
Your challenge: To prove you are worthy of the crown.
In a field as challenging as coding, you will find thousands of talented individuals amidst cut-throat competition. Companies like Apple and Samsung look for much more than your degree.
A job opening in any big shot company tends to attract an inflow of candidates who may or may not be apt for the position available. Now, imagine screening every single one of these applicants. The procedure will not only be tiring but will also make the selection far more difficult.
So, whatâs the solution? Conducting a phone screen interview to get a clear image on whom to call for a one-on-one screening is the best possible way out of the fix.
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Questions To Ask In A Phone Interview For The Employer To Answer
With these questions to ask in a phone interview, you canclear any doubt that you might have about the organization.
- What are the responsibilities that this job entails?
- What challenges do you think I will encounter?
- How is your company going to evaluate my performance?
- What other departments will I be working with?
- What is it that you think I require to be able to fulfill my job role with ease?
How To Answer The Most Common Interview Questions
Are you ready to ace your upcoming job interview? One of the most important parts of interview preparation is being ready to respond effectively to the questions that employers typically ask.
Since these interview questions are so common, hiring managers will expect you to be able to answer them smoothly and without hesitation.
You don’t need to memorize your answers, but you should think about what you’re going to say so you’re not put on the spot.
Your responses will be stronger if you know what to expect during the interview and have a sense of what you want to focus on. Knowing that you are prepared will boost your confidence and help you minimize interview stress and feel more at ease.
Here are the top 10 interview questions employers are likely to ask, plus 100+ more common job interview questions, example responses, tips for giving the best answer, and advice on how to ace the interview.
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Tell Me About A Time When You Overcame An Obstacle
No matter what your goals are as a team or a company, you’re going to hit obstacles on the way to achieving them.
Companies want to hire people who aren’t deterred by those obstacles but, instead, get proactive about finding ways to workaround them and achieve the goal anyways.
You answer here should talk about a time where you ran into a roadblock and led the charge to break through it:
Dont Be Modest Sell Yourself
The candidate who gets the job is often the one who performs the best in the job interview by showcasing why they are the ideal candidate for the job and organization.
You have to see yourself in order to achieve this. Dont hide your accomplishments, a job interview is no time to be modest. Prepare several specific, tangible examples that demonstrate the impact youve had in your previous/current role.
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Tell Us What Led You To This Industry
Did they stumble into this position, or is it a passion of theirs? You can tell a difference in the work of somone who genuinely enjoys what they do, vs someone who may be in it for a paycheck. Pay attention to their delivery. Do they sound excited about the journey theyve been on, or is there a passive attitude when speaking about their path? You should also note if they are taking this opportunity to showcase some of their achievements along the way.
Share An Example Of When You Demonstrated Leadership Abilities
Leadership requires the ability to inspire and motivate others to reach a common goal. You need to articulate and discuss how you lead and whether you can do so in your target role. Interviewers usually hire interviewees who are go-getters and show some form of self-motivation and leadership skills.
Example Response: I mentored the newer sales leads when they were hired to help them get up-to-speed and share valuable information I had learned over the years. This helped them adapt to the company and grow in their positions.
There are a few useful tips that can move you ahead of the competition during your next phone interview. Firstly, you should be prepared with well-versed responses to the questions. You should also have knowledge of the company and its values.
Tejal Wagadia, a LinkedIn Top Voice: Job Search & Careers, recounts how her interview preparation led to great results: Years ago when I went to interview at a company, I did all the research I could on the organization and casually mentioned how they were a different company in the 90s. See, most people didn’t know this tidbit and that impressed the interviewer.
Prepare by:
- Learning as much as you can about the organization and the industry youll work in
- Having a set of questions to ask regarding the position
Lastly, remember to stay professional during a phone interview. This means you should:
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The Dos And Donts Of Phone Interviewing
- DONT take the call in a car, outside, or anywhere noisy
- DO answer the phone with a professional tone Hello this is
- DONT smoke or chew gum during the call
- DO take notes and have your own notes handy prior to the call
- DONT take a long time to answer the questions
- DO allow the interviewer to interrupt you and ask follow-up questions
- DONT forget to prepare questions to ask the interviewer and write down new ones as youre talking
- DO prep for the dreaded salary question ahead of time in a mock interview
- DONT talk too quickly. Breath and make sure to enunciate
- DO make sure youre distraction-free to so you can focus and listen. You can scrub your counters later.
- DONT forget to send a post-interview thank-you note
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Why Did You Decide To Leave Your Last Job
Weve talked about this trap before. Asking about your last position in a job interviewinvites a lot of negativity into the room. Whether you quit, were laid off, or your company simply dissolved, its a tempting opportunity to complain.
But thats not only unpleasant for the interviewer, it is a big red flag that leaves them with the impression that youre a complainer. Worse, they might conclude that you were the problem at your old workplace. So, whatever reason you left your last job, the critical thing is to be positive.
One great way to flip the script is to focus on the things youre looking for out of a new job rather than the things you disliked about the old one. Did you have a terrible manager? Now, youre looking for a strong mentor.
Werent paid enough? Now youre looking for a job with more growth potential. If you do it right, youll leave the interviewer thinking about how they can satisfy the things youre looking for rather than what might have gone wrong at your last job.
If you are still working at your current job, you applied for the job because the opportunity was too good to pass up. If you do say that, be prepared for the obvious follow-up question: Why?
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What Do You Know About This Role
Employers use this question to know what information they need to provide you with. It can also show whether you reviewed the job description and researched the company. Discuss the job duties, responsibilities, and requirements.
Example answer: “From the job description, I understand that this engineering associate position involves developing and designing engineering plans and systems. I also understand that you require the engineering associate to supervise assigned projects and enforce safety standards of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, for which I’m trained. Can you tell me more about this position and the team’s needs?”
Do You Have Any Questions For Me
With this question, the interviewer genuinely wants to offer you the chance to get your questions and concerns addressed. Because after all, youre interviewing them as much as theyre interviewing you!
But the questions you ask also give them insight into your values and expertiseso make sure theyre thoughtful and tailored to the role, company, and person youre speaking with.
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What Did You Like And Dislike About The Culture Of Your Last Company
Ensuring candidates are a cultural fit is arguably the most important thing to consider when hiring. If a candidate is a bad cultural fit, it doesnt matter how talented they are, they will perform poorly and wont stick around as long. This question will allow you to understand what they like and didnt like about another companys culture so you can make a more educated guess if they will fit your companys specific culture!
What’s Your Greatest Strength
best traits. storytelling!
- Brainstorm 10-15 strengths you have.
- Cross-check them against the job description so you can narrow down the list.
- Prepare a few stories where you can share what your strength is and how it was used in real life.
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Ensure That You Are Mentally Prepared
While there are a thousand-and-one thoughts buzzing through your brain in the days leading up to any interview, it is vital that you are able to clear your mind in the minutes before the call itself. Tell yourself that you have prepared enough, go for a walk for some fresh air and allow yourself to dream about what this new job might mean.
Coming into a phone interview with a positive mindset will add a sparkle to your tone of voice that will be unmistakable. It is little things like that, which could make all the difference.
- Begin with a positive mindset
- Be prepared to ask detailed questions
How Should You Prepare For A Phone Interview
- Prepare 30-second answers regarding your work history, personality, and general qualifications for a position.
- Keep the STAR method in mind while you think of stories to tell that best demonstrate your skills and highlight your experience.
- Research the company and the position to appear knowledgeable.
- Pay attention to the interviewers questions and provide time for them to speak to avoid unintentionally interrupting.
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Planning The Phone Screening Interview
You may choose to plan for shorter or longer calls, but many employers find that it typically takes 15 to 30 minutes to ask all pertinent phone interview questions. Make a list of your questions and be consistent with what you ask each candidate so you make fair comparisons.
Be willing to offer phone interviews outside of normal business hours for the job candidates convenience, particularly if theyre a currently employed passive job seeker.
Prepare to closely listen for critical thinking, soft skills and fit with your company culture. Listen for negative attitude, low energy, lack of preparedness and discrepancies between what they say and whats in their resume.
Many of the same interview tips for face-to-face meetings can be used for phone interviews. But, in general, youll have fewer phone interview questions to ask and save more in-depth questions for the in-person interview, when you have more time to spend with the candidate and can use body language to help interpret and evaluate their responses.
Here are some bonus phone interview questions to ask, in case youd like more examples:
- What is a typical day like at your current job?
- How do you see yourself contributing in this position?
- What would you hope to get out of this job?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- What questions do you have for me?
Are You Interviewing With Other Companies
You might be asked to explain where you are in the hiring process with other companies in a phone interview. This can be helpful for recruiters to understand how quickly they should move you through the process. If you are already interviewing for other positions, for example, you might be a higher-risk candidate than those simply in the searching phase. To answer this question, be honest about your current situation but dont feel the need to go into detail.
Example answer:While I feel this role is the better fit for what Im looking for, I am in discussions with three other employers.
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Common Phone Interview Questions And Answers To Prepare For
Although a brief conversation, phone screens are an integral part of the interview process, so be prepared with glowing answers.
If you’ve applied to jobs lately, you’ve probably had a recruiter or hiring manager reach out about a phone screening: a brief phone conversation that takes place before scheduling an official in-person interview.
A phone screen simply ensures no one’s wasting time. The recruiter has already seen your resume and now has a few follow-up questions to ask to make sure you could be a good fit for the open position. Additionally, you can hear more about the company and the job and decide if this is an opportunity worth pursuing.
Phone screens are typically brief anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Although it’ll be over before you know it, there are a few common questions you should prepare to answer.
Questions To Ask Candidates In A Phone Interview
Phone interviews are helpful during initial hiring stages. Theyre an opportunity to reject candidates who dont possess must-have skills for a specific position. You dont have to include questions that require too much thinking on the candidates part. Complex interview questions are more suitable for an in-person discussion.
Recruiters and hiring managers use phone interviews to:
- Check potential deal-breakers early on
- Ask for clarification on information in candidates resumes or LinkedIn profiles
- Evaluate candidates verbal communication skills
- Get to know candidates
Phone screening interviews can also be convenient for remote workers and distributed teams. The hiring team can use phone interviews to evaluate candidates skills and then invite a shortlist of two or three potential hires for the final face-to-face interview with the companys CEO.
Heres what well cover:
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Question #: How Did You Find Out About This Job
Hiring managers ask this question to understand what made you apply to this particular position and to help refine the recruiting process. This question can be especially helpful if you found the job in a unique way, like through a friend.
When answering this question, tell the interviewer where you found the job listing and why you chose to apply. For example, you may say, My friend, , told me about an opening in the sales department. Because I have been following your work for a while, I decided to apply.
