Interview Preparation: The Initial Phone Screen

Hooray! You Have an Interview!

After goodness knows how many applications, FINALLY, you have heard back from a company who wants to talk with you! There is hope after all! Welcome to what is often step one of the interview process: the phone screen.

Remember, each company may handle their interview process just a little differently. Regardless, some version of a phone screen is the starting point. A phone screen can be anywhere from the basic 30-minute voice-only call where they make sure you can speak coherently and understand what you applied for all the way up to a full-blown deep dive into your resume. Typically, you'll be speaking with a recruiter, not the hiring manager, at this point in the process.

​In this article, we'll talk about the more basic initial phone screen, how to prepare, and typical questions asked.

...And So It Begins: Email or Voice Mail From a Recruiter

In many cases, a recruiter will reach out to you directly to schedule a phone screen through email. Many companies are using a scheduling program (like Calendly) so you can select a time that works for you. If this is the case, I would suggest taking a slot as soon as you can get in and comfortably complete the interview. For me, that would be the next day if possible. 

In other cases, you may receive a phone call from a recruiter that invites a callback. In these cases, they may be asking to schedule a phone interview with you, or they may just launch right into the phone screen while they have you on a call. Personally, I'll usually do my interview preparation before making that initial phone call back to the recruiter just in case they want to do it right then and there. 

Interview Prep: Questions

Don't let the supposed informality of a phone call fool you. This is for reals an interview. You need to be ready to make a good impression and answer key questions. Here are the phone screen interview questions that you for sure need to be prepared to answer. Keep these in mind as you research the role, the company, and your interviewer. (We'll talk more about answering these questions well in a bit.)

​Here are the most common questions I have experienced on a phone screen:
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• Is this still a good time for us to talk?
• Tell me about yourself.
• Why are you looking for a new job?
• Why are you interested in this role?
• What do you know about our company?
• ​What is your desired salary?
• What questions do you have for me?

Interview Prep: The Role

Given that you may have applied for many, many jobs since the one for which you are interviewing, it's important to refamiliarize yourself with this role. Make sure that when you speak to your interviewer, you are positioning yourself as a strong candidate who is able to do (and wants to do) this specific job.

• Review the job description. Remind yourself of what you applied for, the title, and what they indicated were the desired qualifications.
• Get out your Googles: Look up any acronyms you aren't sure of, and make sure you can speak to the skills they say they need. Be ready to speak in the terms they use in the job description and relate your experience to that particular job.
• Skim your resume. If you customize your resume for each role, it's good to reacquaint yourself with how you described your skills in this specific resume. This review will also help you use the points you included in your resume as a basis for the stories you'll tell to illustrate your skills. 

Interview Prep: The Company and Your Interviewer

Now that you remember what the role is about, take time to learn more about the company. Remember, you're learning information to help you present yourself well, answer questions about the company and what they do, and even know about current initiatives and news about the organization. 
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• Check out the company on LinkedIn. Note the industry they are in, what their products and services are, their size, headquarters location, and their recent posts. If you haven't done so already, follow their company page.
• Visit the company’s website. Take a look at their mission, vision, and values. See what press releases are on their site and any awards they may have received. Look at their marketing materials. Review information on their leaders. Consider signing up for their newsletter. 
• View your interviewer's LinkedIn profile. Do this the day before or the day of your interview. Note the schools they attended, where they currently live, their work history, and any posts they may have made. This is a great way to find out what you and your interviewer might have in common so you can have a more robust conversation. Note any LinkedIn connections you have in common. Consider following your interviewer on LinkedIn. 
• Reach out to connections. If you know anyone who is a current or recent employee, ask them and ask about their first-hand experience.  

Interview Prep: Your Answers

Now, back to those questions and strategies for answering each one.

Is this still a good time for us to talk?
         
          Ideally, the answer is yes. This is a courtesy question recruiters often ask. 

Tell me about yourself.

This is your opportunity to tell the recruiter a quick summary of your professional history and the unique knowledge, skills, and attitudes you bring to this role.

• Bad answer: Not much to tell.
• Another bad answer: My name is Julie. I'm 42 years old, happily married, have 4-year-old twins, love riding horses, and volunteer weekly at my synagogue.
  (Note: Julie's life is in no way bad. Julie's answer is bad because it does not focus on professional skills, the ability to do the job, and why the employer should hire her. Taking this approach misses a HUGE opportunity to set the tone for the interview and put your best foot forward. Instead, Julie shares a whole bunch of information that is not directly applicable to her ability to do the job--much of which an employer cannot legally ask her about due to laws regarding possible discrimination.)
• Good answer: I'm Julie, and I have ten years of experience in social media specialist roles with small community organizations. I'm excited about this role because I can use my knowledge of content marketing and event promotion with a larger company that does larger conferences and road shows. I'm looking forward to finding out how my skill set could help me make a strong contribution in this senior media specialist role.

Why are you looking for a new job?

Companies are interested in why you want to make a change. They may also be leery if they perceive that you have made many changes within a short time. They may be wondering if how they are promoting the position is working. They may just want to see if you trash your previous/current employer or are respectful. Again, be truthful, stay positive, and keep it short.

• Bad answer: My last company was a financial nightmare and I got fired.
• Another bad answer: My current job is stupid and I hate my boss. ​
• Good answer: I'm looking for a role with additional growth opportunities.
• Another good answer: My position was eliminated due to a company-wide reduction in force.
• Yet another good answer: My previous position ended, so I'm looking for a new challenge.

Why are you interested in this role?

Companies often want to make sure you actually want the available position, not just any old job. Speaking about why you want to work in this particular role is a way to show you are being intentional about your next career move. This question also allows you to talk about who you are, what you know about the role, and the skills you bring.

• Bad answer: Which job is this again?
• Another bad answer: I need a job. You have an opening. Isn't that enough?
• Yet another bad answer: My current job is stupid and I hate my boss. ​
• Good answer: My recent work experience is as a marketing coordinator with a large pharmaceutical company. I have extensive experience creating and executing marketing campaigns aligned with product launches. I'm interested in this role because it involves those duties and additional areas where I have expertise. I am excited to grow in this new role. 
• Another good answer: My work experience is as a technical project manager. Enrique Ortiz is a former coworker of mine, and he suggested I apply because it aligns with the work I enjoy. Enrique also can't say enough good things about your company.  

What do you know about our company?

Each company has its own personality. This question shows that you, as a job candidate, are a good fit for the organization and that you've taken the time to learn a little more. 

• Bad answer: Which job is this again?
• Another bad answer: Not a thing.
• Good answer: XYZ Loans is a mortgage company focusing on VA and FHA loans. I see you recently rolled out a new veteran appreciation program and hired a new VP of Veteran Relations and that you just received an award for your charity work with DAV.
• Another good answer: I know ABC Manufacturing just acquired CBA Manufacturing. This makes you the second-largest company making and selling plastic cups in the Midwest. I also know that my friend and former coworker, Alice Johnson, really enjoys being a part of the Women in Manufacturing group you started three years ago.

What is your desired salary?

While having salary ranges in job descriptions is becoming more common, it is not included in all job descriptions. Often, this question comes up very early in the process. You need to have a sense of your desired range and what is a typical range for the type of role for which you are interviewing. 

• Bad answer: I have no idea.
• Good answer: What is the salary range for this position? (and following that up with a conversation about where your desired range fits in with that range.)
• Another good answer: My general salary range is [low end of your range] to [high end of your range]. I'd like to revisit this topic as I learn more about the position, including bonus and benefits. 

What questions do you have for me?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. Given that you have a job description and not much else about this role at this point, take time to think about questions to ask. There are also countless lists online of possible questions to ask. Google them and see which ones seem right for you. Remember, too, that some of these questions might be more appropriate for the hiring manager than the recruiter. (If you continue in the hiring process, you'll meet with the hiring manager soon.)

• Bad answer: Nope.
• Good answers: 
  • ​Is this a new position? Or a replacement role?
  • What does success look like for this role?
  • What are the first projects this role would tackle?
  • What are the next steps in the hiring process?
  • When can I expect to hear back from you?
  • What is your performance review process like? 

Learn More

• From Indeed.com: Top Phone Interview Questions To Ask Your Interviewer
• ​25 Smart Questions to Make You Stand Out During The Interview
• The Layoff Lady: I Just Got Laid Off--Now What? ​