Seven phone interview tips

You might face a phone interview during an internship or graduate job application process, so it’s important to know how to tackle them. We’ve put together some telephone interview advice so that you can pick up the phone with confidence.

We’ll run through seven phone interview tips:

1. Find the right location
2. Dress smartly
3. Prepare, prepare, prepare
4. Have everything to hand
5. Stand up and smile
6. Be concise
7. Don't look things up while on the phone

Plus, we’ll share a couple of extra things to remember too.

Phone interviews are usually scheduled in advance. So, you’ve got time to find a room with good signal and minimal background noise.

Make sure you’re somewhere quiet where you can speak freely.

It’s tempting to take a call from a coffee shop. However, a backdrop of espresso machines, babies and music is distracting – for you and your interviewer.

If you’ve got a quiet spot at home, take the phone call there and politely ask any housemates or family members to not disturb you during the call. If you’re struggling to find a distraction-free space at home, see if your university library has a phone zone where you can take a call.

You know you’ve got to dress appropriately for a video interview or an in-person introduction. But do you know of the importance of dressing up for a phone call? Although the interviewer can’t see you, it’s still important to dress the part. It’ll help you get in the right frame of mind.

A good rule of thumb is to dress as if you’ve already got the job. It’s harder to think professionally if you're chilling in your loungewear. While you want to be comfortable, it’s worth popping on a shirt or a smart top to help you lock into interview mode.

You should take a phone interview just as seriously as a face-to-face interview. So, make sure you’ve practised your answers to key competency questions and motivational questions such as “Why do you want to work here?” and “Tell me about a time you worked in a team”. You should also do your research about the company so that you’ve got your own questions to ask.

It’s also useful to make some notes that you can refer to during the interview. As nobody will see you, it’s OK to have prompts written down. However, avoid reading your answers as your voice will lose energy and your response will sound scripted.

Make sure you prepare for the practicalities of the phone call too. If you know someone will ring you at around 10:30 on a Wednesday, get up in plenty of time, take your phone off silent and check you know the name of the person who’ll be calling. You want the interviewer to know that you’re taking the opportunity seriously, so be ready to pick up the phone in a professional way. Oh, and make sure your phone is fully charged. You don’t want your call to be cut short because of low battery!

If you're being interviewed, you’ll have probably already sent the potential employer your CV. While you should know what’s on your CV, make sure you’ve got it to hand because it’s likely that the interviewer will draw on it. With your CV in front of you, you can quickly double-check any facts and dates.

Similarly, if you’ve got important information about the employer or the job, have that near you too. You also need a notebook and pen so that you can jot down important information and any questions you’d like to save for the end.

Make sure you’ve got a drink with you too. It’s helpful to have a sip of water every now and then as you’ll be talking a lot.

It’s tricky to convey enthusiasm over the phone as you can’t display it with body language. However, you can still use body language to help you – even if it can’t be seen.

If you strike a confident pose, you’ll usually feel more confident. The same applies to smiling; it can improve your mood. Plus, the interviewer might even be able to hear your smile (yes, really). Smiling while talking will build warmth into your speech – allowing you to engage more with the interviewer.

Standing up can also help you sound clearer and more energised.

Phone interviews are normally shorter than in-person interviews. Typically, they’re also more common in the earlier stages of the recruitment process. With a phone interview, an interviewer isn’t expecting to learn everything about you. Instead, they want to establish if you’re someone they want to talk to more.

You’ve only got a limited time to make your impact. To succeed, practise your answers to possible open-ended questions like “Tell me about yourself”. You don’t want to sell yourself short, but there’s no need to ramble on. Once you’ve figured out how to get your key points across quickly, you’ll fly.

If you're asked a question you don't know the answer to, don't try to wriggle out of it by making a quick search online. It’s much better to respond by asking a clarifying question to help you work it out than taking a shortcut.

An interviewer will be able to tell if you look things up. It’s usually obvious if they hear a typing sound before a generic answer.

We hope our phone interview tips have helped you.

Before we finish our telephone interview advice guide, here are two more key things to keep in mind:

While a recruiter might describe an initial telephone interview as ‘informal’, it’s still important to take it seriously.

A phone interview is a great way for employers to identify serious contenders – usually in less than 15 minutes. If you want a potential employer to see you as a serious contender, you’ve got to act like you would in a ‘formal’ interview.

First impressions count. How you pick up the phone is the equivalent of a handshake in a face-to-face interview.

If you’re applying for jobs, pick up any incoming call aware that your potential future employer could be the one on the line. Most phone interviews will be scheduled in advance, but somebody might ring you to arrange a time. You always want to come across as professional and polite.

Although phone interviews are sometimes described as “informal”, they’re still real interviews. If you want an employer to rate you, you need to take phone interviews just as seriously as video and face-to-face interviews. A phone interviewer can’t see you, but they’ll still get a sense of whether you’re winging it or if you’ve done your research.

Our seven phone interview tips (and extra telephone interview advice) will help you make a great first impression over the phone.

Good luck!