BEST Answers for the Top 9 Phone Interview Questions - First Round Screening Interviews

Key Concepts

• Phone interviews/phone screens
• Conciseness in answers
• Note-taking during the interview
• Asking insightful questions
• "Tell me about yourself" formula (Who you are, Highlights, Why this role)
• Highlighting relevant accomplishments
• Explaining interest in the company and role
• Addressing reasons for leaving previous jobs
• Salary negotiation

Phone Interview Strategies and Tactics

The video focuses on providing actionable advice for acing phone interviews, often the first step in the job application process. Meline Man, the presenter, draws on her HR experience to explain how interviewers evaluate candidates and offers strategies for preparation, performance, and follow-up.

Rapid-Fire Tips

• Conciseness: Phone interviews are short (30 minutes or less), so answers should be brief (one minute or less, two minutes for "juicy" questions).
• Notes: Prepare notes including key accomplishments, job description highlights, company research, interviewer research, and questions to ask.
• Note-Taking During the Call: Capture the interviewer's language about the role's requirements and "parrot it back" to demonstrate understanding and alignment.
• Asking Questions: Always ask questions. A suggested question is, "How far are you into the search for this role? What seems to be missing from a lot of the candidates you're speaking to?" This reveals the hiring manager's priorities and potential candidate weaknesses.

Question 1: "How are you?"

• This is part of the interview. Respond with an energetic sentence that shows warmth and control, such as, "I'm great. I'm feeling energized from the 3-day weekend where I read a good book on the beach. How are you?"

Question 2: Familiarity with the Company

• Briefly demonstrate knowledge of the company (e.g., "Yes, I downloaded the app. Yes, I was on your website last night. Yes, I saw this news article about the new product you just launched.").
• Express interest and then ask for the recruiter's perspective on the company and the role.

Question 3: "Tell me about yourself" / "Walk me through your resume"

• Part 1: Who You Are: Be concise (one or two sentences) about the type of professional you are, focusing on the profession being hired for. Avoid irrelevant past career details.
  • If your current role isn't directly related, create a "through line" connecting your past experience to the target role. Example: A graphic designer applying for a digital marketing role could say, "I'm a digital marketing professional who specializes in branding, contributing to marketing campaigns, and visual storytelling."
• Part 2: Highlights: Share accomplishments from past jobs that align with the job description's requirements. Recent graduates or career changers can use academic, volunteer, or project-based activities. Keep this section short (2 minutes or less).
• Part 3: Why This Role: Explain why you're interested in this specific company and role. This also answers the "Why do you want to work here?" question. Hiring managers prefer candidates who are intrinsically excited about the work and likely to stay long-term.

Examples:

• Early Career: A recent psychology graduate applying for an HR assistant position highlights a project on team dynamics and volunteer experience facilitating discussions on stress management.
• Career Changer: A teacher transitioning to sales focuses on communication and relationship-building skills, a course on sales techniques, and volunteer experience leading a membership drive.
• Experienced Professional: A director of product management specializing in software solutions for the healthcare industry highlights leading the launch of a groundbreaking electronic health record system.

Question 4: "What are you looking for in your next role?"

• Describe how the role you're interviewing for fits what you want next. For example, if the job description mentions budget analysis, say, "I've honed my skills in budget analysis, and so in my next role, I'm looking to dive deeper into that skill set and lead a team in doing so."

Question 5: Logistics

• Answer logistical questions (e.g., commute, legal work status, start date) directly.

Question 6: "Why do you want to leave your current job?" / "Why did you leave your last job?"

• Keep it positive, short (a couple of sentences), and confident.
• Layoff: Reference the size of the layoff. Example: "The company went through some tough Financial Times and laid off 40% of the workforce. Unfortunately, I would have loved to stay there. It was a great place to work."
• Family Reasons: "I took some time off to take care of a family member, but now I'm eager to get back to work."
• Relocation: "I recently moved to this area because my spouse is getting their master's degree at the University of Alabama, and I'm looking for a new job in the city."
• Pursuing Education: "I took time to get my MBA, and now I'm excited to apply what I've learned to my next role."
• Entrepreneur Transitioning Back: "I took time to do my own freelance consulting, which was a great learning experience, but I greatly miss being on a team, and I'm eager to get back into a company."
• Fired: Frame it as an "amicable split" due to a mismatch in skills.
• Voluntarily Leaving/Still Employed: Give a secondary, watered-down reason (the "Disney version"). Examples: company's financial situation, commute, recent merger, desire to change industries, hitting the "ceiling of growth."

Question 7: "What makes you interested in this company and role?"

• Focus on the role, the team, and the company.
  • Role: Explain why this role is the best next career move, highlighting duties, projects, and potential impact.
  • Team: Mention specific people you've met and what stood out in your conversations with them.
  • Company: Discuss what you like about the product, what you're looking forward to accomplishing, why you're excited about the future of this industry, and how you feel that the company is aligned with your values.
• Avoid mentioning location, commute, salary, or benefits.

Example: The presenter describes how she highlighted the potential of a shipping logistics company during the rise of Amazon Prime and the opportunity to build HR processes from the ground up.

Question 8: Skills-Based Questions

• Prepare for questions about the skills required for the role by reviewing the job description and researching common interview questions for your profession.

Question 9: Salary Expectations

• Avoid stating a number initially. Say, "I'm open. I'm looking for the best fit and overall package."
• If pressed, ask for their range and state that you'll confirm if your expectations fit within that range.
• If they still don't provide a number, mention that you've researched salary ranges.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The video provides a comprehensive guide to navigating phone interviews, emphasizing preparation, conciseness, and strategic communication. By understanding the interviewer's perspective and tailoring responses to highlight relevant skills and genuine interest, candidates can significantly increase their chances of success. The "Tell me about yourself" formula and the advice on addressing potentially negative reasons for leaving a job are particularly valuable. The video also stresses the importance of asking insightful questions and handling the salary discussion effectively. The key takeaway is that phone interviews are not just about answering questions but about demonstrating a strong fit and creating a positive impression.