Example question during a telephone interview
To prepare yourself for a telephone interview, here are the questions that are most frequently asked, job applicants.
So you can take them one by one and practice answering them before receiving the recruiter’s call.
- “What are your availability dates? “
- ” Why did you apply for this position? “
- ” Why did you choose our company? “
- ” What is your current job? Or “What was your last job?”
- ” What is your current salary? “
How to prepare for a telephone interview
A telephone interview is prepared just as much as a face to face.
And, during this meeting, certain stages are obligatory passages.
This is for example the case of:
- the presentation of the candidate,
- the motivations for the position,
- career aspirations,
- questions about the company,
- medium and long-term development prospects,
- the qualities of the candidate,
- availability
Anticipating the answers
As with a face-to-face job interview, we must therefore anticipate by foreseeing the answers that we will provide to all these questions.
The candidate must be able to review his most significant professional experiences and the most important elements of his career.
You must analyze your own personal and professional faults and qualities.
It is also essential to find out about the company to which you are applying, as well as the position for which you sent your CV and cover letter.
And you have to Don’t take into account the length of the phone interview.
Usually, this type of interview is fairly short. On average, 15 minutes are enough for the recruiter to form an opinion on the candidate that he has on the phone.
Consequently, the answers must imperatively be brief, but precise.
Who should call
If this question comes to you at the time of the appointment, it is already too late … Your stress level is at risk to increase quickly, you will find yourself in a troublesome position elsewhere fear of calling so as not to disturb or even worse you realize that you have no number to call.
So anticipate this question. If the hiring person hasn’t told you about this, don’t hesitate to ask them openly. This will demonstrate certain professionalism on your part.
Where to go for the phone interview
A phone interview can’t just happen anywhere. It is essential to bring together optimal conditions for a professional meeting. And, although we are on the phone, we must simulate the work environment, to succeed in getting into condition.
We, therefore, avoid answering questions recruiter slumped on his sofa in front of the television or strolling in the aisles of the market.
On the other hand, to put yourself in ideal conditions for carrying out a telephone interview, you can sit on a chair, in a quiet room. If you have an office, do not hesitate to settle there.
In addition, you must be fully available for the interlocutor, as we would be in of a real interview.
So we turn off televisions, computer screens, and tablets. And we keep children, babies, and pets away. These could distract us or disturb the conversation.
Do not forget to have these 2 elements in front of you during the telephone interview:
- the job description (printed or on-screen version)
- your Curriculum Vitae
If you are called unexpectedly and the optimal conditions are not met, do not hesitate to report that you are not available . In this case, suggest another time to perform the interview.
The goal is to put you in the best possible conditions to answer the recruiter’s questions calmly.
Be on time for his telephone interview
In the same way, as for a face-to-face job interview, the candidate must be punctual for his telephone interview. Punctuality is of great importance in normal times.
But, if the CV mentions that the candidate is a punctual, organized individual, or if the job requires such qualities, it is essential to be on time for their job interview. And this, whether the meeting takes place life or by phone.
In addition, by answering the recruiter in good time, the latter will not be able to come across an answering machine whose message from welcome could be unprofessional.
During the telephone job interview
The need to express yourself well
On the phone, we do not have access to body language. We cannot read the lips of the interlocutor either in case of doubt or misunderstanding.
The protagonists’ words must therefore be clearly stated, without ambiguity.
In this case, it is possible (and even recommended) to work on your oral expression before a telephone interview.
To do this, you train yourself to articulate well. In addition, you learn to use the right speaking speed.
Show that you are interested and motivated
The telephone interview remains, however, an informal process. During this conversation, the candidate can therefore ask the recruiter questions. Moreover, this approach is rather well received by the individuals responsible for recruitment. Indeed, this shows that the applicant has prepared for his interview.
If the candidate asks coherent questions about the position, it also shows that he has inquired about the job offered and about the company.
On the phone, the “conversation” and “exchange” aspect is very important to expressing interest. We must therefore react appropriately and enter into a form of dialogue with the interlocutor.
However, we never cut off the recruiter. In addition, we keep a professional tone in all circumstances.
Finally, at the end of the call, we can ask for more information on the recruitment process and on the deadlines before being contacted again. As one would close a real interview.