Preparing well for a phone interview means planning your answers, setting up your space, and managing how you sound on the call. A little structure beforehand makes it much easier to stay calm and come across as confident and professional.
Before the interview
- Review the job description and match each key requirement to a specific example from your experience, using a framework like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to keep answers focused.
- Research the company’s services, mission, and recent news so you can explain why you want the role and ask informed questions.
- Practice answering common questions (“Tell me about yourself,” strengths/weaknesses, why this company, example of a challenge) out loud, ideally with a friend or a mock phone interview.
Set up your environment
- Choose a quiet, comfortable place with good reception, and test the line and audio by calling someone in advance.
- Have your resume, job description, and brief bullet-point notes in front of you, but avoid writing full scripts so you don’t sound like you are reading.
- Make sure your phone is fully charged, turn off notifications and call waiting if possible, and keep a pen and paper or laptop handy for notes.
Mindset and professionalism
- Treat it like an in‑person interview: be ready 10 minutes early, sit or stand up straight, and dress neatly to get into a professional mindset.
- Use whatever helps you feel calm and focused before the call, such as a short walk, breathing exercises, or a quick pep talk.
- Aim for an enthusiastic but natural tone; smiling while you talk can make your voice sound more energetic and confident.
During the call
- Answer clearly with a friendly greeting, confirm the interviewer’s name, and speak slowly and succinctly so you don’t ramble.
- Practice active listening: do not multitask, let the interviewer finish, and leave a small pause before you respond so you don’t talk over them.
- If you miss something, politely ask them to repeat or clarify, and mention right away if the line is bad or you cannot hear well.
Questions and follow‑up
- Prepare two or three thoughtful questions about the role, team, training, or what success looks like in the first months.
- Jot down key points during the call, especially responsibilities, expectations, and any details they share about next steps.
- After the interview, send a short thank‑you email that reiterates your interest and briefly connects your experience to what you discussed.
