What is a phone interview and why do employers use it?
A phone interview, often called a phone screen, is a short first conversation used to decide who moves on to a longer interview. The person calling is usually a recruiter or a hiring manager, and they want quick answers to practical questions: do you have the right experience, can you explain it clearly, do your expectations fit the role, and are you really interested?
It feels informal, but it is a real interview. Many candidates are filtered out here, so a little preparation goes a long way. The good news is that the format works in your favour: you can have notes in front of you and nobody sees your nerves.
How should you prepare before the call?
Preparation for a phone screen takes about an hour and covers four things.
- Re-read the job ad. Mark the three or four requirements that appear first or most often. Those are the topics the recruiter will test.
- Re-read your own resume. The caller will have it open. Be ready to talk about every line, especially dates, job titles and results. If your resume needs sharpening, our guide to tailoring your resume to a job description shows how, and the free ATS checker can confirm it is easy to read.
- Prepare a 60-second introduction. This is your answer to the usual opener. Use the structure in our guide to answering "Tell me about yourself".
- Prepare three short examples. Each should show a skill the job needs, told as a situation, your action and the result. The STAR method keeps them tight.
Also research the company enough to explain why you want to work there. If that question worries you, see how to answer "Why do you want to work here?".
How do you set up your space and your phone?
Small technical problems are the most avoidable way to lose points. Do these the day before and again an hour before the call:
- Charge your phone fully, or plug it in, and check the signal where you will sit.
- Use a landline or headset if you can, so your hands are free to take notes.
- Turn off notifications and tell people at home that you cannot be disturbed.
- Choose a quiet room. Avoid cars, cafes and anywhere with echo or background noise.
- Keep water, a pen, paper, your resume and the job ad within reach.
- Save the recruiter's number or the company name, so you answer with a professional greeting if they call unannounced.
What questions should you expect?
Screening calls tend to follow a pattern. Expect most of these:
- Tell me about yourself. Give your short introduction and stop.
- Why are you interested in this role? Name something specific about the work or company.
- Walk me through a relevant project. Use one of your prepared examples.
- Why are you leaving, or why did you leave? Stay positive and forward looking. If there was a break in your work history, our guide to explaining a gap in your resume helps.
- What are your salary expectations? Have a considered answer ready. See how to answer salary expectations.
- When can you start, and are you interviewing elsewhere? Be truthful and brief.
- Do you have any questions? Always have two or three.
How do you sound confident on the phone?
Without body language, your voice carries everything. A few habits help a lot.
- Slow down. Nervous people speed up. Aim for a steady pace and pause before answering.
- Smile and sit or stand upright. It changes your tone, even though nobody sees it.
- Keep answers to one or two minutes. Long answers are harder to follow without visual cues. Finish and let the interviewer respond.
- Use their name and acknowledge points. Short phrases such as "That makes sense" show you are listening.
- Ask for repetition if needed. "Could you repeat that last part?" is better than guessing.
- Avoid filler and typing noise. Take notes by hand if your keyboard is loud.
What should you do in the first five minutes?
The opening sets the tone. Answer with a calm, clear greeting, confirm you have time to talk, and ask roughly how long the call will take if they have not said. Then listen carefully to how they describe the role, because they often reveal what they care about most. You can refer back to those priorities when you answer later questions.
What questions should you ask at the end?
Good questions show genuine interest and help you decide if the role fits. Ask about what a successful first few months looks like, how the team works, and what the next steps and timeline are. Avoid opening with pay or benefits unless the recruiter raises them. For more ideas, see our list of questions to ask the interviewer.
What should you do after the call?
Write down what you discussed while it is fresh, including names and the stated next steps. Send a short thank-you email the same day, which our guide to a thank-you email after an interview covers with templates. If you do not hear back by the date they gave, you can follow up politely once. Meanwhile, keep applying to other roles on the jobs page so one conversation does not hold up your whole search.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Taking the call while walking, driving or in a noisy place.
- Reading a script word for word.
- Giving very long answers or interrupting the interviewer.
- Knowing nothing about the company or the role.
- Being vague about your own experience when asked for detail.
- Skipping questions at the end.
Phone interview checklist
- Job ad marked with the key requirements.
- Resume in front of you and every line understood.
- 60-second introduction rehearsed aloud.
- Three STAR examples written as bullet points.
- Salary and availability answers decided.
- Two or three questions for the interviewer.
- Phone charged, signal checked, room quiet.
- Thank-you email ready to send afterwards.
A phone interview is a short conversation with a clear purpose. If you are prepared, calm and specific, you give the recruiter an easy reason to say yes to the next round.