Be Prepared for These Five Questions on a Phone Interview

A phone interview has become the norm rather than the exception, as many employers use this technique to narrow down a field of candidates. As such, you should prepare to answer one question after another during your 10 to 15 minutes of time with a hiring manager or potential supervisor. Make sure to brush up on your phone etiquette before engaging in any phone interview.

No matter what industry uses a phone interview during a job search, some standard questions prevail to let hiring managers gets a feel for the candidate. If you can ace the following five questions, you may find yourself at the all-important in-person interview.

1. Why are you leaving your current job?

Depending on your circumstances, this could mean "Why did you leave your previous job?" This phone interview query gauges your positive or negative responses to a potentially bad situation. Leaving a job may not be easy, but if you place a positive attitude behind a negative outcome, it says a lot about your personality. Say something like, "I want an opportunity to expand my skills with your company," or "This position is a golden opportunity I couldn't pass up."

2. Tell me about yourself.

This open-ended question lets you fill in the blanks as you see fit. Expand on your educational background, certifications, accomplishments and passion for your work for this aspect of the phone interview.

Two keys to answering questions over the phone remain a relaxed, comfortable attitude and good phone etiquette. Find a quiet space, enunciate clearly and smile. Your smile shows through the phone in your voice intonations. Pick up on cues from the interviewer, and have a conversation. You do not have to rush through a phone interview.

3. Why did you apply for this job?

Use this question as an opportunity to mention how the company fits your values. You can also say that your skills and background exceed the job qualifications in several ways, and then include the most relevant details.

4. Where do you see yourself in five years?

This simple question lets the interviewer know about your goals and ability to think ahead on vital issues. Employees of a company must focus on the task at hand while simultaneously seeing how a mundane task now leads to success in the future. This question also lets you tell an interviewer if you plan to stick around, master your skills and become a valuable human asset.

5. Why should you get an in-person interview?

In essence, this means "Why should we hire you?" Now is the time to bottom line your answer. Mention how you can contribute to the hiring organization in a meaningful, practical way. Leave your interviewer wanting more so you can show how you are the best person to fill this position.

View a phone interview as a conversation with a friend, and know that every other candidate goes through the same weeding process as companies seek to find the best person for the job. As such, this interview does not have to be a harrowing experience once you realize that it's a normal thing.

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