What Will They Ask In A Phone Interview For Internships

How to Master the Phone Interview (with Examples)

Updated: September 21, 2020

For a lot of people, the phone interview is fifty-fifty scarier than the in-person interview. It's the first fourth dimension your would-exist employer will hear your vocalism and go to interact with you. (And if y'all're interviewing for a remote job or internship, it may be the just time!) What if your delightful personality doesn't shine through? What if you lot muddle your responses?

By reading our simple telephone interview tips and sample questions and answers, you lot can ace the telephone interview and get one step closer to that dream chore or internship.

What a phone interview is really most

Merely put, a phone interview is a hazard for the hiring manager or recruiter to become a first look at the person behind the resume. Given that every job opening today gets an average of 250 applications, employers demand to exist equally efficient equally possible. A phone interview is a quick and cheap way to observe out if you're worth farther consideration as a candidate.

Just as with an in-person interview, you'll typically talk virtually the company, the job opening, and how yous fit the profile of their platonic candidate. This can have anywhere from 15 minutes to an hr. Since interviews are a two-fashion street, assume that the last x minutes will be a chance for you to enquire the questions. Since you're not relying on body linguistic communication to build rapport, a phone interview can sometimes seem impersonal. That said, if information technology seems like you're a adept match, you'll usually be invited for an in-person interview.

Common phone interview questions (and how to answer them)

Proficient news: A lot of interviewers ask very similar questions for phone interviews. Sure, they might rephrase them a bit, only the gist will be the aforementioned. While in-person interview questions can range from high-level to in-depth, most phone interview questions are designed to be an initial screening, ensuring you run across certain minimum requirements for the role. Here are a few questions you should prepare to answer:

"Tell me nearly yourself" or "Walk me through your resume."
This is your lift pitch. The interviewer wants to hear you present yourself in 90 seconds—personally and professionally. You'll want to walk the interviewer through your professional journey, conveying your relevant skills and current responsibilities and emphasizing how they'll add measurable value for the company. Go along your response clear and curtailed, and end with an upbeat summary of your electric current situation.
"Why do you want to piece of work here?"
The interviewer wants to understand how this specific role connects to your experience, skill set, and interests. Given that you should always enquiry a company before an interview, focus on what you learned from your research and highlight how your unique qualifications relate to these areas. So, highlight your enthusiasm, since enthusiasm for a job often translates to higher productivity. And i more than thing: If you lot're interviewing for an internship, never respond, "For schoolhouse credit."
"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
This is a archetype, and it'southward important that you approach your strengths and weaknesses in a diplomatic, honest way. Share at least two strengths that are relevant to the role and support them with prove. For weaknesses, be honest and stay positive. Point to a real (but non debilitating) weakness that's non vital to the job at mitt. And then, focus the majority of your response on how you're working to meliorate in this area.
"Tell me about a time when you took the atomic number 82 on a project."
This oftentimes serves ii purposes: It shows that you take leadership abilities, and information technology demonstrates that you can work well on a team. Remember that a true leader is not always in charge. Real leaders know when to lead, when to delegate, and when to follow someone else's lead. Your answer tin can speak to any of these areas, equally long as you frame it as a STAR response, backed upwards by specific show.
"What are your salary expectations?"
This is less likely if you're applying for an internship, merely even and so, it'southward always best to be prepared. With hundreds of applicants, recruiters want to ensure they tin can afford you, so practise your enquiry beforehand! Check out sites like Bacon.com, which shows bacon ranges based on geographic location. In your response, offering a rough salary range, directly referencing electric current information. Then, reinforce your enthusiasm and state that you're open to negotiation based on other benefits. End by reassuring them that you're sure you can reach an agreement when the time comes.

How to ready for a phone interview similar a pro

A phone interview is similar the ultimate open-book test. Accept reward of that and accept the following materials bundled around you lot like your own personal command eye. By preparing for your phone interview, you'll be able to concisely and conspicuously communicate your value.

Research on the company and the part.
Read the job description, so spend 30 minutes researching the company. Apply Google to review the company website, recent news articles, employee reviews, and social posts. Yous should likewise become over the LinkedIn profiles of anyone you lot know y'all'll be talking with; these are cracking sources of potential information and shared interests.
Talking points about yourself.
It's important to ready your answers in accelerate so that you don't find yourself tongue-tired during the actual interview. Apply your inquiry to guide your responses, ensuring that you apply the STAR Methodto craft a strong story for each job requirement. Write downwards your strengths and weaknesses, past or electric current projects, and any leadership or team experience.
Questions you desire to ask about the company.
A good interviewer will likely leave at least ten minutes for y'all to ask questions of your ain. Create a list of 10 or more interview questions in advance that focus on what you lot'd like to know almost the function, the visitor, or the manager. Simply be sure not to ask anything they've already answered!

Once y'all've prepared in these 3 areas, it's just almost practise! As you employ your notes as prompts, ensure that your responses sound natural and not like you're reading from a script. You might desire to consider recording yourself or rehearsing in front of a friend. You're essentially creating a sales pitch—and pitches are always smoother when well-rehearsed.

How to avoid common telephone interview mistakes

Now that you're ready to show the interviewer how awesome you are, the final affair you want to do is botch information technology with a rookie mistake. Here are a few reasons people don't state that second interview:

Poor telephone etiquette.
Being on your phone seems easy. You tin have a call anywhere, right? Wrong! You demand to plan for this one. Minimize distractions by going to a designated serenity space and setting aside any fourth dimension is necessary to requite the interviewer your undivided attention. Things like a spotty prison cell signal or background noise tin can be very confusing. Fully accuse your battery and bear a pair of noise-reducing earbuds with a congenital-in mic for adept mensurate.
Lack of grooming.
Getting a phone interview is a big deal, so don't wing information technology. Interviewers know the difference between a nervous falter and a total lack of preparation. Continue a copy of your resume in front of you and have a list of your stories (proud moments, strengths, weaknesses, and accomplishments) to serve as reminders. If you actually want the part, do the homework and show it.
Reading your answers.
While it's perfectly acceptable (and very helpful) to take your "cheat sheets" in front of you, don't read them discussion for word. Your recruiter volition know because you'll sound flat and overly rehearsed. Tailor your response to the interviewer'due south style, bear witness your enthusiasm, and be engaged.
Being unprofessional.
Phone interviews can experience more casual than an in-person interview. Don't fall into this trap. Interviewers desire to see that you're professional and tin can handle yourself appropriately. While you want to show your personality, avoid interrupting the interviewer or speaking to them like they're just 1 of your friends.

If the interviewer doesn't set up a face-to-face interview at the terminate of your conversation, ask about side by side steps. Specifically, inquire if yous can accomplish out if you lot have not heard annihilation past a certain appointment. How the interviewer answers questions about the next step in the process will tell you how serious they are about your candidacy.

To wrap up, simply remember: If you take the time to set up and exercise for your phone interview, the interviewer will take notice—and you'll be one step closer to getting an offer.