Before your interview, it is a good idea to rehearse some phone interview questions and answers, so you can feel more confident in your delivery.

Tell me a little about yourself

Sometimes, the objective of a phone interview is to convince the interviewer that meeting you in person will be a good use of their time. In responding to this question, it is important not to waffle. Keep your answer brief and highlight aspects of your career that are relevant to the specific role at hand and demonstrate the skills that the interviewer is looking for.

What interests you most about this job?

If you are doing the phone interview because you must relocate or because there is a lot of travel involved, your first answer should indicate that the opportunity to travel excites you. The interviewer will want to understand why you are not looking for work in your local area, and you need to be prepared to show enthusiasm for travelling further afield. If the phone interview is a preliminary screener, your answer should focus on the opportunities to demonstrate skills that this role requires (which you will have established from the job description or advertisement).

Are you willing to relocate for this role?

Sometimes, if you are doing a phone interview, it is because the office is in a location that is not convenient for you to get to. It is important to carefully consider – prior to the interview – if moving is right for you personally and professionally. Be honest in your response.

The phone interview is basically a selection process designed to reduce the pool of talent who ultimately will move onto the face-to-face interviews. If you want to get to the next phase of the interview process, discover more interview advice that will put you in the upper percentage of potential candidates.