TOP 10 phone interview questions that make screening candidates easy!

Why do employers use phone interviews?

Telephone interviews help employers solve difficult problems of geographical distance, time and effort of preparation while still preliminary assessing candidate's ability.

No problem with distance.

Save time and effort in preparation, arrangement, organization.

Preliminary assessment of candidates such as personality, qualities, career goals, job expectations, etc.

Screen candidates list to find potential candidates.

What do employers need to prepare for a phone interview?

Not only candidates but also employers need to carefully prepare for the phone interview to show professionalism.

Know the job description about the position you are looking for

Before finding the right candidate for the position the company is looking for, the employer needs to really understand the job description, the tasks that the candidate will undertake in the future and the recruitment orientation of the business. The purpose is to help the employer discuss the right focus on the job with the candidate in the upcoming phone interview.

Get to know the candidate

Employers need to find out a candidate's resume, CV or portfolio to compare information and ask the most accurate questions. Take the time to find out the candidate's information such as skills, experience, ... to ask the candidate to explain more clearly during the phone interview.

Clear interview layout

Usually, employers will start suggesting candidates introduce themselves with strengths, weaknesses, skills, experience, etc. Next is the reason for applying and the candidate's understanding of the job position. and the company. Then, learn about the candidate's career goals, work motivation, personality, qualities, and soft skills.  Finally, take the time for the candidate to ask questions and the employer to announce the form and time to send the results of the phone interview.

Choose the right interview questions

Once the interview layout has been developed, the employer should select the questions that are suitable for the job position that the business is looking for. The questions asked wisely will help the employer have the basis to compare the candidate's ability in the most objective way.

Questions about job expertise should be prioritized to quickly determine if a candidate is qualified for the job. At the same time, employers should ask open-ended questions to encourage candidates to answer more and help employers make assessments about the candidate's qualities and personality.

Prepare the necessary tools

Employers can prepare the necessary pen or paper to record the candidate's information.

Don't forget to check that the phone battery is fully charged and the transmission is clear on the day of the interview to avoid unexpected interruptions. Employers can make a test call to make sure the phone is working properly.

Pay attention to the interview time

To ensure the focus of candidates, employers should only interview by phone for about 20-30 minutes. This is the most suitable time for recruiters to preliminarily assess the capacity and effectively screen candidates. At the same time, for potential candidates, employers can ask more detailed questions in the face-to-face interview afterwards.

Top 10 phone interview questions for effective candidate screening

Question 1: Tell us a little bit about yourself?

This is an open-ended question to start the interview with before getting into the technical questions. Although candidate information has been updated in detail in the resume, employers need to pay attention to the candidate's attitude, behavior and confidence when sharing.

Question 2: Please share more about your strengths and weaknesses?

This is an opportunity for candidates to show their difference from other candidates.  At the same time, the employer will evaluate the sincerity when the candidate shares his weaknesses and the progressive spirit when the candidate shows the desire to improve himself in the working process.

Question 3: Why are you applying for this position?

Finding out the reasons for applying helps employers understand and evaluate the candidate's job search goals.

Question 4: Why did you leave your old company? or Tell us about your most recent job?

Through the answer, the employer will assess the personality of the candidate. If the candidate responds negatively such as talking about the difficulties of the old job or complaining about the old boss, former colleagues, etc., it is definitely not a good choice.

Question 5: What is your work experience like in this position?

Employers can compare with the job requirements that the business is looking for to have a basis to evaluate whether the candidate is suitable for the nature of the job.  In this question, the employer needs to prompt the candidate to share their results or achievements to determine the level of sincerity in the answer.

Question 6: What skills make you confident at work?

This question will help the employer check the skills that the candidate shares in the resume are correct or not. Moreover, employers will assess whether these skills serve the job that the business is looking for.

Question: What kind of work environment do you expect?

This is a question that helps employers know if the candidate's working style is suitable for the corporate culture.

Question 7: What are your career goals in the next 5 years?

Employers will rely on this question to screen potential candidates with a clear direction. At the same time, the employer will determine whether you want to stick around for a long time to develop your career in the future.

Question 8: What do you know about our company?

This question helps employers see if the candidate is really interested in the position and aspires to accompany the company. Moreover, this question helps employers assess the candidate's level of thoughtfulness, care and enthusiasm for the job.

Question 9: What is the salary suitable for your ability?

After asking questions to help the employer visualize the candidate's qualifications and qualities, discuss to find out if the candidate's desired salary meets the company's budget.

Question 10: Do you have any questions for me?

Employers can gauge how serious a candidate is for the position the company is looking for. Candidates who are really attentive and eager to know more about the company will ask wise questions.