Phone interviews, also known as screenings, are a typical simple, time-efficient way to narrow down your list of candidates to a top few contenders for a given role. Here are our top tips for both recruiters and candidates when it comes to nailing phone screening interviews.

Phone interviews, also known as screenings, are a typical first step when you’re trying to narrow down your list of candidates to a top few contenders for a given role. They are a simple, time-efficient way for both candidates and employers to decide if they will be a good match. At Amby, we use the initial phone interview to try and get a feel for the qualified candidates that we think are promising, focusing on whether their recent working experience, skill-set, and value-set would be a good fit for the client we are hiring for.

This type of interview is also a great opportunity for you to sell the role and your company to any prospective candidates - insuring good conversion rates during your interview process. Try to keep in mind that a good pitch is not simply a regurgitation of your job description and company benefits. Tailoring your screening pitch to sell the role and your company culture is something all recruiters should take the time to do.

These phone interviews are not intended to be particularly long or dive deep into what skills and competencies a job candidate has. You can safely leave all the deep-diving for the person interviews later along in the process. Screenings should be short and sweet - no longer than 30 minutes - and should only unpack the information you need to decide if the candidate has the right experience for the role, the right value-set for the company, and whether they fit within your hiring timelines and budget. But how do you do all that in a 30-minute phone interview? Ask the right questions!

In this blog, we’ll give all you recruiters out there some tips on how to ensure a good candidate experience of your phone interview, elaborate on the most meaningful questions to ask, and the best ways to make sense of all the information you’ve gathered. Candidates, stay tuned for the end of the blog where we’ll be giving some recruiter insight into the best ways to prepare for these phone screenings and a list of questions you should have ready for your interviewer that will help you decide if you want to continue with the application process.

Top 10 Screening Questions to Ask Candidates in the First Round

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. Why are you looking for new work?

3. Why are you interested in working here?

4. Walk me through your most recent working experience.

5. What is something you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of?

6. What do you need to succeed in this role?

7. What are your salary expectations?

8. When can you start?

9. Are you currently in any other processes?

10. Do you have any questions for me?

These questions should help you get some useful insight into whether the candidate you’re interviewing is a good fit for your - no doubt - already talented team.

Tips for Candidates Preparing for a Phone Screening Interview

Although these job interviews will decide whether you move forward into the formal interview process, it is important to remember that they are set up as an informal initial step in the process, designed to assess whether you and the company you’re interviewing for will make a good match. Think of these phone screening interviews almost like a first date - it won’t make or break the relationship and you’re only there to figure out if the two of you have enough in common to even warrant a second date. These initial interviews are a great opportunity to find out if this is the perfect opportunity for you, and whether the job will provide you with good career opportunities in the future.

How Candidates can Prepare for a Phone Screening Interview

1. Get in touch with your interviewer beforehand

2. Research research research

3. Make sure you’ve got signal and a quiet place to have the interview

4. Be prepared to talk salary expectations

Top questions to ask your interviewer

Something that will always land well with your interviewer is to ask thoughtful questions about the things that interest you the most about the role or the position. If in your research or during the phone interview, you found something that piques your interest then try to find out more about it! Whether it’s the company culture or a product they’re working on or the professional development opportunities available. But it can be common to blank out on questions to ask, even if you are interested in the role, due to nerves, time pressure, background noise, etc, and having backup questions is always helpful.

So, here are some of the key things you should find out from a phone screening interview to help kick-start you round of questions:

1. What does a typical day look like in this position?

2. What are some of the biggest challenges facing the team/department right now?

3. How does the company approach work-life balance?

4. Can you tell me more about the company culture?

5. What is the next step in the hiring process?

So, phone screening interviews are an important first step in the hiring process that can help recruiters and candidates alike determine if there is a good fit between the candidate, the role, and the company. By asking the right questions, both parties can gain valuable information and insights that can help them make informed decisions about whether to move forward in the hiring process.

With these phone interview tips in mind, both recruiters and candidates can approach phone screening interviews with confidence and clarity, knowing that they are taking an important step toward finding the right fit for everyone involved.