Common Phone Screening Interview Questions for Recruiters

TL;DR Before getting into a phone screening, we do firmly suggest to read candidate/applicant resume, get the help of resume and job description analysis and their matching score to set your strategy.

Setting the tone of voice could be beneficial for both, though keep it the way your company culture is and aim to be direct. Having a chatty and informal conversation can be suited for Millennials, and Gen the most.

LinkedIn reports that 56% of talent leaders and hiring managers are looking for new interviewing tools, particularly those that evaluate soft skills

The following questions aim to verify what is on a candidate’s resume. Resumes can be ambiguous and titles may have different meanings at different firms so better to check an individual’s experience level and skills.

Startup Note: Keeping the strategy of “hire fast and fire fast” does not mean skipping the flow. Remember the wrong hire can be destructive for both the candidate and your company employees.

• May I have the chance to get to know you from your perspective?
• What made you decide to apply for this job?
• Tell me about your responsibilities and accountabilities in your last role.
• What inspired you to make a change?
• Describe a challenge you’ve faced and your creative approach to finding a solution.
• Discuss a time you didn’t hit a goal. Walk me through your resume.
• How did you find each one of your positions?
• You listed [insert skill here] as a skill. Tell me about a project you’ve done using that skill.
• What is your experience as a writer?
• How comfortable are you writing and researching on your own?
• In which three marketing skills are you an expert?
• How did your last role change over the course of your tenure?
• How familiar are you with our product?
• Why our company?
• Why did you choose (industry like e-commerce or ride-hailing) and (field of activity like Operation)?
• What did you study in school?
• Tell me about your favorite course that you’ve taken.
• What are you involved in outside of work?
• Tell me about your hobbies or extracurricular activities.
• What is a trend in our industry right now that you’ve noticed?
• What other companies are you considering right now?
• What industry or field do you have the most experience in?
• What is your salary expectation?
• Can you relocate (in case you need the employee relocation)?
• When is the closest time you can join us if we get into the mutual agreement?

Hint: Listen carefully, check intonation and red flags such as unclear answers, the approach, and mood. It will help you to get into better information on your shortlisting for another process such as mock video questionnaires, psychometric test or expertise ones.

Following up on the phone call

If the candidate’s answers to your phone interview questions don’t satisfy you, you’ve saved yourself the time involved in interviewing them in person. Though try to get into another if the state is still unclear whether to continue the process with her/him/it or not!

Try to use collaborative recruitment platforms to have other inputs such as peers, line managers, other recruiters or even an outsider as an external consultant.