Interview Type: Phone 

Phone interviews are often used as an initial screen to narrow the candidate pool. Since you can’t rely on body language, your voice, clarity, and preparation become even more important. 

Phone screens are typically the first filter: recruiters manage multiple open roles at once and use phone interviews to narrow large applicant pools before investing in longer formats. The goal is to understand if you are who you say you are on paper and address any potential red flags. 

If the company calls unexpectedly: 

If an employer calls you without warning to either schedule an interview or conduct one on the spot, it’s completely appropriate to ask: “I want to give you my full attention. Could I call you back in [15-30 minutes] when I’m ready?” Most companies will respect this. 

Get the details: 

Before your scheduled phone interview, ask: 

  • Who will be calling me? 
  • What are their names and titles? 
  • How long should I expect the interview to take? 
  • What should I prepare? 

Write down the names and phone numbers (in case you need to call them back). 

Set up your environment: 

  • Find a quiet room where you won’t be interrupted 
  • Close the door and turn off TVs, radios, and other noise sources 
  • Keep a pen and paper handy for notes 
  • Have water nearby (a sip during a pause is fine) 
  • Test your phone and ensure good reception 
  • Do NOT use speakerphone—use the handset 

Opening: 

  • Answer promptly with a warm, professional greeting: “Hi, this is [your name] speaking.” 
  • Confirm you’re still ready for the interview and have time 
  • Thank them for calling 

Pacing: 

  • Speak slowly and clearly into the phone 
  • Take deliberate pauses between thoughts (it feels awkward to you but sounds natural to them) 
  • Enunciate—phone lines can be imperfect 
  • Limit filler words like “um” and “like” 

Tone: 

  • Stand if it helps you feel more energized and confident 
  • Keep your energy level up. Phone conversations lack visual cues, so vocal enthusiasm matters more 

Answering questions: 

  • Make your answers concise and clear (phone conversations can drag if you ramble) 
  • Avoid very long pauses—if you need to think, say: “That’s a great question, let me think for a moment” to fill the silence 
  • Don’t rustle papers or create background noise 

Checking understanding: 

Phone interviews are awkward because it’s hard to know when to stop talking or if you’ve addressed the question. After your answer, feel free to ask: 

  • “Did I answer your question?” 
  • “Would you like me to say more about that?” 
  • “Does that make sense?” 

These check-ins show clarity and confidence. 

Asking your questions: 

Ask questions where appropriate, usually at the end. The person conducting a phone screen typically is a recruiter who organizes candidates, so they usually won’t know specific details about the role. This is your opportunity to ask a few questions about big picture ideas: 

  • “Why did the last person leave this role?” 
  • “How would you describe the company culture?” 
  • “How has this team evolved in the past year?” 

Keep your questions relevant and brief. 

Closing: 

  • Thank them for their time 
  • Ask about next steps: “What’s the timeline for your decision?” or “When can I expect to hear from you?” 
  • Confirm the best way to reach you 

Send a thank-you email within 24 hours. Keep it brief and reference something specific from your conversation. 

You feel like you’re talking too much 

Take shorter pauses and ask clarifying questions. “Tell me more about that” engages the interviewer instead of you filling all the space. 

You can’t hear them clearly 

It’s fine to ask them to repeat: “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you say that again?” 

You freeze or forget what you wanted to say 

Take a breath. “That’s a good question—let me think about that for a moment.” They expect pauses. 

You realize you gave a bad answer 

Don’t try to redo it unless they ask a follow-up. Move forward. Ineffective answers happen; recovery is what matters. 

How to Start 

  1. Once you schedule a phone interview, get the interviewer’s name, title, and phone number 
  1. Set up your environment: quiet room, good phone reception, and not on speakerphone 
  1. Prepare several questions to ask and have your calendar visible 
  1. Practice your phone delivery using Big Interview to hear how you sound and catch filler words 
  1. Do a practice run of your opening and answers out loud so you feel confident with your delivery 

How We Can Help 

Drop in or set up an appointment with a Career Counselor to: 

  • Conduct a full mock phone interview with feedback on your pacing, tone, energy, and clarity 
  • Help you develop concise answers that sound natural and confident over the phone 
  • Coach you on vocal tone and how to project enthusiasm without visual cues 
  • Prepare strong questions that move the conversation forward 
  • Practice how to recover if you get nervous, freeze, or realize you misspoke 

Questions? 

Reach out to Career Design at huskycareers@northeastern.edu or visit the  Career Studio for additional guidance.