Phone Interview Questions: What They Ask and What They're Checking

Most phone interview questions are about fit and practicalities rather than deep skills: who you are, why you applied, what you're looking for, your salary expectations, when you could start, and whether the location and hours work for you. The person calling (usually a recruiter, sometimes the hiring manager) is deciding one thing: should you go through to the full interview? Short, clear answers and an awake-sounding voice get you there.

Below: how a phone screen differs from a full interview, the 12 questions you're most likely to hear with what each one checks and a sample answer, a prep checklist, what to ask, and how to follow up.

How a phone screen is different

Two things follow. First, your voice does all the work. Pace, energy and clean endings matter more than usual, and silences feel longer. Second, you can have notes in front of you. It's the one interview where that's a pure advantage, so use it (just don't read from them word for word).

12 common phone interview questions

1. "Tell me about yourself."

Checking: can you sum up your relevant experience quickly?

"I'm a customer support specialist at a software company, where I handle around 50 chats a day and look after our help centre. Before that I spent three years in retail. I'm looking for a support role at a product company where I can help fix the causes of tickets, which is why this one caught my eye."

Keep it to 30–60 seconds on the phone. (The full formula, with examples by role.)

2. "Why did you apply for this role?"

Checking: did you read the job ad, or apply to everything?

"The ad said you're rebuilding onboarding for new customers. I did exactly that in my current job, and it's the part of the work I enjoy most."

3. "What do you know about us?"

Checking: that you spent ten minutes on research. Mention what they do, who for, and one recent thing.

"You make booking software for dental practices, mostly in the UK, and you've just launched in Ireland. I watched the demo, and the automatic reminders looked clever."

4. "Why are you leaving your current job?"

Checking: red flags. Keep it forward-looking and never criticise your employer.

"I've learned a lot, but the team has moved mainly to phone support and I want to grow on the written side, which is a big part of this role."

5. "What are you looking for in your next role?"

Checking: whether what you want matches what they offer.

"A team where support feeds back into the product, more written work, and a manager who'll help me grow towards a senior role."

6. "Can you walk me through your experience with [a must-have skill]?"

Checking: the must-have box on their list. Give one concrete example, and if you don't have the exact thing, name the closest.

"I haven't used Zendesk, but I've used Freshdesk every day for two years, including building macros and reports, so I'm confident I'd pick it up quickly."

7. "Tell me about a time you…"

Checking: that your CV holds up with a real example. Expect one or two of these at most. Use a short STAR answer (situation, task, action, result) and keep it under 90 seconds. (30 behavioural questions with example answers.)

8. "What are your salary expectations?"

Checking: whether you're in their budget. Have a researched range and say it plainly.

"Based on what similar roles are advertised for, I'm looking for £32,000 to £36,000, depending on the full package. What's the budgeted range for this role?"

If they ask what you earn now: several US states and cities ban employers from asking about your pay history, and even where it's allowed, you can answer with your expectations instead. (How to research your number.)

9. "When could you start?"

Checking: their timeline. Know your notice period before the call.

"My notice period is four weeks, so I could start in early March."

10. "Do the location and hours work for you?"

Checking: dealbreakers: commute, office days, shifts, travel, and whether you have the right to work in the country. Answer honestly now; a "yes" you don't mean wastes everyone's time. (What hybrid and remote mean in real job posts.)

11. "Are you interviewing anywhere else?"

Checking: how quickly they need to move. Be honest without naming names.

"Yes, I'm at second-round stage with one other company, but this role is my first choice because of the product side."

Only say "first choice" if it's true.

12. "Do you have any questions for me?"

Checking: interest. Always ask at least one (see below).

Your phone interview prep checklist

The day before

• Re-read the job ad and highlight the three must-haves.
• Write one page of notes: your 30-second intro, two or three stories as bullet points, your salary range, your notice period, and when you're free for a second interview.
• Look up the person who's calling, if you know who it is.
• Pick two questions to ask.

Fifteen minutes before

• A quiet room with the door shut. Not a café, not the car, not a train.
• Phone charged, signal checked, notifications off. Headphones with a microphone help.
• Notes, the job ad, a pen, water, and your calendar open in case they want to book the next round.
• Sit up straight or stand. You'll sound more awake.

When it rings Answer with your name: "Hello, this is Amira." If you miss the call, ring back as soon as you can, with a quick apology and no drama.

Most phone screens open with "Tell me about yourself", so it's worth getting yours to under a minute with the pitch timer.

Questions to ask before you hang up

Phone screens are short, so pick two:

• "What are the next steps, and when should I expect to hear?"
• "Who would I meet in the next round?"
• "What's the salary range for the role?" (if it hasn't come up)
• "What does the hiring manager most need from the person in this role?"
• "How many days a week is the team in the office?"

For later rounds, see questions to ask at the end of an interview, and save the ones you like in the question bank.

After the call

1. Write down what you learned straight away: the salary range, next steps, names, and anything the recruiter said the hiring manager cares about. It's gold for the next round.
2. Send a short thank-you email the same day. Two or three sentences is plenty. (There's a template for after a phone screen, or draft one with the follow-up emails tool.)
3. If you don't hear back by the date they gave, send one polite follow-up a couple of working days later.

Mistakes that end phone screens early

• Taking the call somewhere noisy, or while driving.
• Reading your notes out word for word. People can hear it.
• Five-minute answers. On the phone, attention drifts fast.
• Having no salary figure at all.
• Talking over the interviewer. With no visual cues, leave a beat before you answer.
• Forgetting to ask about next steps.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a phone interview last?

Usually 15 to 30 minutes with a recruiter. A phone interview with the hiring manager can run longer and go into more detail.

What questions are asked in a phone interview?

Mostly the basics: tell me about yourself, why you applied, why you're leaving, your experience with the role's key skills, salary expectations, notice period, and whether the location and hours work. Expect one or two "tell me about a time" questions too.

Can I use notes during a phone interview?

Yes, and you should. Keep them to one page of bullet points so you glance at them rather than read from them.

How should I answer the phone for an interview?

With your name, for example "Hello, this is Amira", from a quiet room you've set up in advance. If you genuinely can't talk when they call, let it go to voicemail and ring back as soon as you can.

How do I end a phone interview well?

Ask about next steps, thank them, and say briefly that you're interested: "Thanks, this has made me even keener on the role." Then send a short thank-you email the same day.