What Key Questions Should We Ask in a Phone Interview to Decide on Next Steps?

Hi to all,

Can anyone tell me what questions should be asked in a telephonic interview so that it will become easy for us to decide whether the person should be called for the next round or not?

Thank you

Dear Ishita,

It depends on the requirements of the profile. For example, if you need a simple graduate for a position, you will obviously ask questions to obtain updated information about their work status, willingness to change, CTC details, etc.

However, if you need to select someone for an outbound calling profile, you should assess the individual based on required skills. For instance, you can ask them to provide a brief introduction to evaluate their communication skills, pose a few technical questions to assess their knowledge, and so on.

Therefore, the questions are structured based on the criteria you establish to shortlist the candidates.

I hope this clarifies things for you.

Check his communication skills by talking to him about where he is from, where he studied, and where he is currently working. Ask about his current CTC, expectations, and the notice period required for joining. If all of these aspects meet your criteria and the person's salary expectations are within budget, then invite him for a personal interview.

Dear ishitamehta,

First, be clear about whether you are a functional person or a technical person. Also, are you asking questions for screening purposes or something else? It is important to be clear about the position you are referring to.

Please provide more context so I can assist you better.

Thank you.

Hello,

First, check if he is looking for a job. If yes, then ask what kind of job profile he is looking for. If he meets your requirements, it is okay; otherwise, offer him a job and then conduct a personal interview where you can assess his communication skills, fluency, MTI, etc.

Hi Ishita,

Please ask for his/her suitable time to talk first - important thing to create a professional image of yours as an HR and your company/organization.

Then start with what kind of job role he/she is looking for and briefly explain the vacant position. If the candidate finds it interesting, continue the interview.

If the candidate is a fresher, ask questions about education, career interests, domain interests, reasons for interest in the job/domain, salary expectations, joining time, and if they seem suitable, ask them for a personal interview.

For candidates with experience, cross-check with questions on job roles, company profiles, achievements, reasons for a change, current salary, salary expectations, and joining time. Inquire about past experiences and then move on to questions based on education. You can ask questions to gauge interest in your company/job, like why they want to apply. If you find their answers suitable, invite them for a personal interview.

I hope this clarifies your query.

Regards,

Brijesh Deshmukh

Sr. Executive-HR

Hello Ishita,

For the telephonic round:
First, check if this is the best time to talk.
Secondly, introduce yourself, the organization you are calling from, and the purpose of the call.
Third, assess the candidate's interest in continuing the conversation (e.g., job search, relocation, etc.).
Fourth, share the required skills and inquire about the candidate's relevant experience and interest.
If the response is positive, request the candidate's resume to proceed further.
Upon receiving the resume, if you can align the telecon with the written details, proceed.
While this process is adequate for technical skills, for functional skills, evaluate the candidate's overall communication, presentation, confidence during the call, and make a decision accordingly on whether to move forward.

Hope this information is helpful!

Best regards.

Hi Ishita,

I'm sure you must have an understanding of the job role and responsibilities attached to the position for which you are going to conduct the telephonic round of interviews. Firstly, the job title must have specific prerequisites, such as static or fixed qualifying essentials like years of experience, age limit, sector, current position, etc.

The primary purpose of conducting the telephonic round is to shortlist those who meet the static requirements. Discussion of the flexible parameters is better suited for the personal round, which can be conducted with the shortlisted candidates following the telephonic round.

I'm certain this information will be helpful to you.

Thank you.