Good Questions to Ask During Phone Interview
Strategic questions for phone interviews that demonstrate your interest, gather valuable information, and help you stand out while learning about the role and company.
1What does success look like in this role during the first 90 days?
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What does success look like in this role during the first 90 days?
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Why this works
Reveals specific expectations for the initial period and shows what milestones and achievements they want to see, helping you understand how to hit the ground running.
2What are the biggest challenges someone in this role typically faces and how can I prepare for them?
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What are the biggest challenges someone in this role typically faces and how can I prepare for them?
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Why this works
Shows their honesty about role difficulties and reveals what obstacles you might encounter, helping you prepare and demonstrate your problem-solving approach.
3How do you measure performance in this role and what metrics are most important?
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How do you measure performance in this role and what metrics are most important?
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Why this works
Reveals their performance evaluation criteria and shows what specific metrics and outcomes they use to assess success in the position.
4What opportunities are there for professional development and career advancement?
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What opportunities are there for professional development and career advancement?
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Why this works
Shows their investment in employee growth and reveals what development opportunities, training, and advancement paths are available in the organization.
5What is the team dynamic like and how do you foster collaboration?
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What is the team dynamic like and how do you foster collaboration?
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Why this works
Reveals the team culture and shows how they promote teamwork and collaboration, helping you understand the working environment you'll be joining.
6What is your management style and how do you prefer to communicate with your team?
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What is your management style and how do you prefer to communicate with your team?
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Why this works
Shows their leadership approach and reveals their communication preferences, helping you understand how to work effectively with them.
7What are the company's biggest priorities right now and how does this role contribute?
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What are the company's biggest priorities right now and how does this role contribute?
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Why this works
Reveals current company focus and shows how your role fits into the broader organizational strategy and priorities.
8What is the company culture like and what values are most important?
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What is the company culture like and what values are most important?
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Why this works
Shows their cultural values and reveals what principles and behaviors are most valued in the organization.
9How do you handle different work styles and what is your approach to flexibility?
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How do you handle different work styles and what is your approach to flexibility?
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Why this works
Reveals their flexibility and shows their approach to accommodating different working styles and preferences.
10What is your approach to feedback and how do you help employees grow and improve?
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What is your approach to feedback and how do you help employees grow and improve?
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Why this works
Shows their development philosophy and reveals their approach to providing feedback and supporting employee growth.
11What are the company's long-term goals and how do you see this role evolving?
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What are the company's long-term goals and how do you see this role evolving?
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Why this works
Reveals their strategic vision and shows how they see the role developing over time and contributing to long-term objectives.
12What is your approach to work-life balance and how do you support employee well-being?
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What is your approach to work-life balance and how do you support employee well-being?
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Why this works
Shows their commitment to employee well-being and reveals their approach to supporting work-life balance and employee health.
13What is your approach to innovation and how do you encourage new ideas?
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What is your approach to innovation and how do you encourage new ideas?
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Why this works
Reveals their innovation culture and shows their approach to fostering creativity and encouraging new ideas from employees.
14What is your approach to diversity and inclusion and how do you promote equity?
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What is your approach to diversity and inclusion and how do you promote equity?
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Why this works
Shows their commitment to diversity and reveals their approach to creating an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive.
15What is your approach to change management and how do you help employees adapt?
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What is your approach to change management and how do you help employees adapt?
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Why this works
Reveals their change management skills and shows their approach to helping employees navigate organizational changes and transitions.
16What is your approach to conflict resolution and how do you handle team disagreements?
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What is your approach to conflict resolution and how do you handle team disagreements?
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Why this works
Shows their conflict management skills and reveals their approach to addressing and resolving team conflicts and disagreements.
17What is your approach to recognition and how do you celebrate team achievements?
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What is your approach to recognition and how do you celebrate team achievements?
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Why this works
Reveals their recognition practices and shows their approach to acknowledging and celebrating team and individual achievements.
18What is your approach to technology and how do you stay current with industry trends?
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What is your approach to technology and how do you stay current with industry trends?
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Why this works
Shows their technology focus and reveals their approach to staying current with industry trends and technological developments.
19What is your approach to customer focus and how do you ensure customer satisfaction?
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What is your approach to customer focus and how do you ensure customer satisfaction?
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Why this works
Reveals their customer orientation and shows their approach to maintaining high customer satisfaction and service quality.
20What are your expectations for the first few weeks and how can I best prepare for success?
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What are your expectations for the first few weeks and how can I best prepare for success?
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Why this works
Shows their onboarding approach and reveals what they expect during the initial period and how you can prepare for a successful start.
Best Practices for Phone Interview Questions
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Prepare Thoughtful Questions
Research the company and role beforehand. Prepare specific questions that show you've done your homework and are genuinely interested in the opportunity.
Be Clear and Concise
Ask clear, concise questions that can be easily understood over the phone. Avoid overly complex questions that might be difficult to follow.
Listen Actively and Take Notes
Pay attention to their answers and take notes if appropriate. This shows you value their insights and want to remember important information.
Question Sequences
The Role and Performance Sequence
The Company Culture and Values Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Ask About Salary Too Early
Focus on learning about the role, culture, and expectations first. Salary discussions can come later in the process.
Don't Make Assumptions
Avoid making assumptions about the role or company. Ask questions to understand their specific approach and expectations.
Don't Ignore Their Time
Be mindful of time constraints and don't monopolize the conversation. Ask concise questions that can be answered efficiently.