Questions to Ask Phone Screen
Essential questions to help you evaluate phone screening candidates, understand their qualifications, and determine if they're a good fit for the next stage of the interview process.
1What's your current role and what are your key responsibilities?
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What's your current role and what are your key responsibilities?
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Why this works
Reveals current position and helps you understand what the candidate is currently doing and what their main responsibilities are.
2What's your experience with the specific skills and technologies we're looking for?
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What's your experience with the specific skills and technologies we're looking for?
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Why this works
Shows relevant experience and helps you understand how the candidate's experience aligns with the specific requirements for the role.
3What's your motivation for wanting to leave your current position?
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What's your motivation for wanting to leave your current position?
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Why this works
Reveals career motivation and helps you understand why the candidate is looking for a new opportunity and what drives their career decisions.
4What's your understanding of our company and this role?
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What's your understanding of our company and this role?
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Why this works
Shows preparation and helps you understand how much research the candidate has done about your company and the specific role.
5What's your salary expectation and what are you currently earning?
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What's your salary expectation and what are you currently earning?
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Why this works
Reveals compensation alignment and helps you understand if the candidate's salary expectations align with your budget and current compensation.
6What's your availability and when could you start if selected?
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What's your availability and when could you start if selected?
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Why this works
Shows timing and helps you understand the candidate's availability and when they could start if they're selected for the role.
7What's your experience with remote work and what's your preferred work arrangement?
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What's your experience with remote work and what's your preferred work arrangement?
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Why this works
Reveals work preferences and helps you understand the candidate's experience with remote work and their preferred work arrangement.
8What's your biggest strength and how would it benefit our team?
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What's your biggest strength and how would it benefit our team?
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Why this works
Shows self-awareness and helps you understand what the candidate considers their biggest strength and how it would add value to your team.
9What's your biggest weakness and how are you working to improve it?
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What's your biggest weakness and how are you working to improve it?
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Why this works
Reveals self-awareness and helps you understand what the candidate considers their biggest weakness and how they're addressing it.
10What's your experience with the industry and what trends do you follow?
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What's your experience with the industry and what trends do you follow?
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Why this works
Shows industry knowledge and helps you understand the candidate's experience in the industry and their awareness of current trends.
11What's your experience with team collaboration and how do you work with others?
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What's your experience with team collaboration and how do you work with others?
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Why this works
Reveals collaboration skills and helps you understand how the candidate works with others and their approach to team collaboration.
12What's your experience with problem-solving and how do you approach challenges?
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What's your experience with problem-solving and how do you approach challenges?
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Why this works
Shows problem-solving approach and helps you understand how the candidate approaches problems and challenges in their work.
13What's your experience with learning new technologies and how do you stay current?
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What's your experience with learning new technologies and how do you stay current?
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Why this works
Reveals learning ability and helps you understand how the candidate approaches learning new technologies and staying current in their field.
14What's your experience with project management and how do you handle deadlines?
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What's your experience with project management and how do you handle deadlines?
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Why this works
Shows project management skills and helps you understand how the candidate approaches project management and deadline management.
15What's your experience with customer interaction and how do you handle difficult situations?
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What's your experience with customer interaction and how do you handle difficult situations?
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Why this works
Reveals customer service skills and helps you understand how the candidate handles customer interaction and difficult situations.
16What's your experience with leadership and how do you motivate others?
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What's your experience with leadership and how do you motivate others?
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Why this works
Shows leadership potential and helps you understand the candidate's experience with leadership and how they motivate others.
17What's your experience with data analysis and how do you use data in your work?
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What's your experience with data analysis and how do you use data in your work?
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Why this works
Reveals analytical skills and helps you understand how the candidate approaches data analysis and uses data in their work.
18What's your experience with communication and how do you present information?
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What's your experience with communication and how do you present information?
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Why this works
Shows communication skills and helps you understand how the candidate approaches communication and presenting information.
19What's your experience with quality control and how do you ensure accuracy?
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What's your experience with quality control and how do you ensure accuracy?
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Why this works
Reveals quality focus and helps you understand how the candidate approaches quality control and ensuring accuracy in their work.
20What questions do you have about our company and this role?
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What questions do you have about our company and this role?
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Why this works
Shows engagement and helps you understand what questions the candidate has about your company and the role, indicating their level of interest.
Best Practices for Phone Screening
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Focus on Key Qualifications
Ask questions that help you understand the candidate's key qualifications, experience, and how they align with the role requirements.
Assess Cultural Fit
Ask about motivation, work preferences, and values to understand if the candidate would be a good cultural fit for your organization.
Evaluate Communication Skills
Ask questions that help you assess the candidate's communication skills, clarity, and ability to articulate their thoughts effectively.
Question Sequences
The Qualifications Assessment Sequence
The Cultural Fit Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Focus Only on Technical Skills
While technical skills matter, focus on cultural fit, communication skills, and motivation. These are often more important for long-term success.
Don't Ignore the Motivation Questions
Ask about motivation and career goals. Understanding why someone wants to leave their current role is crucial for assessing fit.
Don't Skip the Communication Assessment
Ask questions that help you assess communication skills. Phone screening is often the first opportunity to evaluate how well someone communicates.