Preparation (The Day Before)

  1. 1

    Research the company and role

    Read the company’s About page, recent news, and the specific job description carefully. Understand what the role actually involves and what problems it solves for the company. Prepare 1–2 specific, genuine reasons why you want this particular role at this particular company. Generic answers (“I love your great company culture”) are immediately identifiable and weak.

  2. 2

    Prepare answers to common questions

    Always prepare for: Tell me about yourself (2-minute professional summary). Why this role/company? What are your key strengths relevant to this role? What is your biggest weakness? (Be honest; show self-awareness and what you are doing about it.) A time you overcame a challenge. Where do you see yourself in 3–5 years? Your salary expectations (research market rates on Seek, LinkedIn Salary).

  3. 3

    Prepare notes to have in front of you

    The phone format means you can have notes — use this advantage. Prepare a one-page cheat sheet with: key achievements from your CV, the 3–4 most relevant things about your background for this role, company facts, questions to ask, and your salary range. Having these visible prevents going blank under pressure.

  4. 4

    Prepare 3–5 questions to ask them

    You will always be asked if you have questions. Asking good questions demonstrates genuine interest and preparation. Strong questions: What does success look like in the first 3 months? What are the biggest challenges someone in this role typically faces? How would you describe the team culture? What does progression look like from this role? Avoid asking about salary or benefits in the first interview unless they bring it up.

On the Day

  1. 5

    Find a quiet space with good reception

    Inform household members you are on a call. Close windows. A bad connection or background noise is distracting and unprofessional. Test your signal at the location beforehand. Have the interviewer’s number saved so you can call back immediately if disconnected.

  2. 6

    Smile and speak slightly slower than normal

    Smiling genuinely changes the warmth in your voice — it is detectable even on the phone. Speak a little slower than you would in conversation — phone interviews require extra clarity. Pause before answering to collect your thoughts — brief pauses sound thoughtful, not hesitant.

The STAR method for behavioural questionsWhen asked “Tell me about a time when...”: Situation (brief context), Task (what you were responsible for), Action (what you specifically did), Result (the outcome). Keep the Situation and Task brief — spend most of the answer on Action and Result. Quantify results where possible (“reduced processing time by 30%”, “managed a team of 8”).

Frequently Asked Questions

Typically 20–45 minutes. A 15-minute call is usually a screening call to verify basic fit. A 45-minute call is a substantive interview. If the call runs longer than scheduled, that is a good sign — the interviewer is engaged. If it ends significantly early, that can indicate poor fit, though it may also simply mean the interviewer is pressed for time.
Yes — send a brief thank-you email within 24 hours. Thank the interviewer for their time, mention one specific thing from the conversation that reinforced your interest in the role, and reiterate your enthusiasm. Keep it to 3–4 sentences. This step is taken by few candidates and noticed by most interviewers. Ask the recruiter or HR contact at the end of the call what the next steps and timeline are so you know when to expect to hear back.