It’s good to talk! Telephone interview tips

2 minute read

Telephone interviews are almost always the first step in the selection process once a candidate has been short-listed by either the Recruitment Team or the Hiring Manager. They’re a great way to get to know you a little better and they’re used to decide who gets to go through to a full interview.

We’ll book you in for a telephone interview at a convenient time for you and they usually last up to half an hour – it depends on the role.

We asked our Recruiters what makes for the best telephone interviews and here’s what they told us:

  • What’s really important to any Recruiter is to hear that you remember applying for the role and you’ve looked up some information about AJ Bell. We like to hear that you know about our products or information about what it’s like working at AJ Bell – it shows you’ve done your research.
  • What’s also key is that you’ve read the job advert (or role profile, if available) and understood what knowledge, skills and experience are needed for the job. The Recruiter will ask you about those things on the call.
  • If it helps, carry out a mock telephone call with family or friends – give them your research, plan responses to answer their questions, and treat this practice as the real thing. You could even record yourself to hear what you sound like!

What would we recommend to help you get the most out of your telephone interview?

  • Take the call in the right location – this is really important. Noisy, public spaces make it difficult for both parties on the call. If you live with family or friends warn them in advance that you need some peace. Minimise background noise by closing windows and turning off televisions or radios. Put other devices on silent. If you’re on a mobile (which most people are) check the signal is good.
  • We can hear a smile – this might sound like a bit of joke, but it’s not! Smiling will help you to show enthusiasm. Standing up whilst on the call may also help you, but perhaps keep any pacing to a minimum!
  • Take it steady – we know that people are often nervous on phone interviews. Take a deep breath and pace yourself during the call. This is where practice can help you – your mock interviewer can let you know if you speak too quickly, for example.
  • Ask for clarification if you’re not sure what you were asked – just apologise and ask for the question to be repeated. We don’t mind!
  • Make notes – have a pen and paper handy for any information you may need to write down.
  • You can ask questions too – have a couple of questions ready – we like it when people ask about the company or the role.

If you need any reasonable adjustments for a telephone interview, or an alternative format, let your Recruiter know when you’re in contact with them.

Good luck and we look forward to speaking with you one day!