Most hiring processes now start on the phone or a video call. The questions are the same as in person, but the setup, the pacing and the small signals all change, and candidates lose avoidable points on every one of them.
The phone screen
Usually a recruiter, 20 to 30 minutes, checking that the basics line up before a manager spends time on you.
Expect: why you are looking, what you do now, salary expectations, notice period, work authorization, and a quick walk through your background.
- Take the call somewhere quiet, with your resume and the job posting in front of you.
- Keep a researched salary range ready, as in our guide to negotiating salary.
- Have two questions prepared: about the role’s priorities and the process timeline.
- Stand up. It genuinely improves how you sound.
- Ask what the next step is before you hang up.
Setting up a video interview
Technology
- Test the actual platform beforehand, not a different one. Install updates early.
- Use headphones with a microphone; laptop speakers cause echo.
- Wire your connection if you can, or sit close to the router. Ask others at home to stay off streaming.
- Have a phone number backup agreed, in case the call drops.
Picture
- Light your face from the front, with a window or lamp ahead of you, never behind.
- Camera at eye level, so you are not looking down at the lens. Books under a laptop work fine.
- Frame yourself from mid-chest up, with a little space above your head.
- A tidy, plain background. Blur only if the room cannot be tidied; it softens your outline too.
- Dress as you would in person.
Sound
- Quiet room, door closed, notifications off on every device.
- Close other applications, which also helps the connection.
During the call
- Look at the camera when you speak and at the screen when they do. It reads as eye contact.
- Pause half a second before answering, to allow for lag and to avoid talking over each other.
- Nod and react visibly; small signals that are obvious in a room disappear on video.
- Keep notes just beside the camera, in large type. Glancing at a second screen is visible.
- If the connection breaks, say “I lost the last few seconds, could you repeat that?” and carry on. It happens constantly and nobody minds.
Notes, and the honesty line
Having your questions, a few numbers and your stories in front of you is normal and expected on a video call. Reading full answers from a script is obvious, and using an AI assistant to generate answers during a live interview is treated as dishonest by most employers. Prepare properly instead, with our interview preparation checklist and our guide on talking about AI skills.
One-way recorded interviews
Some employers ask you to record answers with no interviewer present.
- Do a practice recording first to check sound and lighting.
- Read the instructions for how many attempts you get and how long you have to think.
- Speak slightly more slowly than feels natural, and finish each answer cleanly.
- Smile at the start. Recorded answers feel flat without it.
After the call
Send a short thank-you note within a day, referring to something specific from the conversation, as described in our guide to following up after an interview. Then write down the questions you were asked while they are fresh; the next interview will use half of them.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use a virtual background?
Prefer a real, tidy background. Virtual backgrounds distort edges and can distract. If you must use one, keep it plain.
What if my home is noisy?
Book a library study room, use an office you have access to, or tell the interviewer at the start: “There’s building work next door, so I’ll mute between answers.” Naming it removes the distraction.
Are phone interviews less important?
No. They decide whether you reach the manager. Treat them with the same preparation as the main interview, and avoid the traps in our list of interview mistakes.
