You might be asked to do your interview on the phone, or through a video call. It’s useful to know how these work.
What is a phone and video interview?
This is when an employer asks you to do the interview either over the phone or through a video call.
A video call usually happens on Teams, Zoom, Skype or Facetime or any other platform the employer may use.
How does a phone and video interview work?
There is usually two main ways these can happen:
Pre-recorded questions. The employer will give you the questions before the interview. You will record yourself answering these over the phone or on a video
Live questions. This is like a face-to-face interview where an employer asks you a question and you answer
You should prepare for a phone and video interview in a similar way to a face-to-face interview. Because you will be using the phone or video you will need to think about other things too.
Things to think about if your interview will be on the phone or video.
You should:
Make sure you are in a quiet place. You need to be able to concentrate on the phone or video call
Write some notes about what you want to say. For example, write down a list of your skills to remind you
Make sure you know the time you need to call the employer or when the employer will call you. You will need to know their name and phone number if you have a phone interview. Make sure you have the link to join the video call if you have a video interview. The employer will send you this link
Make sure your mobile phone battery is full and you have enough credit if you're using it for a phone interview. Make sure your computer is charged and that you have internet access if you're doing a video call
Write a list of questions you want to ask the employer
On a video call, try and sit still. This will show the employer that you are calm
On a video call make eye contact with the employer. Look into the camera on the computer
At the end of the interview you should:
- Thank the employer for their time
- For a phone interview, make sure you hang up on the call before you start talking to others
- For a video call interview, leave the interview link
Top Tips
Here are our top tips to help you get ready for a phone and video interview:
- Dress smartly. You will feel confident when you are smartly dressed whether or not the employer can see you
- Listen carefully to what the employer is saying
- Try and smile when you speak. This will make you feel and sound positive
- Have a glass of water near you. This will help you if your mouth gets dry
You might also like
Take a look at some of our top tips to help you prepare for an interview
Take a look at our top tips to help you on the day of your interview
Take a look at some example interview questions