The use of phone interviews to screen job candidates has become the norm for most hiring managers. With so many more people working remotely, companies find it too expensive to pay for travel for onsite interviews, and the increasing use of mobile apps and web-enabled communication systems – phone interviews make perfect sense. The only problem is that far many recruiters don’t know how to conduct effective phone interviews, instead rushing through them and not getting a good impression of the candidates. This is somewhat new territory for some, and it can be tempting to conduct them too quickly in order to maximize time.

Instead of defeating the purpose of the phone interview, here are some quick phone interview tips for getting it right.

1. Dedicate uninterrupted time for phone interviews

Never try to multi-task while conducting your phone interviews with candidates. Activities like checking email, filling office paperwork, answering incoming calls or eating at your desk are not only rude to the candidate, but they can distract and take away from your ability to actually listen to what the candidate is saying. Schedule a dedicated 30 minutes for each candidate and stop trying to do other stuff at the same time.

2. Give the candidate an agenda for the interview

It may sound odd, but in order to get the most from the interview, a little preparation goes a long way. Provide the candidate with a brief outline of what you will be covering in the interview, and state the purpose of the interview. For example, you could let the candidate know you will be going over the job description and requirements to see if they may be a good fit for the job. Provide a copy of the job description and requirements, along with call-in information, conveniently in an email sent before the interview.

3. Consider the candidate experience

The phone interview may be the first impression that the candidate has of your company, outside of the corporate career website. Be sure to make this time a pleasant one, by introducing yourself and the company first, then asking the candidate to share a little about themselves. Talk about the positives of the job, the work environment and the benefits.

Here’s another phone interview tip: Respect the candidate’s time and work around their schedule (as they may have to take time out from another job or family).

4. Ask probing interview questions, but not too many

The phone interview is an initial screening of each candidate, and the expectation here is to ask a few probing questions to identify if the candidate is someone who deserves a face-to-face interview. Limit the questions to those concerning the candidate’s career goals, what skills and experience they have, and their interest in the company.

5. Listen for verbal queues and rapport

The challenge of a phone interview is that you cannot see the candidate to measure facial expressions and other body language. But, a skilled interviewer can listen for verbal queues like sighs, pauses, groaning and other things that people use to express themselves. Listen to see if you can tell if the candidate is smiling, laughing or trying to build rapport with you.

6. Follow up with each candidate

Even if you choose not to go forward with a candidate, be courteous and send a follow up email or letter to the candidate within 48 hours. If the candidate is someone you want to pursue, act swiftly and get the candidate committed to a personal interview immediately. Be sure to follow up with every candidate and treat this as a priority.

Use the above tips for better phone interviews, and do your best to perfect your skills as a recruitment professional.

Davis Staffing can help provide the best job candidates for your openings and with whatever challenges your company is experiencing. Contact our team of recruiters to work with one of the top temp agencies in Chicago today!