Phone Interview

A Phone Interview is a technique that is sometimes used by a hiring manager, or a human resources person, to screen potential job applicants.  Since the interview is held over the telephone, it is less formal, and stressful, than traditional face-to-face interviews.

The advantage of a phone interview is that it allows the hiring manager to be more efficient, and reach a broader range of applicants than otherwise possible.  Hiring managers often use the phone interview to clarify questions they might have about a job applicant's work history or the objectives appearing on the applicant's resume or cover letter.

Getting a phone interview is a positive sign, since it usually means the applicant has passed the initial resume screening process.  If the hiring manager, or human resources person, is pleased with the applicant's responses over the phone, they will normally arrange for a follow up interview during that same call.