Not sure what to ask on the phone? Make the most of your 20 minutes. Ensure your shortlist is the cream of the talent on offer!

Questions re – Resume

• Any questions about gaps in jobs and dates
• Direct questions about jobs and responsibilities
• What kind of experience do you have? (Seeks depth rather than amount)
• What aspects of your work do you consider most crucial? (Shows grasp of functional responsibilities; may highlight how they prefer to spend time at work. Be alert here for a potential mismatch. Match the answers to your job description.)
• Of all the work you have done, where have you been most successful? (Will demonstrate their ability to contribute in those most crucial areas or will display an imbalance of efforts in less important areas)

Knock-out questions – firm grasp of what it takes to do the job. The big picture.

• What would you say are the broad responsibilities of a…e.g. Project Manager?
• What would you say are the major personal traits/qualities this job demands? (Have already noted the traits necessary to be successful in this position, so an answer that’s way off base should ring warning bells).
• Describe to me how you see this job relating to the overall goals of our company. (Should be alert to how his individual efforts fit into the big picture, his concern for its well-being and homework done re the organisation).

Likes and dislikes – a sharp effective focus, for unmasking mismatches during telephone interviews for their knock-out qualities.

• What aspects of your current job do you like best? (Task/goal-oriented; busy work; or getting job done)
• What kind of things bother you most about your job? (Compare answer honestly with the job’s realities)
• What would you change about your current job? (Should mesh with your ‘must-haves’; if not, reject now to avoid job distraction later)

Money – Important to address this on the phone!

• In your professional opinion, how much do you think a job like this should pay?
• How much money are you making? (Looking for salary without fringes.)
• How much money do you want – bottom line – what’s your bottom dollar ?

Ending
What else should I know about your qualifications?