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Phone Interview Tips - #35: The One Question You Should Ask

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Do you know the most important question you should ask in phone interviews? Hopefully, you already know that it’s important that you should ask questions in your telephone interview. But you might not know that one question in particular can ensure a good interview or even turn the tide of a bad interview.

What’s the question?

The question is: What does your ideal candidate look like? What’s on their wish list of skills and qualifications of someone in this role? If a person with those qualities walked through the door now, they’d be drooling and trying to hire them on the spot.

Why should you ask about their ideal candidate? Chances are…you’re not that person. But chances also are…that person isn’t going to come walking through the door, either. It’s an ideal. So what’s the point of asking about it? It’s because their answer tells you what they really care about in a candidate. It’s like saying, “What would you really like to hear from me in this interview? What can I say to you that will get me this job?” That is POWERFUL information.

When should you ask this question? Ask it fairly early in the interview, before you start to get too deep in talking about yourself.

Does it have to be those exact words? No. Use whatever words are comfortable for you: Tell me about your ideal candidate. If you had a checklist for a perfect candidate, what would be on it? What are the qualities of someone who would be perfect in this role? This is a question that should feel like a natural part of your conversation, so ask it however it works for you.

Do you really have to ask this? Yes. Can’t you just go by what the job description says? Nope. It’s entirely possible that someone besides the person interviewing you wrote the description—so maybe it’s not entirely accurate. It’s just too much of a gamble to take for this important conversation.

What do you do with this information? You use it to help tailor your answers to their interview questions.

If they ask about your proudest accomplishment, you can choose one that speaks to their wish list. You don’t want to talk about something that they won’t care about hearing.

If they ask why you think you’d be a good fit, then you can talk about the skills that match up with what they told you.

Every time they ask you a question, you say something that answers that wish list as much as you can. Delivering these types of super-targeted answers help you CRUSH the interview. It’s being strategic and smart in how you approach the entire process. It will help push you along to getting the face-to-face interview.

Phone Interview Tips - List

Tips 1- 37 Click to expand

Phone Interview - Tip 1 -- Check Your Voicemail Greeting
Phone Interview - Tip 2 -- The Best Time to Set Up Your Call
Phone Interview - Tip 3 -- Where’s the Best Place for a Phone Interview?
Phone Interview - Tip 4 -- How To Keep Your Focus
Phone Interview - Tip 5 -- How to Build Your Confidence
Phone Interview - Tip 6 -- How to Project Enthusiasm
Phone Interview - Tip 7 -- Use Cheat Sheets
Phone Interview - Tip 8 -- Research the Interviewer
Phone Interview - Tip 9 -- Research the Company
Phone Interview - Tip 10 -- Prepare Answers to Common Phone Interview Questions
Phone Interview - Tip 11 -- Practice Your Phone Interview
Phone Interview - Tip 12 -- How to Hit Your Phone Interview Goals
Phone Interview - Tip 13 -- The Best Phone for Your Phone Interview
Phone Interview - Tip 14 -- Your Phone Interview Voice
Phone Interview - Tip 15 -- How to Give the Interviewer What They’re Looking For
Phone Interview - Tip 16 -- How to Project the Right Image Over the Phone
Phone Interview - Tip 17 -- Help Them Qualify You for the Face-to-Face Interview
Phone Interview - Tip 18 -- Speak the Right Body Language
Phone Interview - Tip 19 -- Secret Tricks to Phone Interview Success
Phone Interview - Tip 20 -- Ask Questions
Phone Interview - Tip 21 -- How to Listen Well
Phone Interview - Tip 22 -- Don’t Talk Too Much
Phone Interview - Tip 23 -- Watch Your Language
Phone Interview - Tip 24 -- Phone Interview Etiquette
Phone Interview - Tip 25 -- Getting the Face-to-Face Interview
Phone Interview - Tip 26 -- How and When to Follow Up
Phone Interview - Tip 27 -- Biggest Phone Interview Mistakes
Phone Interview - Tip 28 -- Small Phone Interview Mistakes That Cause Big Problems
Phone Interview - Tip 29 -- Things You Should Never Say
Phone Interview - Tip 30 -- Make a Phone Interview Checklist
Phone Interview - Tip 31 -- Relax, Be Calm, and Make a Good Impression
Phone Interview - Tip 32 -- Good Telephone Communication Tips
Phone Interview - Tip 33 -- Typical Phone Interview Questions
Phone Interview - Tip 34 -- Thank You Notes
Phone Interview - Tip 35 -- The One Question You Should Ask
Phone Interview - Tip 36 -- How to Keep Them From Screening You Out
Phone Interview - Tip 37 -- How to Prepare for a Phone Interview

Can I Interest You In A Bribe?

This information is so important I'm willing to 'bribe' you in order to get you to attend. Of course it's an ethical bribe. In fact I am willing to bribe you three times. You NEED to get this information if you are in a job search.