Interview call checklist: before, during and after
Priya's call was at 11. At 10:55 she was hunting for a charger. At 10:58 she found the job post in her email. At 11:02 the recruiter asked her salary expectations, and she said "um".
She was qualified. She just wasn't ready. A checklist fixes that, and it takes less than an hour in total.
What should you do the day before?
Prepare what you'll say, then say it out loud.
- Three lines about you: who you are, your best result with a number, why this role.
- A salary range you've researched, as one sentence you've said out loud. See the salary guide.
- One specific fact about the company: a launch, a customer, a recent hire.
- One sentence for anything awkward: a gap, a short job, a layoff.
- Two questions to ask at the end.
- Your logistics: notice period, right to work, remote preference.
- One practice round out loud of "Tell me about yourself".
What should you do an hour before?
Set up the room so nothing can surprise you.
- Quiet room, door closed, people told not to disturb you.
- Phone charged above 50%, notifications off.
- Signal checked in that exact spot.
- Notes on paper: your three lines, salary sentence, questions.
- Water within reach.
- The job post and your resume open or printed.
- For video: camera at eye level, light in front of you, a plain background. More in phone vs video interviews.
What should you do in the last five minutes?
- Use the bathroom.
- Read your three lines once.
- Stand up and say your opening line out loud.
- Sit down, breathe slowly, and wait.
Your opening, when they call:
"Hi, this is Priya. Thanks for calling."
What should you remember during the call?
- Answers of 45 to 90 seconds, then stop.
- "Give me a second to think" is fine when you need it.
- Salary as a range, not "I'm flexible".
- Nothing negative about your current employer.
- Ask your two questions.
- Ask about next steps before you hang up:
"What are the next steps, and when should I expect to hear back?"
What should you do right after?
Write things down while you still remember them. Ten minutes now saves an hour of guessing later, and makes the next round easier.
- What they asked, and anything you'd answer differently.
- A better one-line answer for anything you fumbled.
- Names of everyone on the call.
- The next step and the date they gave you.
- A short thank-you email within 24 hours. Here's what to write.
What should you avoid?
- Preparing everything the morning of. You'll rush the bit that matters most: saying it out loud.
- Notes on the same screen as the video. Your eyes will give you away.
- Skipping the signal check. A dropped call is fixable, but it rattles you.
- Forgetting the next steps. Without a date, you won't know when to follow up.
Quick answers
What should I prepare for a phone interview?
Three lines about you, a salary range, one fact about the company, two questions to ask, and your notice period. Practise "Tell me about yourself" out loud once.
What do I need for a phone interview?
A quiet room, a charged phone with good signal, notes on paper, water, and the job post and your resume to hand.
How early should I prepare for an interview call?
Start the day before with what you'll say, then set up the room an hour before the call and be ready ten minutes early.
What should I do right after a phone interview?
Write down what they asked and the next steps, then send a short thank-you email within 24 hours.
Thanks for letting us know.