How To Answer Phone Call Asking To Schedule An Interview With You

how to respond to an interview request

Nothing beats the feeling of getting an interview invitation, but don't rush to answer simply yet.

You need to brand sure yous respond correctly with clear availability to secure the interview.

Then in this article, I'm going to walk you through how to answer to an interview asking from a recruiter or hiring manager with multiple sample emails you lot tin utilise right away.

I'll besides share the top mistakes you need to avoid, so make sure to read until the terminate.

How to Reply to an Interview Invitation with Availability

The best fashion to answer to an interview request is to give thanks the employer, ostend your interest in having an interview, and and so share your specific availability.

Then, terminate the email by telling them that you look forward to speaking.

Also, if yous're replying to a phone interview request, and then provide the best phone number for them to reach you.

If they invited you to a video interview instead of a phone interview, then ask which video platform they plan on using (if they didn't already specify). That way, you can get familiar and prepare. If information technology's Skype, y'all can provide your ID. If it'south going to exist a Zoom interview, they'll prepare up a meeting and provide a link.

Annotation that if you're chore searching while unemployed and are available at practically whatever fourth dimension, it tin can look meliorate to provide a couple of specific timeslots.

For example, if your schedule is wide open, you could reply to the employer with this availability:

Tuesday – Wednesday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern Time

Th – Fri, 8:00 am – iii:00 pm Eastern Time

I'm not suggesting that you lot make it overly complicated when responding to an interview request. You desire to get in easy for the employer to schedule your interview when you lot answer to an interview asking.

I'grand but suggesting that information technology may non look bully to say, "I'm free all week. Just pick a time."

As an optional footstep, I also similar to add together a line that says, "If these days and times don't work, please let me know and I'll shift my schedule to discover another time."

This is how you accept an interview professionally.

Also, make certain to specify the time zone when you answer with your availability to interview, just like in the examples above.

If you don't specify the time zone, the interview date and time tin can get mixed upwards, which could slow the interview process. Even if you're interviewing for a local job, if the company has offices elsewhere, you might be having a phone interview with someone in a different time zone.

I'll share full examples of how to write an e-mail to reply with interview availability adjacent, so don't worry if y'all still aren't certain how to write a full interview invitation electronic mail response.

How to Answer to an Interview Asking: Email Samples

Email Sample 1: Responding to Take a Phone Interview Request

If yous've practical for a chore and the hiring manager or 60 minutes department has responded to your job application and invited you for a phone interview, here'due south a sample template you can use to answer.

Hello Proper noun,

Thanks for getting back to me. I'd beloved to accept a phone interview and larn more well-nigh the position and what y'all're looking for.

Hither is my availability this week:

Tuesday – Wednesday, 11:00 am – five:00 pm Eastern Time

Thursday – Friday, eight:00 am – iii:00 pm Eastern Time

The all-time number to reach me: 555-182-5872

If none of these times work, please allow me know and I'll be happy to come up up with another options, too. I look forward to speaking with you.

Also, if you're able to tell me who will be calling, that'd be a big help. I always like to research and prepare ahead of time!

Best regards,
Your Proper noun

This is a great way of responding to an interview request because you're avoiding dorsum-and-forth emails for the scheduling, and you're also finding out the person you'll be talking to so you tin ready ahead of time!

Email Sample two: Responding to Take a Video Interview Request

Hello Proper noun,

Cheers so much for getting back to me. I'd dearest to have a video interview and larn more about the position and what yous're looking for.

Do yous mind telling me which video platform nosotros'll be using, just so I can prepare?

Here is my availability for a video interview this week:

Tuesday – Wednesday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern Time

Thursday – Fri 8:00 am – 3:00 pm Eastern Time

If none of these times work, please allow me know and I'll be happy to come up with some other options, too. I look frontward to speaking with you.

Best regards,
Your Proper name

Email Sample three: Accepting a Recruiter's Invitation to Talk

If y'all're contacted by a recruiter who you've never spoken with, then you lot tin use the sample email to answer and express interest. Just answer to the same email address that they contacted you from.

Hello NAME,

Give thanks you for contacting me about this role. It sounds interesting. I'd love to hear more than nearly the position.

Here is my availability to talk on the telephone this week:

Mon – Thursday, vii:00 am – 2:00 pm Central Time.

The all-time number to reach me: 555-281-6872

Thanks, and I look forward to talking with you lot.

All-time regards,
Your name

As mentioned earlier, include multiple days/times in terms of availability. And if they don't already accept your contact info, then include that, besides.

Likewise, make sure y'all accept a professional-sounding voicemail recording! Y'all don't want employers and recruiters calling y'all and hearing an unprofessional voicemail that yous recorded when you were in high school and forgot about!

Email Sample 4: Responding to and Accepting a Face-to-face Interview Request

Side by side, if you've been invited to encounter in person, you can use this template to ready a day and finalize everything!

Hello Proper noun,

Thanks for getting back to me. I'd love to come in and have the interview. Is this a total-day interview? Or how many hours should I set aside?

I'thousand available Mon – Thursday, 7:00 am – 2:00 pm Fundamental Time.

Cheers, and I wait forrard to hearing from yous.

Best regards,
Your name

This is a bones construction for responding to the company, but you can also add other details/questions equally needed. For example, if you want to inquire for the names of the people you lot'll exist meeting with, or the number of people you'll be coming together, that's a good idea. If you need help finding the company location for a contiguous interview, y'all can ask if they have instructions for arriving, too.

However, I like to get the scheduling sorted out start, and then ask other questions. That's why I kept the e-mail template in a higher place dead-simple. Have it one footstep at a time, and you lot'll avoid confusion and complicated emails.

So I'd recommend using the sample email above, and and then ask further questions once a day and time is set!

How to Confirm an Interview by Email After information technology's Scheduled

Finally, if you have an interview scheduled and just want to confirm the time or make sure that it'south yet happening, you tin apply the following template (send information technology to the aforementioned email address yous've been communicating back-and-along with for prior scheduling):

Hello Proper noun,

I just wanted to confirm that we're still having the interview on ___ (twenty-four hour period) at ___ (time).

Thank you, and I look forward to talking with you!

Best regards,
Your name

How to Turn down an Interview Invitation

If you're not interested in having an interview, you can merely send a brief e-mail stating that you're no longer bachelor or non interested in this particular opportunity.

Sample e-mail to pass up an interview asking/invitation:

Howdy NAME,

Thanks for getting dorsum to me. I appreciate the invitation to interview. Unfortunately, I'm no longer available and will need to decline. Best of luck in filling the role, and if I think of anyone who might be a good fit, I'll let them know about it.

Best regards,
Your Name

Yous tin also offer to stay continued in the futurity if you lot'd similar (if it's a recruiter or hiring managing director you think yous'll desire to speak with down the road).

And if y'all'd like to offering a reason for declining, that's fine. But y'all're not obligated. If you feel like telling them that information technology'southward because yous accepted another position, or the chore isn't quite what yous're looking for anymore, etc., then get ahead.

As seen in the email template to a higher place, you can also offering to refer a friend or colleague for the opportunity if yous know someone who is qualified.

How to Change your Scheduled Interview Time

If you already accepted an interview invitation but then discover a scheduling conflict and need to asking a change, don't panic. Here's what to practice:

Detect the latest interview confirmation email and respond promptly by apologizing, explaining the situation, and asking politely if it'southward at all possible to reschedule.

Provide new times/dates of your availability to interview, too.

Hiring managers understand that you accept other obligations autonomously from the job search and hiring procedure, and as long equally yous're polite and apologetic, they should be able to reschedule your interview.

You're unlikely to lose the interview opportunity if yous are polite and propose a few options of when you tin interview next.

Note that your message may be frowned upon past a potential employer if information technology's extremely last-minute. For example, if your interview is tomorrow morning and you lot email the visitor at xi pm the dark before, so that's non ideal.

Still, emergencies arise, and your best shot at making a good impression if you must reschedule an interview invitation is to follow the tips above.

Email Subject Line when Responding to an Interview Invitation

Whatsoever fourth dimension you receive an interview request/invitation, simply go along the subject line that the employer used and press "reply" to respond.

The employer'southward line volition often include important details similar the task and maybe company proper noun, and you don't want to remove that info.

This will help employers speedily place your reply and see your availability quickly.

Questions to Inquire When Responding to Interview Requests

Next, here are a couple of questions to consider asking in your email or message when using the templates above. Simply put your questions at the end if you're unsure of whatsoever of these topics:

If you lot're unsure of the format of the interview for the task (phone, video, in-person, etc.), ask this when you reply.

If you don't know who you'll be speaking to or meeting with, check this every bit well. Don't worry – the templates I'thou going to share coming upward in the next section will help with this.

And if you lot're non sure of the exact opportunity you're being considered for, ask this as well. The easiest way to do this is to but ask for a copy of the job clarification. Include this line in your reply: "Is information technology possible for you to send me a copy of the job description alee of time? I always like to inquiry and ready."

Mistakes to Avoid When Y'all Reply to Have an Interview

If you read the tips higher up, yous should know how to answer to an interview asking to get an interview quickly and make a great impression at the aforementioned time.

However, there are some Large mistakes you need to avoid while doing this, and so I want to make certain you know those, as well…

Offset, don't permit your interview invitation sit for too long. Y'all should try to respond within 24-48 hours if possible. You don't need to be checking email constantly, merely don't get out the company waiting for a week, either.

Also, don't respond without taking the time to signal at least 1 day or time that would piece of work for an interview. This is a groovy opportunity to demonstrate that you accept initiative and are a great communicator. So I'd recommend providing multiple days/times to help them schedule the interview.

Next, e'er proofread your email! Having a typo or fault in your electronic mail probably won't cost you the interview (unless information technology's a Actually bad error), simply it does brand a poor impression.

So always cheque your email for mistakes before sending it! Proofread from peak-to-lesser, and lesser-to-top. That's a skillful trick that will help yous grab more errors!

And finally – the biggest mistake of all – going into the interview without preparing! It takes a lot of effort to find a good position to apply to, submit your resume and paperwork, schedule an interview, etc. Correct?

So don't throw abroad your hard work and waste product the opportunity by letting other job seekers out-set yous! In the next section, I'll share my best tips and resources and then y'all tin can beat the competition!

Interview Scheduling Changes Happen… Don't Panic

It's not necessarily a bad sign if the visitor changes the timing of their invitation to interview. Hiring managers and recruiters have busy schedules and sometimes mini-emergencies happen.

Then if they practice request a change, just practise your best to find a new time that'll work.

However, don't be agape to say what works for YOU, besides. It's completely fine to say, "Thanks for letting me know about the scheduling conflict today. That's no problem. Unfortunately, the new time you suggested for Mon won't work for me. Could nosotros do something from 3 pm – 5 pm Monday, or 12 pm – 5 pm Tuesday?" If a certain day or fourth dimension doesn't piece of work for you, don't be agape to say so.

After Scheduling Your Interview: Get Ready to Impress

After you've gear up a time to go along your interview, here are steps to help yous gear up:

First, research the company.

Practice the common questions that employers ask, also.

Too, work on your body linguistic communication. It's not just most what you lot say in the interview; it's about how you look and audio while saying it. This can prepare you apart from other job seekers!

You can also apply the time before the interview to ask any further questions you lot have – well-nigh finding the company's office, who you'll exist talking to (recruiter or hiring managing director, etc.)

And finally… Monitor your email address in the days/hours leading upwardly to the interview in instance they contact you about whatsoever changes.