Save time interviewing inappropriate job seekers by asking these questions over the phone.
You will be surprised at what you will find:

What is your current situation?
This gives the candidate a chance to tell you about their current working situation. It will also give you information on their availability and will give you a chance to assess their communications skills.

Why are you applying for this job?
By asking this question you will be able to gauge the level of interest the candidate has in the position. This also gives the candidate a chance to sell themselves and why they want the position.

How many years’ experience in {insert skill} have you got?
What is an example of signature achievement {insert skill} that you have achieved and how did you achieve this?
This gives you in detail the experience the candidate has, it will allow you to assess whether their experience will match the skills you need in the position you need to fill.

Why do you want to leave your current job or why did you leave your last job?
Obviously this question is to find out why a person is leaving or left their current position. It will give you an idea of whether the candidate is running away from their old position or if they actually want to better use their skills.

Let me tell you about the job and what we are looking for… 
This give you the opportunity to expand on the qualifications and skills you are looking for. It also gives you the chance to talk about the company culture and what the office is like to work in. This will give the candidate some real insight into whether this is the role for them or not.

Is this the type of job that interests you?
This question lets the candidate confirm that this is the job they want but also gives them the option to back out if what you have said about job does not appeal to them.

What did you enjoy most about your previous role?
Asking the candidate about their previous role gives insight into what the candidate enjoyed about their past job. It will also help you assess how they work and if they will fit in with the team you already have in place.

Do you have any other jobs under consideration?
This will give you an idea if there is another position this candidate has going besides yours. This way if you decide to give them the job and they decline you will be prepared for this instance.

By interviewing your candidates over the phone this will greatly shorten you list of candidates you invite for in person interviews. Allowing you to spend more time on other work but also giving you a better list of potential candidates who are suitable for the position you have available.