To save time and money these days it is becoming popular among employers to conduct phone interviews to cut down on the large number of applicants they receive. From these phone interviews employers decide which candidates make the cut for an in person interview, so, needless to say, the phone interview is extremely important.

It may seem simple enough to go through some key points in your head and snuggle up on the couch in your sweats for the phone interview but it is important you prepare and treat it like an in person interview. I’m not saying you need to wear a business suit to talk on the phone with this person but you need to be in the right state of mind to successfully complete the phone call. Career Alley posted three big pieces of advice in a current blog regarding the phone interview:

Prepare!

You used to be able to go into a phone interview expecting a few questions and nice ten minute chat, but nowadays, phone interviews can last between thirty minutes to an hour... The preparation here is very similar to what you would do before showing up to meet the recruiters in person. Likewise, you should also prepare your schedule. Make sure you have plenty of time before and after the time slot so you have flexibility to adjust to a change in schedule.

Set the Scene

A phone interview is a little different than an in-person interview because it lets you have a home-field advantage. You can do the interview when and wherever you’d like, within reason of course. This means that you can make yourself as comfortable and prepared as possible, which you wouldn’t be able to do in a meeting room. Try spreading out your notes, resume, and letter of application on your kitchen. By doing this, you can make sure you have all the necessary information within easy reach.

Observe Phone Etiquette

This may seem like common sense to you, but you’d be surprised how many horror stories are out there about poor phone interview etiquette. For example, don’t do an interview while you’re in the car or eating lunch. One thing to do is to answer the phone clearly and state your name. This will show the interviewer that you are expecting the scheduled call. It will also save him or her the hassle of asking to speak to you if all you had said was ‘Hello?’ when you picked up. And because you do not have visual clues to help you in following the conversation, don’t be afraid to ask for the interviewer to repeat a question. Similarly, refrain from speaking while the other person is speaking. And lastly, be aware of the circumstances that go along with having a phone call.  Try to establish a way of getting back in touch if the call drops. If you can remain calm and collected over the phone, think of the success you’ll have at the in-person interview. Good luck!

"old bakelit phone" courtesy aussiegall via Flickr Creative Commons