Five Easy Ways to Improve Your Performance in Telephone Interviews

Paying Attention to the Details Can Do a World of Good in These Tricky Calls

These days more and more hiring managers and human resources departments are doing initial interviews by telephone. That's great for companies trying to save time and money, but such encounters tend to be difficult for most candidates. Communication is more fragile, it's harder to build rapport, and there are far less sensory cues for you to work with.

For those reasons, you need every advantage you can give yourself in a telephone interview. Here are some great ways to stack the deck more in your favor.

Find a Quiet Place
Nothing sounds more unprofessional than screaming babies, barking dogs, or noisy cars in the background while you're on a phone interview. Set yourself up in a nice quiet location if the call is prescheduled. If it isn't, excuse yourself a moment while you close the door, switch phones, or make any other changes you need to. Taking this extra second will be well worth it.

Use the Good Phone
We've all had those phones that crackle, fade, or make odd noises. Don't use such lousy equipment for telephone interviews. If your phone suddenly starts going bad, excuse yourself a moment and switch to another one. Better yet, buy a new, high-quality phone before you even start your job search -- you'll be on the phone a lot no matter what. And if possible, avoid cell phones altogether for telephone interviews. You simply can't count on reception and clarity being good with most of them. If you must use a cell phone, go to a predetermined location where you know the reception is usually reliable.

Dress the Part
Yeah, this one sounds a little nuts, considering that the other person wouldn't have the slightest idea if you're buck naked. Or would they? Granted, they wouldn't consciously know. But the way you're dressed can have a huge effect on how you come across, even over the phone. By putting yourself in your best interviewing suit, you signal your brain that this is The Big One. You automatically become more assertive and confident. And that can make all the difference.