Job Articles - Phone Interviewing Do's and Don'ts

By Maureen Crawford Hentz
HR Consultant

Here are the keys to successful phone interviewing. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success in this important phase of job hunting.

Do give accurate and detailed contact information in your cover letter so your interviewers can easily connect with you.
When in job hunting mode, don't have a disproportionately silly or long greeting on your answering machine or voicemail.
Do ensure that household members understand the importance of phone messages in your job search.
Do know what job you are interviewing for.
Do practice, if possible. Have a friend call you to do a mock phone interview so you get the feel of being interviewed over the phone.
When being interviewed by phone, do make sure you are in a place where you can read notes, take notes, and concentrate.
If you cannot devote enough time to a phone interview, do suggest a specific alternate time to the recruiter. It's often best to be the one who calls back so you can be mentally prepared.
Do consider using a phone interview log.
Do consider keeping some note cards or an outline in front of you to remind yourself of key points you want to cover with the interviewer. You don't want your responses to sound scripted, but you don't want to fumble for important points either.
Do also have your resume in front of you so you can remember highlights of your experience and accomplishments.
Do ensure that you can hear and are being clearly heard.
Do consider standing when being interviewed on the phone. Some experts say you'll sound more professional than if you're slouching in an easy chair.
Do consider dressing nicely for the phone interview. It may sound silly since the interviewer can't see you, but you really will project a more professional image if you're dressed for the part instead of wearing, for example, a ratty bathrobe.
Don't feel you have to fill in the silences. If you've completed a response, but the interviewer hasn't asked his or her next question, don't start babbling just to fill in airtime. Instead, ask a question of your own related to your last response.
Do create a strong finish to your phone interview with thoughtful questions.
Don't panic if you have special needs. If you are hearing-impaired, for example, phone interviews are still possible.
Don't snuffle, sneeze or cough. If you can't avoid these behaviors, say "excuse me."
Don't chew gum or food, or drink anything noisy.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job Hunting Terms.

Copyright and ownership by Quintessential Careers. The original article can be found www.quintcareers.com. Reprinted with permission.

QuintZine regular contributor Maureen Crawford Hentz, an independent career and HR consultant, has been working with career seekers for nine years, and has master's degree in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University.

A popular conference lecturer, she specializes in large and small specially designed workshops for professional organizations, students and environmental groups. Her most popular career workshops address topics including: Non-Verbal Techniques To Use During an Interview; Powerful Resumes; and Interviewing Etiquette You've Never Even Thought About. She has a particular interest in job searching techniques for differently abled candidates, new grads, and career changers.

Proving that you never have to settle for just one career, in addition to her consulting work, Maureen is also the director of volunteer programs and Internships at the New England Aquarium, Boston and an instructor of American culture at Showa Boston Institute for Language and Culture.

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Revised: 2008-05-29T01:30:58-0700