The phone interview is such a crucial part of the hiring phase because if you can’t make a good first impression over the phone, your chances of being invited for an in-person interview are slim to none. Below are 7 tips to keep in mind for successful phone interviews.

1. Choose a quiet environment. Make sure you take the call in a place where you will not be distracted and where there are no background noises such as television, radio, barking dogs, crying children, etc. For example, if you’re surprised by a call on your cell phone while you’re at the grocery store, ask the person if you can call them back or put them on hold until you can find a quiet, secluded place to talk. Better yet, ask the caller if she can schedule the interview for a time convenient for both of you, preferably when she can be away from the commotion and take notes.

2. Prepare as you would for an in-person interview. You might be the type who can answer questions on the fly, and maybe know the job description pretty well by heart. Still, it’s best to prepare ahead of time and have your notes, job description, resume, and any other reference materials you need handy. Most phone interviews are efficient screening calls made by recruiters. They want to know if you meet the criteria in the job description and if your salary is in the ballpark. Experienced recruiters can usually determine this fairly quickly. However, you may find that some recruiters prefer to have a more in-depth conversation with you, and sometimes the hiring manager does the phone interview. Just in case, you should prepare as you would for a full in-person interview.

3. Be prepared to answer screening questions. The typical purpose of the telephone interview is to screen out candidates. The interviewer is looking for red flags. He or she is trying to narrow down the field of candidates and select the best matches to invite for a face-to-face interview. You will receive questions like:

• Why are you looking for a new position? (Respond positively no matter how unhappy you are with your situation!)
• Show me your background. Why did you leave here, why did you leave there…? (Always put a positive spin on his reason for leaving. Talk about what he did in his previous experience in relation to the position in question.)
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What was your greatest achievement during your last position?
• What specific projects have you worked on?
• Why are you interested in our position/company?

4. Engage with good questions. First of all, definitely ask questions. However, don’t ask what might appear to be “it’s all about me” questions. Also, at this stage, it’s best for the interviewer to mention money or benefits. These are topics that you may need to address when asked about them during a phone interview, but they are best left until later and/or later in the hiring process if possible. Your only goal at this point should be to convince the interviewer that your skills and experience are a good fit for their needs. Ask the interviewer how success is defined for this position. Ask the interviewer what the most important elements of the job description are. Ask the interviewer why the position is open. Those are examples of good questions for a phone interview. And, of course, listen carefully to their answers, taking notes if you can.

5. Speak clearly. This may be obvious advice, but it’s a very important thing to remember in phone interviews because it’s through your words and tone of voice that you have a chance to make a big impression. Keep the mouthpiece close to your mouth. Do not chew gum, eat, drink or smoke. Sounds are amplified through the phone: sounds of slapping, chewing, swallowing, and inhaling/exhaling are sure to be picked up. Also, if your mouth is busy with that other activity, you won’t be as consistent as you should be when you need to speak.

6. Use the name of your interviewer. Write down the interviewer’s name when you first hear it and use it from time to time during the conversation. People like the sound of their own name, and this simple tip will go a long way in establishing rapport. However, be careful not to overdo it. The key word here is “occasionally”. Using a person’s name every time they respond can sound artificial and unnatural.

7. Smile. Let the interviewer “hear the smile” in your voice. Some experts say that you should prop up a mirror where you are doing the interview so that you can observe yourself and therefore remind yourself to smile. If you’d rather not do that, at least have a sticky note with the word “smile” written on it and put it where you’ll see it during the call. Telephone interviews deprive you of the opportunity to communicate your enthusiasm and interest through your facial expressions and eye contact. Your voice is the only way you have to project positive energy and convey how you feel. You will naturally feel more excited when you smile and your voice will definitely reflect your smile.