How to Succeed in a Phone Interview: Jones' Top Seven Phone Interview Tips
Interviewing for a new job can be a harrowing experience. Often times, the place where we stumble is in the initial phone interview. These types of interviews present their own set of challenges: communication is often hindered by the phone, and the subtle, nonverbal cues you utilize in everyday conversation are not there to guide your assessment of “how you are doing”.

That being said, a phone interview is not an impossible feat if you're willing to reanalyze the purpose of the interview itself, and focus your efforts on the correct result- taking it one step at a time, and keeping a positive attitude will both help you in the phone interview process tremendously. Here are our top seven Phone Interview tips.

1. Make sure you're on a clear connection- These days, it seems natural for an potential employer to call you (or vice versa) on your cell to initiate the phone interview. If this is the case, make absolutely sure that you're in a place with good reception! There is no excuse for a phone interview gone bad thanks to horrible reception and broken conversation. Remember, you want your experience to flow like it would in a normal face to face meeting, and you definitely do not want to be hassled by technical issues.
   
   
2. Don't forget the basics- Remember those basic rules about interviewing everyone expects you to follow in a traditional, face-to-face interview? If not, that's okay, we're here to help. Some of these pointers may seem so fundamental, to remind the job seeker of them is downright silly. But getting back to basics in the phone interview is something that will pay off greatly. When you're on the phone, don't smoke, chew gum, eat, or do anything to prevent your best phone voice from coming across. Remember to smile and annunciate. If you're sitting down, check your posture as the phone interview progresses. Better yet, stand up, it will help you speak clearer and give you the energy you need to finish the interview strong. Finally, be sure to smile when you talk. This conveys a sense of enthusiasm that cannot be duplicated in any other circumstance.
   
   
3. Put your resume in front of you- Be sure you have a copy of your resume handy. If you're literally on the same page as your interviewer, your speech patterns won't be peppered with the “ums” and “ohs” that convey one thing to the employer- not only is this person uncertain of themselves, they aren't confident. Confidence is something you want to cultivate in a phone interview environment.
   
   
4. Be Enthusiastic- Remember, the interviewer can't see your face. Make your enthusiasm strong. Try not to overdo it, but if you feel like you're stretching your enthusiasm a bit, you're probably on the right track.
   
   
5. Write Notes- Have a pad and pen in front of you. When your interviewer makes a point, or brings up something you're not clear about, jot it down. Nothing ruins a good phone interview like people stepping on each others sentences. This can be very frustrating for both parties involved, and it may just cost you the position you're trying to go for.
   
   
6. Ask Questions- One thing a hiring manager does not want to hear when they ask if you have any questions about the position or the company is total silence. Before the phone interview, make sure you brainstorm some questions about the company, the position, and the nature of the job. This is important: by no means are you to ask about the monetary compensation for the position! A rule of thumb is to keep the conversation focused on the nature of the work itself and the duties assigned. If the hiring manager asks you about compensation, assume that the topic of money is now fair game. If you truly have no questions (which is highly unlikely), try to ask your interviewer how they got in their position with the company. People like to talk about themselves.
   
   
7. Ask for the next step- This is the key to the phone interview. Remember when we told you to reassess the purpose of the phone interview? Trust us, you're not getting any job offers on the first phone meeting with a potential manager. This is a feeling (a.k.a. “weeding”) out process that has one purpose and one purpose alone- you're trying to get asked to come in for the second, face to face interview. One way to seal the deal is to come right out and ask it. From “What is the next step?” to “Where do we go from here?”, a final point you should strive to make is that you're interested in the job, and you'd like to come in for a face-to-face meeting. Depending on your comfort level, you can adapt this to the specific circumstances of the interview.

Micah Adams is an Account Manager with Jones Networking Associates' Technology Division. When he's not writing informative articles for the Jones Networking website, he's expanding the business of the technology staffing and recruitment division. www.jonesnet.com