In addition to all the challenges presented by any normal interview, telephone interviews have their own extra problems you need to look out for.
If you have never been on a telephone interview before, it's easy to forget some of the differences between that and a normal interview.
Read on to find out what to do to ensure your next phone interview goes well.
The first issue to take care of is noise.
Noises are far more likely to interfere with a phone interview than a normal one at an office.
Don't do your interview on a cell phone if you can help it, and make sure there isn't any noise on the phone line either.
Be sure to prepare a quiet room to have your interview in, free of any children, barking dogs, or similar if you're doing it at home.
Check that your phone is at an appropriate volume as well.
Next, ensure that you're ready for an interview, much the same way you would for an in person interview.
It's recommended to actually dress the way you would if you were having a normal interview, because of the psychological effect it will have you.
It's harder to feel professional in pajamas than in business attire, even on the phone.
You should also have your CV and other paperwork right next to you, so that you can refer to it during the interview.
During the interview, try to remember that you're on the phone.
This may seem obvious, but it's actually very easy to forget that the interviewer can't see you nodding in response to what they're saying.
You need to actually say something in agreement at those times, like "Yes" or "That's right" and so on.
Do remember to smile, though.
Even though the interviewer won't be able to see it, smiling changes the sound of your voice when you talk.
The interviewer may not literally realize or think about whether you're smiling or not, but the difference in your voice still has an effect.
Finally, remember to say thank you as the interview comes to end, before saying your goodbye.
If you forget, you can't call back afterward, but you can send an email thanking the interviewer.
Make sure you get the interviewer's contact information, so you can send emails like this.
After that, be sure to give the interviewer a good, polite goodbye that doesn't take up too much time.