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A lot of job candidates complain about phone interviews, but they’re not much better from the boss’s perspective. I’m sure many hiring decision makers feel the same intense frustration of the boss quoted below after he had conducted a number of phone interviews for a key position on his staff. Every single candidate failed miserably. The boss’s comments are in italics below.

The basics: be prepared
Boss: One candidate was driving when I called for our scheduled appointment. Three times he interrupted me, saying he would have to call me back. “What is he doing?” I wondered, and cut the interview short.

Don’t let this happen to you! Be ready for your appointment. Make sure you are in a quiet interruption-free room. Use a quality phone so you don’t annoy the employer with a phone that’s hard to hear or keeps cutting out.

Have ready access to your resume, important points of your company research, talking points, and questions you want to ask. Take advantage of the positive side of phone interviews-they can’t see you. If possible, log onto the internet so you can quickly Google information.

More basics: Be knowledgeable
Boss: Most of the candidates I interviewed had no idea of what our company does. I can’t even tell you how off-putting that was.

Make sure you know about the company, its products and services, and how you could help them (Note: in an upcoming newsletter, we’ll discuss how to research a company).

Talk the boss’s language
Boss: Every candidate spoke in very vague terms about their experience. No one said anything interesting. I remember venting to another manager, “I wish somebody would tell me something—anything—that would make me think they could do this job.”

The boss cares about results. Have a repertoire of stories prepared so that you can quickly convey to the boss how good you are. The stories should be carefully crafted to be concise and to powerfully convey the impact you have. Aim for one minute stories.

Convey enthusiasm
Boss: One candidate sounded so flat on the phone, I thought he was going to go to sleep while we were talking.

In person, you communicate with the way you’re dressed, your handshake, smile, gestures, and other body language. Over the phone, all you’ve got is your voice. Make sure you sound upbeat. Practice interviewing over the phone with a friend or spouse or a tape recorders to get comfortable with it.

Keep Your Answers Short–and probe
Boss: Another candidate, obviously nervous, droned on and on and on. I cut that interview short too.

If you’re prone to talking too much, pay special attention to the adage, “You’ve got two ears and only one mouth for a reason.” Keep your answers crisp and concise. Answer the question, then probe with questions of your own. Find out what the boss wants, why he/she is hiring and what problems the boss hopes you’ll be able to solve.

Smile and relax
Take a tip from successful telemarketers who put a mirror in front of them to remind themselves to smile. Although they can’t see you, the smile is conveyed in your voice. Take deep breaths and speak distinctly.

Find out follow up procedures
Find out how to follow up with the interviewers, what the next step in the process will be, and ask if they would like you to provide any additional information.

Keep track of what you have discussed
Go into the interview with an agenda: these are the points I want to convey during the interview. As you make each point, cross it off so that you won’t repeat it, and you can see clearly what else is on your list.

Postpone if they catch you off guard
If the employer calls you for an unscheduled interview and catches you when you’re clutching a towel around your dripping-wet body, just say, “I’m so glad you called, but it’s not a good time to talk. How about in half an hour (or this afternoon)?”

Be prepared to fend off premature salary discussions
Don’t let yourself be eliminated by probes about past salary or salary expectations. This is a topic we’ve discussed in past newsletters. If you missed it, we can send you a copy–send an email to Careersinc@aol.com with the words “Salary article” in the subject line.

Send a thank you
Boss: When interviewing for another position, I was impressed with one woman, but was disappointed that she didn’t have the courtesy to send a thank you note. She didn’t get the job.
Promptly send a thank you letter to all the interviewers. This often-overlooked courtesy can make a big difference.

As with any interview, preparation and follow through are the key to success.