Ace your telephone interview and score an in-person meeting

by Kurt VandeMotter and Paula Calise of Calise & Co.

Think of a phone interview as a virtual meeting. Our six tips could get you one step closer to closing the deal.

Do you have a telephone interview coming up? If you are unsure about how to prepare, use these easy tips for preparing and acing your "virtual meeting." Living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, many companies will still start with a phone interview before asking you into the office. And more often than not, this call is with a recruiter that is “screening” candidates before making the decision on who they will bring in.

This is an example of a bad place to take your phone interview.

Tip one: Pick a place to take the call

Many people today take this first interview for granted; they do not schedule time on their calendar and assume that they can take the call anywhere – on the golf course, while driving the kids carpool, or just sitting on the couch. All of these are wrong. Take the call on a landline phone, be in a quiet, familiar location, and stand up and look in the mirror occasionally. We also suggest that you provide two numbers just in case one of the numbers is not working. Be prepared!

Tip two: Know your target

Remember that your interviewer knows you pretty well; they have your resume, they might have looked at your LinkedIn or Facebook, or they may have someone on their team that worked with you in a different job. Study the company's website, latest press releases, and job description prior to your phone interview. Get to know the interviewer; study their background just as they have done in preparation for you. Use your network to research this opportunity, take notes, and keep a file. Your preparation for this meeting can be reused in the follow-up meetings if this call goes well.

Tip three: Highlight your experience

A great inside tip to use the job description to your ultimate advantage is to highlight all the key words that match your background of experience. Include transferable skills as well. Then weave these exact key words and phrases into your conversation. This requires time, preparation, and planning, so do not try and do this 10 minutes before the call comes in. It's a simple solution with profound results.

Flickr user SOCIALisBETTER

Creativity is good. But we don't recommend this tactic.

Tip four: Show your positive enthusiasm

Isn't it true that we all like happy people? You can demonstrate this on your interview call. Remember that phone conversations only require that you use one of your senses: The interviewer cannot see you, they cannot smell you (we hope!); they can only hear you. If you're not comfortable, excited, and prepared, the interviewer will pick up on your energy. And what's more, you will make a great impression on your interviewer if you share with him or her how excited you are about the position, about their company, or a combination of both. They want to hire people who want to work with them.

Tip five: Prepare 10 questions and be ready

Regardless of the type of position you are interviewing for, you have to be a sales person. Ask questions (at the appropriate times, of course) that show your intellect and your enthusiasm for the position. Examples include questions about future projects and biggest challenges. Be sure to ask for the next interview, who will the next interview be with, when you can confirm this appointment.

Tip six: Be polite

Being polite will serve you well. Try clear, deliberate speaking, and avoid talking over-the-top of your interviewer. The first interview might not be with the decision maker; it could be an inside recruiter that know very little about your area of expertise. Be careful to not talk down or over their head in this situation. The objective of this call is to get you in front of the decision maker! Also show appropriate respect (saying please, thank you, etc.) and make a concentrated effort for balanced dialogue.

BONUS: Follow-up

Follow-up with both an email and a handwritten note as if it was an in-person interview. When was the last time you received a hand written note? Many people do not write letters and mail them anymore; you will stand out!