How to Prepare for Your First Phone Interview

A phone interview is a common step in the hiring process for many companies. In many cases, it is used to weed out unsuitable candidates from the pack. Participating in an interview over the phone can be considerably more challenging than in-person meetings. To ensure that you move on to the next round, interview preparation is key.

In a phone interview, your voice is the only thing connecting you to the employer, and it helps them form an impression about who you are. Overuse of slang, strong accents, and filler words can send the wrong message. To overcome potential issues, practice answering common questions out loud. Focus on clear articulation, a professional tone, work-appropriate phone manners and confidence. Don't hesitate to add enthusiasm and personality to your tone to help employers connect to you. If possible, record yourself doing a practice interview and play back the audio. Doing so will help you identify and fix problem areas. The more you rehearse answers, the more confident and relaxed you will be during the actual interview.

In a phone interview, long silences can lead the employer to wonder if you heard the question. To make it easier to answer fluently or find just the right way to frame an anecdote, write yourself small scripts. Don't try to map out the entire conversation—instead, use a few index cards to write out answers to common open-ended questions. Write out your answers exactly as you would say them naturally and label the cards with large, bold titles to help you find them at a glance. When you are extremely nervous or at a loss for words, the cards can serve as a script or a reminder.

Before the phone interview, prepare your space and your documents. Choose a quiet spot with excellent phone reception, and clear the room of pets, children and any noise-making devices. Print out your resume and cover letter and place them in easy reach. Open your computer or tablet to the company's website for quick reference. Open another tab with a search engine for fast searches. Write down your questions and put them out with a pen for notes. Put a bottle of water nearby and silence all noises on your phone for texts, incoming calls or notifications. When you have everything you need at your fingertips, you can relax during the interview.

Continue your interview preparation by paying attention to your vocal health. Don't wake up and go right into a phone interview. Instead, follow in the footsteps of professional speakers, singers and actors and warm up first. Have a conversation with a friend to get your vocal chords moving. Sit where you will be during the call and practice answering questions out loud. Business Insider also recommends singing out loud at different tonal levels; doing so will help increase vocal flexibility. When the call happens, your voice will be at its natural pitch.

Phone-based interviews are a crucial step for companies who want to narrow the candidate pool and save money on travel costs. By taking the time to prepare mentally and physically for a phone interview, you can enter the call with greater confidence and improve overall performance.

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