Melida

It is 3:15 p.m. The kids have just gotten home from school. The dog is barking with euphoric happiness. The kids are noisily getting afternoon snacks, slamming cupboard doors, running the ice machine. The phone rings. You manage to wrestle control of the phone from your teenager on the last ring only to hearHello, this is Robert Smith from ABC Company calling about the controller position Meanwhile, the dog is still barking and the kids are now fighting over the last cookie.

The dreaded phone interview! As if the stress of the call isnt enough, it is now a surprise attack, intended to screen you out of the process, delivered when you least expect it.

With the expense of recruiting, telephone interviews have become a common place first step for employers. Fast, efficient, and economical for the employera disadvantage to the candidate and in some cases, causing momentary paralysis of both the mouth and brain.

Lets look at a few ideas for leveling the playing field.

Adopt the Boy Scout motto and be prepared!

First, be sure you have conducted research on each company to whom you have sent your resume. Having some familiarity with the company and their services or products and target market will allow you to breathe a little easier when you hear the company name.

Your research should be in an easy-to-find, easy-to-access location. Whether that is a spreadsheet, database, or file folderbe sure your research, a note pad, and pen are quickly accessible.

Which would lead us to the timing of the call. If it is 3:10 when the phone rings and you have a meeting with your team at 3:15you really have two viable options. Dont answer the phonelet it go to voice mail and return the call when it is more convenient. Or answer and request to reschedule.

Now might be a good time to interject an important question. What does your voice mail message say? Is it a cute, albeit barely intelligible recording by your youngest child? Is it a bare bones, you know what to do, so do it type message?

A professional voice mail message is one that gives some identifying indicator that the person calling has reached the right number. Include at least one of the following your first name, your last name, or your phone number.

If you choose to let the call go to voice mail, return it the call as soon as your situation permits. Be prepared to be interviewed when you return the call, though, even if it is after hours.

If you do answer, but the timing is not convenient, politely express your interest and enthusiasm for the position and then provide the excuse and ask to reschedule.

While part of the phone interview strategy is to catch a candidate off-guard and unprepared, it is an unfair advantage. Maintaining control of a job search is critical to being successful, and that includes managing the phone interview.

Being prepared also means that you are intimately familiar with and practiced at delivering your value proposition. Whether you are in a phone interview or a face-to-face interview, it is always about how you did the job and the impact to the bottom line.

This is a big deal!

While a phone interview might appear to be informal, it is very important and should be viewed as a formal part of the interviewing process. Because we arent face-to-face, the tendency to be more casual, relaxed, informaland even to multi-taskis the subtle trap.

Precisely because you cant be seen is why what you say and how you say it is significant. The phone is not an excuse for using lazy language (ums, ahs, and you knows). Be just as articulate as you would be in a formal interview. If your clothes tend to make you feel too relaxed, put on a business suit. If leaning back in your chair lulls you into complacency, stand up. And smile because your smile can be heard on the other end.

Throw away the gum, put out your cigarette, dont sip coffee excessively or unnecessarily, and by all means, do not multi-task. Phone interviewers are savvy and attuned to every nuance.

A quick rule of thumbWhatever you wouldnt do in a formal interview, dont do in a phone interview.

Answering the most-feared question

The timing is right; the research is at your fingertips; the introduction chit chat is finished; and while you are taking a deep, calming breath, the first question is posedTell me about yourself.

Since this question usually pops up in both a phone interview and a face-to-face interview and sets the tone for the balance of the interview, how you handle it is fundamental to the process.

Be wary of an interviewer who allows you free reign to ramble on, and on, and on. Another trap! Typically your answer should be no more than 1-2 minutes and focus on conveying accomplishment, growth, leadership, and results.

Take control. One winning strategy for answering this question is to ask, Id love to. Where would you like me to start? The answer will reveal what information the interviewer really wants to know so you can deliver a targeted response.

Follow Up

Immediately following the interview, follow up with a thank you note that captures the key points from the conversation. This small act of courteous professionalism will differentiate you from the other candidates.

Conducting a confident phone interview is really about two thingsbeing prepared and capturing important details for use in following up. Confidently handling a phone screen will ensure that you move to the next step when the right company calls.

Cindy Kraft is known as the CFO-Coach and Americas leading Career & Personal Brand Strategist for Corporate Finance and Banking Executives; is a Certified Career Management Coach, Credentialed Career Master, Certified Professional Rsum Writer, and Job & Career Transition Coach effectively positioning clients to outperform the competition and win jobs they want. She can be reached via email cindy@cfo-coach.com 813-655-0658, or through http://www.cfo-coach.com and http://www.cfo-career-forum.com