Here are a few tips to ensure that your preliminary phone interview increases your chances of being invited for a second interview.

1) Smile
Smiling when you speak brings energy and excitement to your voice. Make sure you sound enthusiastic about the position.

2) Make the call from home or quiet area
The more controlled the space you’re calling from, the less room for distractions and other unanticipated events.

3) Have a physical copy of your resume
Have a physical copy of your resume and the job description in front of you during the call. Have a copy of answers to standard interview questions such as, “tell me about yourself,” thus to alleviate your stress about formulating a response.

4) Disable extra phone features
Whether it’s call waiting or an answering machine for an additional phone line, turn off all your phone accessories. These noises can be a distraction and embarrassment, sabotaging your chances of moving the interview process forward.

5) Don’t feel you have to fill the silences
This is a common error made by candidates on the phone. Because they cannot see what the interviewer is doing during the silence they feel compelled to fill it with babble!
If you have completed your answer and the interviewer is quiet it is probably because they are making notes or sorting through their questions. Allow time for this.

Follow these few steps and the odds of making a good impression are on your side!