I once had a promising phone interview for a job I very much wanted and had a good shot at. I researched the company and the department thoroughly, wrote out answers to potential questions, and had my resume and the job description in front of me.

Unfortunately, though I tried to be prepared, a few key elements went awry that I’m sure cost me a shot at the job. I didn’t even get a face-to-face meeting! I wish I’d had these tips to help me prepare.

First the Don’ts:

• Don’t use a cell phone if you’ll be doing the call in a place with unreliable cell service.
• Don’t answer call waiting. If possible, temporarily disable this feature (some carriers allow this).
• Don’t have pets or children in the room with you.
• Don’t try to squeeze the call in between other appointments, during a short lunch break or your kid’s nap time!
• Don’t multitask. Stay focused on this activity only.
• Don’t discuss money – yet. If the question is broached by the interviewer, you can stall by telling them you’ll need to understand the full scope of the job better as well as be more familiar with the entire compensation package.
• Don’t let them catch you off guard. If an interviewer calls you unannounced and attempts to conduct an impromptu interview, politely ask if you may call them back.

Now the Do’s:

• Plan a minimum of 30 minutes in a quiet, controlled environment.
• Be prepared for the interview the same as if it were face-to-face.
  • research the company
  • know as much about the job specifics as possible
  • have a list of questions you want to ask
  • prepare a list of potential questions that they may ask along with your answers (but don’t read them, they should come out sounding natural and unrehearsed)
  • have your resume handy
• Dress professionally and sit at a table or desk with a good chair – this will impact your body language which will impact how your voice carries over the phone.
• Have your internet up with the company’s website in front of you.
• Use a hands-free headset so your hands are free to take notes and quickly access information you might need on the web.
• Mute the phone if you have to cough, sneeze, sip, etc. (Make sure you know how to use this function first!).
• Smile! They can hear it in your voice.
• Give them a reason to meet with you face-to-face.

If a potential employer asks if you have/can do Skype – the answer is yes even if you have to figure it out with someone else’s help before the call takes place. If at all possible, set up your computer in an uncluttered, preferably professional environment. (The employer may choose a video call instead of just the audio option). And of course, look your best. It can be a bit odd on a video call because you can see yourself, and because there’s sometimes a delay in the audio. But you mustn’t let the little oddities distract you from your purpose.

Phone interviews are very prevalent as an initial screening process, especially if the job isn’t in your current city and as more companies are cutting costs. So be prepared and don’t give them any reason to cross you off their list. Get that face-to-face interview and you’re one step closer to landing the job!

There are a few techniques that you can employ (pun intended) to gently steer potential employers towards scheduling an interview, after you’ve sent them your killer resume. Here are some techniques that I’ve seen used:

1. Follow up your resume submission with contact-Keep a list of where and to whom you submit your resume and follow up with each one. In the current economy, your resume might get lost in a stack of 100 applicants. But an email or call can go a long way in helping yours to get pulled out of the stack and looked at more closely.

2.Ask for an informational interview- I have had two people contact me over the past six months and request an “informational interview”. This is an interview where you questions about the company. I’ve seen it used when people are exploring the industry, wanting to network or needing a job. Does it result in one? I can’t answer that. I can only say that if I had had an opening, I would have been more likely to hire one of the two people that I provided an informational interview to because their questions and comments impressed me. There is much to gain (including knowledge) and nothing to lose with contacting employers and requesting one.

3. Follow the employer on the social sites, such as Twitter, Facebook and Linked In (notice, I did not say stalk)-This shows your interest in the organization. Keep in mind that with larger organizations, the HR department may not even realize that you are a follower, but this will give you up-to-date information from the company and possible questions to ask during your interview.