For jobs with a lot of applicants, or in a remote location, it’s not uncommon for at least the first round of interviews to be conducted over the phone. That can be both a benefit and a drawback for applicants, so you’ll need to make the most of it.
One big strength is that you can use notes and refer to your CV during the interview, which you can’t always do in person. Make sure to have all the main details you’ll need to hand, but don’t have too much information written down or you’ll risk being unable to find something or being too reliant on your notes. On a similar note, keep a pen and paper to hand so you can jot down any notes or prompts.
Don’t be tempted to do the interview in your pyjamas. While you don’t need to go full-force (you’ll avoid the curse of a tight tie), it’s worth dressing up smart simply to get yourself in the right psychological mood. Similarly, some people swear by the idea that smiling during an interview will make your voice more assertive and friendly.
Remember that you won’t be judged by body language or appearance, so you’ll need to put even more emphasis on speaking in a clear and confident manner. Even though for most jobs Leeds or Newcastle or Glasgow accents aren’t a handicap whatsoever, don’t be afraid to slow down your speech a little if you think the interviewer might not be familiar with the dialect.
If you’re stuck for an answer, don’t be afraid to give a vocal indication that you are thinking carefully about the answer. “That’s a good/interesting question” is a useful way to buy yourself a few seconds’ thinking time.
Make sure you take the call in a place where you won’t be disturbed and where you’ll be comfortable. Avoid cordless or mobile phones if possible as this will reduce the chance of interference. If you have a call waiting or similar function, consider turning it off so that you don’t get distracted. If you do have a computer in the room, switch the monitor and speakers off so that you aren’t interrupted by e-mails or instant messaging.