Many employers use phone interviews as way to quickly screen job candidates before offering them a face-to-face meeting. But what can job candidates do to improve their chances of making it to a personal interview? Below are a few tips:

1. Be prepared.  Make sure that you have a copy of your resume and cover letter before the phone rings. It should be the same resume and cover letter you sent the employer. 
2. Know the company.  Have some information about the company and any questions you may want to ask ready at your desk.  To avoid fumbling around through folders and drawers while on the phone, have some paper and a pen ready so you can easily take notes.
3. Don’t rush.  Oftentimes phone interviews are more difficult for job candidates because they can’t see the interviewer and they may feel the need to rush to answer.  But it’s best to take your time when answering interview questions.  Your responses should be well thought out, brief and clear.
4. Rehearse your responses.  Try to anticipate what the interviewer will ask during the telephone interview and rehearse how you will respond.
5. Avoid speech fillers. Speech fillers such as “uhm” and “you know” sound even worse over the phone than they do in person, so try to avoid them.
6. Find a quiet space.  Avoid having your phone interview in a busy public place or while your kid or spouse is in the room.  Make sure that you turn off all distractions such as the TV and radio and let everyone in your household know that you are not to be disturbed during the interview.