The telephone interview situation is different from the normal live interview. There are two separate physical settings, which restricts communication to verbal and vocal channels only. The media is also unfamiliar to the interviewee. These are a few tips.

ENVIRONMENT CONSTRAINTS

THE INTERVIEWER'S ENVIRONMENT

• Conference call
  Very often interviews are conducted on a conference call. In such cases there may be more than one interviewer. They will introduce themselves in the beginning. Note their names and greet them depending on the time of day in their country.
• Resume
  

  The interviewer will have a copy of your resume in front of him. This will often be the base on which the interview takes off.

• Eye contact
  The interviewer cannot see you. For this reason you loose the advantage of body language, gestures and eye contact which often helps in convincing the interviewer.
• Silent interviewer

  Sometimes you may find that you are continuously talking without any response from the interviewer. Do not worry since, he is probably taking notes of what you are saying. In case you are doubtful you may ask him “ Am I making myself clear?” or “ Is that OK?” to elicit a response from him. Do not say "Hello, hello, are you there?"

THE INTERVIEWEE'S ENVIRONMENT

• Distractions
  Eliminate all distractions around you. Keep a note pad handy. In the office do not take the call close to a noisy passage or corridor. At home do not take the call close to a television, dog barking or baby crying.
• Resume
  Keep a copy of your resume in front of you to help correlate any questions based on it.
• Speech
  The tone, pace and confidence with which you speak are the parameters that create an impression with the interviewer in the absence of eye contact.
• Other People
  If there are a few people near the telephone ensure that they do not whisper or talk to each other during the interview. This may give the interviewer an impression that some one is helping you with the answers.

PRACTICAL TIPS

These points have been put together after studying several interviews. They are covered under language, media and etiquette.

LANGUAGE

Interviewers Accent: In case you have difficulty in understanding the clients accent you could ask him to repeat the question by saying:

• “I beg your pardon”
• “ I didn't get you, could you repeat the question please”
• “ I'm sorry the line isn't clear, could you repeat the question please”

The best way of getting tuned to accents is by listening to the BBC or CNN on TV. Do not use the same phrase repeatedly.

• Local words: The use of local language words often confuses the interviewer. While he tries to interpret the word he misses most of what you are trying to get across. Words like “THEAK” “ AACHA” “HAA” could have a negative impact on the interviewer impression of the interviewee.
• Rate of Delivery: The rate of speaking should generally be adjusted to match that of the interviewer. In USA and UK the normal rate of speaking is much slower than that in India. Also the slower you speak the greater attention you gain.
• Clarity: Speak clearly and pronounce each word properly. Do not break off half way through a word or sentence. This not only confuses the interviewer but also irritates him besides reflecting badly on your communication skill.
  

COMMUNICATION MEDIA

• Breath pick up: Do not hold the mouthpiece too close, the interviewer will hear you breathing. The distance of the month piece should be 2 to 3 inches from the mouth.
• Low volume sound: If you cannot hear do not shout the fault could be one way. Instead you may like to ask the interviewer whether he could hear you and at the same time tell him he can't be heard clearly.
• Speaking: Speak in a distinct and relaxed tone. This will help the interviewer to accept your answers more easily. Any sign of tension in your voice could give the interviewer the wrong impression.
• Listening: Do not rush to speak when the interviewer pauses or stops talking. Make sure he has finished what he wants to say before your respond.
• Visualize: Try to visualize the interviewer while talking to him. This will help to put your answers in perspective.

TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE

• Identify yourself: Give the name as clearly as possible. Spell your name if necessary. If your name is too difficult to pronounce give a short form that you'd prefer the interviewer to use. This helps in building rapport.
• Names: Be sure you get the interviewer name right. You could ask for the spelling and pronunciation if required.
• Greeting: Wish the interviewer his time of the day - not your time of day..
• Politeness: Being polite to the interviewer is the minimum courtesy you can extend. Wherever appropriate use the words “Please”, “Thank you”, “Sorry” etc.
• Small talk: Learn to engage in small talk about the weather or other things. The interviewer will start this way out of politeness and then set the pace.
• Clarifications: You could paraphrase a question to get clarification if necessary. A direct way could be to say “ Sorry ”; I didn't get you, could you please explain what you mean by...
• Doubts: If you are not confident about something it is better to be truthful and say that you are not sure. This is because you are likely to get cross-examined.
• Thinking Time: Ruminate over the question and take your time replying. Avoid hesitating and using words like “er” “um” “uh” etc. This reflects your nervousness and lack of confidence.
• Call End: You could sign off by saying -“It was nice talking to you. Thank you”