@Job Seeker of CA: A landline is not essential, but it is a plus if you have access to one. The call quality still beats out any cell/digital/satellite service I have ever used.
Glad to hear you are a finalist; best of luck!
Andrew G. Rosenof NY3:11PM June 14, 2011
I have a quibble with a couple of points: the issue of calling from home and from a land line. Most of the people I know that are under 40 do NOT have a land line at home. I haven't had a land line in almost 10 years! The *only* way for me to use a "land line" would be to call from work. Granted, if you do not have access to a private office, then calling from work is not a good idea.
I recently did a phone interview from work in the morning before my day started. Granted, I am lucky enough to have a flexible schedule and can do this. It went well, and I have since completed an in-person interview and am a finalist for a position.
Job Seekerof CA12:13PM June 14, 2011
This is such an important read that I am going to share with my college students. Many admit that they don't talk on the phone that much even with friends, so knowing what to do with a phone interview is vital. I particularly loved the tips that relate to both verbal and nonverbal communication in this piece.
As a communication prof and also an academic who has experienced many phone interviews, I'll add a few tips I was given that also worked beautifully:
-Dress for the call! May sound crazy, but a suit or business casual helps boost confidence over PJs and fuzzy slippers.
-Ask in advance how many questions will be asked and how much time is allotted for the call. This will help you monitor your answers, particularly if there are 20 questions scheduled for 30 minutes.
-It's okay to take a second (just a second or two) to formulate thoughts rather than "um" and "uh" as you grapple for words. To stay fluid with your responses, as you get to know typical phone interview questions, practice them in your "off" time--in the car, even in the shower, etc.
Thank you for such a packed article with important tips! Ellen Bremen, M.A. @chattyprof http://chattyprof.blogspot.com
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Andrew G. Rosen of NY 3:11PM June 14, 2011
Job Seeker of CA 12:13PM June 14, 2011
Ellen Bremen of AL 10:32AM June 14, 2011