Hello? Is it me you're looking for?

Being well presented and in a suitable environment can help put you in the right headspace for a telephone job interview. Photo / Thinkstock

Being prepared is paramount when interviewing via telephone or Skype

Interviewing for a job over the phone might seem like a doddle compared to fronting up at the professional offices of a prospective employer. No need to shower, shave, or even change out of your pyjamas, right? And, because a telephone interview is usually a preliminary one undertaken to check out fundamental candidate information, you mightn't need to do much preparation - if any.

Not so, says career coach Kaye Avery. "It's important to put yourself into a mode aligned with how you want to be perceived over the telephone, and if that means doing hair, makeup, shaving or dressing in business attire to make yourself feel professional, then that will make a difference."

In creating a good first impression, Avery says the telephone interview is just as important as an interview in an employer's office, in that the candidate needs to be prepared for the questions, even by having a script prepared to avoid answering questions "on the hoof" and thereby ruining the chances of a face-to-face interview. Preliminary interview questions may include what you're looking for in a role, your experience, and your salary expectations.

"The interviewer will also be looking for indicators that come through in the way you speak over the telephone, such as tone of voice and attitude. These subtle indicators can make or break a candidate's chances to go further in the process," Avery says.

The Skype interview adds another dimension and Avery says it is very important that we think about how we come across on Skype visually, verbally and attitudinally. "It is very easy to appear too relaxed on Skype. The way we sit on a chair, leaning back or to the side rather than sitting up straight, creates an impression."

Avery says that when she is conducting a Skype interview or coaching session, she is aware of the background scene behind the candidate. "It's important that the background fits with the image you want to portray and, equally, if you don't put enough effort into how you appear then Skype will not improve your image - on the contrary, Skype is not flattering. Visual presentation doesn't necessarily mean wearing a suit - if you're at home, that would appear strange. It does mean that you should wear a smart shirt or top that flatters you."

Avery notes it is generally more awkward to be interviewed by Skype than by phone. Not only is Skype visually unflattering, the interruptions of reception and band speed mean a candidate can come across as hesitant, making rapport with the interviewer more difficult. "Telephone is a little easier in that we don't have the reception issues," she says. "However, when we're reduced to one dimension, the perception becomes more alert to nuance and inference in the voice. So, both have their difficulties but Skype is, in my view, more difficult."

Avery adds that in a telephone interview, it is more difficult to seem natural and establish a rapport with an interviewer than in a face-to-face interview, as we're missing out on the visual cues used to build a connection. There can be a tendency for awkward silences and speaking over the top of one another. The key to dealing with this is to build rapport, and that happens when you really connect with the other person, she says. "It's important to relax and be present to the situation rather than regretting something that happened five minutes ago or allowing unhelpful thoughts to come into your mind."

Occasionally, a candidate is caught with having to be interviewed in an external location such as a car or an airport, where there may be reception problems, interruptions and background noise. Avery says such a situation is not helpful for the candidate and if possible, an alternative time should be arranged when surroundings will be more conducive for the interview. But if factors such as arrival and departure announcements in the background are unavoidable, it's important to prepare the interviewer for the location and the impact it might have on the quality of the interview. This then reduces expectations.

Before the interview is terminated, you should ensure you have asked any questions you have about the position. Having a list of questions prepared means you can check them off as you go, and ask anything unanswered at the end of the interview. "Make sure they are well-informed questions and not just about salary and when to start," Avery says. "Also, it's important to know what the next step is, so don't hang up before you know what to expect and when you will hear back from the interviewer. And it's a good idea to email a thank you note after the interview, reiterating your interest in the role and outlining key points discussed and what you think you bring to the table."