1) Prepare in advance.
If you’re looking to change jobs, chances are you’ve applied to multiple positions, and may not remember every specific detail about each one. In order to prevent being caught entirely off guard, compile an accessible list of job postings to which you have responded, complete with a few short, easily explainable notes about how your past experience, qualifications  and accomplishments directly relate to the responsibilities of each position. To simplify things further, you should include some key words about the organization, its objectives and any relative news.  Don’t prepare too many notes, though; otherwise, you run the risk of getting distracted in what is typically a very short conversation. 

2) Call back later if necessary.
As previously stated, phone screens are sometimes conducted without prior notice.  There is a chance that you will not be in a private and quiet location when you receive the call.  For example, if you’re at work, within earshot of colleagues or supervisors whom you would prefer not knowing about your job search, it would be best to defer the phone screen until a later time.  The same rule applies to noisy city streets, social settings or areas with spotty cell phone service. The interviewer will appreciate your concern for making sure that you are in a quiet area in which you can speak freely about the position.

3) Sound confident and competent.
One of the easiest ways to disqualify your candidacy in a phone screen is to sound unsure of yourself. Since the HR representative cannot see positive body language or a neat, professional appearance through a phone conversation, you will need to rely on confident, intelligent diction.  Specifically, avoid using trivial words or phrases like “um,” “like,” or “you know,” and refrain from turning statements into questions.  Applying the first suggestion, Prepare in advance, and having a basic outline of your main points sitting directly in front of you, you’ll be less dependent on “filler” language that will detract from your credibility.

4) Listen very carefully.
Since you will be unable to rely on the interviewer’s facial expressions or body language to gauge whether or not you have made a favorable impression, make sure you listen to every sentence very carefully.  If you need to, pause for a second before answering questions to make sure that your responses are thorough and you are getting your points across effectively. Although it may be tempting to spend the majority of the conversation thinking about what you are going to say next, you actually have to listen very carefully during a phone screen to ensure that you obtain all the necessary information about the position.