It is becoming more and more common that your resume has to go through an intense screening process before you even have a shot at interviewing.  Most companies will even conduct a phone interview before scheduling someone for an in-person interview.  Even though meeting face-to-face isn’t the first step, it doesn’t mean you’re off the hook—you have to work even harder to impress over the phone!  Here are some mistakes to avoid:

1. Bad reception or tech-related troubles.  Of course there are technical problems that can happen at any time.  But interviewers aren’t interested in what’s wrong or why, so make sure you take preventative measures beforehand.

2. Failing to prepare notes.  The nice thing about a phone interview is that you don’t have to fumble through your notes while the interviewer is talking.  You can have a cheat sheet, your resume, and company research all available to you.  So take advantage of the perks of the phone call and don’t forget to prepare accordingly!

3. Speaking too fast and too much. Speak slowly, perhaps even slower than you speak in real life.  The interviewer won’t be able to follow your body language, and without body language, there’s no way of knowing whether the person you’re communicating with is done speaking.  By slowing down and waiting, you prevent those awkward interruptions.

4. Making yourself too comfortable. Yes, you want to conduct your interview in a place where you feel at ease.  But avoid lying down or sitting in your pajamas.  Dress well, sit at a table or walk around, and make sure your notes are always within reach.

5. Just hanging up at the end of the call.  You wouldn’t rush to leave an in-person interview with a “thanks” and a wave.  To initiate the transition into the final part of the conversation, you could ask the interviewer “Is there anything else you’d like to ask?”  This will help prevent you from torturing yourself about whether you’ll hear from the company again.

Keep these things in mind as you set up your next phone interviews—you always want to put your best foot forward.  Happy hunting!