Many times a telephone interview is conducted for contract or temporary positions, in lieu of a face-to-face meeting.  Although a contract job is not a “commitment for life,” the employer holding the phone will be looking for a strong indication that you are committed to the position you are being considered for and that you are truly interested in their district or company.

Interviewees often make the mistake of perceiving a phone interview as less important than one that takes place face-to-face.  In fact, the opposite is actually true. A telephone interview may be your only chance to make your best impression. It is much more difficult to get the “real you” across by phone, so you need to make the most of every minute by preparing ahead of time.

• Schedule a time where you can give the interviewer your undivided attention.
• Keep the interview “clinical” and focused on the job duties. Other, more general questions can be answered by your recruiter (if you have one) or through your research.
• Don’t talk about money. If you are interviewing through a staffing company or recruiter like PediaStaff,  they will have that information for you.   If you are self-represented, you should obtain that information through Human Resources, not during the clinical phone interview with the hiring authority.
• Let the interviewer ask his or her questions first to ensure that the interviewer covers all that they want to learn about you.  If there is time, feel free to ask job related questions.