Phone interviews can be beneficial for both the applicant and the company by providing information to both parties. Here's how to get the most out of the process.

The whole idea behind the interview process is to enable employers to identify likely candidates for their job openings while helping job seekers to get a better understanding of what a company and a position has to offer.

But just looking at a job posting or reviewing a resume does not provide sufficient information to enable a job seeker or a recruiter to make a quality decision. That’s why interviewing for a job by phone – known as pre-screening -- can be beneficial for both the job seeker and the employer.

Pre-screening by phone is an easy way for candidates to get more information about the hiring organization and the position that is available while allowing recruiters the opportunity to gain a clearer sense of the candidate’s qualifications and motivation without having to spend time in a face-to-face interview. Once completed, both the recruiter and the job seeker are in a better position to decide whether or not to move the process forward.

That being said, there are specific things that job seekers should keep in mind in order to get the most from the telephone pre-screening process.

Be on Time

If a recruiter has arranged a specific day and time to call in order to conduct the pre-screening interview, candidates should be sure to answer their phone at the agreed to time. If they miss the call, they should call the recruiter back immediately and not make up an excuse as to why they were not available. Saying they were in the shower when they knew they had a scheduled appointment does not make a good first impression.

On the other hand, if a recruiter calls and wants to conduct the pre-screening immediately, without an appointment, it is perfectly acceptable to ask how much time it will take (thirty minutes is average depending on the position), and if it is not convenient, to schedule a more appropriate time.

Be Prepared

Just as in a face-to-face interview, a candidate should have his resume with him so he can refer to it when necessary. The role of the recruiter is to provide candidates with details about the company and the position as well as any key bits of information about the hiring process (i.e. drug screening, background checks).

Feel free to jot down notes – don’t rely on memory. And feel free to ask questions that will help to determine if this is an opportunity worth pursuing further. It makes no sense for a candidate to go through the pre-screening interview and get invited in for a face-to-face only to find out that if the right questions had been asked, they never would have agreed to the meeting.

Be Professional

Don’t chew gum or munch lunch in the recruiter’s ear.

Don’t give long-winded responses that miss the point. It is very easy to become nervous or feel that every moment on the phone should be filled with conversation. In fact, the opposite is true. When asked a question, a candidate should give himself time to consider a response and then answer as concisely as possible. Be aware of rambling on too long..

When at all possible, use a land line. This would be the wrong phone call to have a cell phone carrier drop.

Candidates should be sure there are no distractions that will interrupt their thought process or the pre-screening. Driving in a car, taking care of the kids, or answering other calls should be avoided. Job seekers should remember that even though they may be sitting in their jammies and bunny slippers, they still need to act like they are wearing a business suit in someone’s office.

Be Courteous

Proper behavior is just as important in pre-screening as with a regular interview. Just because it isn't done face-to-face doesn’t mean voice inflections aren't obvious.

Sometimes recruiter’s will set up pre-screening appointments by email to avoid playing telephone tag. If this is the case, be sure to send a 'thank you' email after the pre-screening interview. If not, once the pre-screening interview has ended, be sure to thank the recruiter before hanging up.

Whatever the circumstances, keep in mind that a pre-screening interview holds as much weight in the interview process as a face-to-face interview. Always go in it to win it.