The way job interviews are conducted today is very different from how they were done in the past. Nowadays, many companies prefer to go ahead with the first step of the selection process with a telephonic interview, and so, it is important for candidates to be prepared for the same. While confidence and knowledge are your ultimate weapons, there are some things you must keep in mind in order to excel at a telephonic interview.

• Practice 
  A mock interview session with your friend is always a good idea for your telephonic interview . It gives you a fair idea of where you stand at your chances of being selected. Furthermore, it helps you analyze and pay attention to the minute details that might go wrong during the actual interview.

• Focus on the greeting
  It is believed that the outcome of the interview can be estimated within the first minute and so, it is very important to focus on your greeting. Always address your interviewer with the designation Sir/Ma’am and do not rush into things. Try to sound as calm and composed as possible because nothing kills an interview as a candidate struggling for composure during the first minute.

• Listen to the interviewer carefully
  It is very easy for a candidate to deviate from the topic or answer something that is not asked for, and the key to not doing that is to listen to what the interviewer is asking for. Your answer to telephonic interview questions should be short, crisp and to the point.

• Stick to the same language
  While it is okay for you to give your interview in a language of your choice, sentences beginning with one language and ending with another are a big no. It is imperative that you stick to the same language, preferably the one that the interviewer has chosen to conduct the interview. During the telephonic interview preparation practice, do the same so that it comes naturally during the actual interview.

• Keep your resume ready
  Most of the time, questions are regarding your resume and so it is important for you to keep it at a place where it can easily be seen so that it’s at your fingertips while answering questions. Don’t forget to keep a notepad and pen with you to note down the important points.
• Background check of the company
  During the telephonic interview preparation do a complete background check on the company and the job profile you have applied for. Make a list of all the things that the company is looking for and try to match those with your abilities. Practice the obvious questions regarding this and make sure that you sound very convincing during the actual interview.

• Check your surroundings
  It is very important to check your surroundings before the interview. The following points should be kept in mind:
  – Make sure there is no background noise that might disturb you during the interview.
  – Turn off the call waiting on your mobile phone so that there are no interruptions during the interview.
  – Keep a glass of water handy. You never know when you might need it.

All these points must always be in the back of your mind during the telephonic interview but the key to success is to believe in yourself.