Being able to interview effectively over the phone is an essential job-hunting skill.

Whenever you launch a full-scale job search, you can expect to spend a considerable amount of time interviewing over the telephone. How well you handle phone interviews just might determine how quickly you land the ideal job you seek. As always, practice makes perfect. Notwithstanding that fact, the following tips should help you to be more comfortable when selling yourself to an unseen interviewer.

Why interview by phone?

First of all, hospitals and healthcare organizations must make the most of every dollar earmarked for recruitment purposes. It's more economically advantageous to conduct prescreening interviews over the phone than to pay airfare or other travel expenses for numerous candidates vying for a given position. For that reason, the hiring process typically involves telephone prescreening by an in-house recruiter or Human Resources representative.

Agency recruiters operate from the same perspective. By interviewing prospective candidates over the phone, recruiters can quickly ascertain candidates' qualifications and interest level regarding specific opportunities. Once recruiters determine that there is a good "fit," they can begin the process of referring prescreened candidates to client employers for more in-depth hiring consideration.

Be prepared to interview.

A call from an agency recruiter or in-house recruiter can occur at any time of the day. The best advice is to politely engage in a few minutes of introductory conversation, then schedule a better time to speak at length, such as during your lunch hour or after work. This will allow time for you to mentally prepare for a more in-depth discussion.

Setting aside 30-45 minutes of uninterrupted conversation will serve the purpose of establishing matters of mutual interest. In a more relaxed, comfortable setting you can discuss in greater detail your background and the opportunity under consideration.

To aid your preparation, have on hand a copy of your updated curriculum vita and reference contact information. It's so much easier discussing specifics concerning your academic background, medical training, and current clinical competence if you have a CV in front of you. Furthermore, prior to inviting you for an on-site interview, the recruiter may want to do some initial reference checking. Having contact names and phone numbers at your fingertips helps in that regard.

It's also useful to have handy a note pad, pen and calendar. Should the interviewer wish to talk about possible dates for an on-site visit, be ready to suggest some dates that dovetail with your personal and professional schedules.

Another aspect of preparation is to have on hand a list of appropriate questions to ask the interviewer. Doing so indicates you have more than passing interest in the opportunity, and it helps keep the conversation flowing. This is especially important when the person on the other end of the line is not very comfortable telephone interviewing.

Establish a favorable telephone "presence."

The downside of telephone interviewing is that the parties converse sight unseen. Without observing body language or other visual cues, it is not so easy to determine how effectively you are communicating. The best you can do is to make your case in the most aurally appealing fashion as possible.

Specifically, be sensitive to your verbal articulation. Enunciate clearly and speak in a well-modulated tone. Avoid the verbal "fillers" that are a distraction to the listener: "Ah's….umm's" and the like.

Fundamental courtesy goes a long way in telephone interviewing. Allow the interviewer to finish his or her questions or statements before offering your response. Take a few seconds to frame your responses so that they are as thoughtful and complete as possible. In addition, make sure your voice tone is cordial and professional throughout. Even if the interviewer asks or says something that "miffs" you a bit, make sure you don't respond in kind.

Above all, consider telephone interviewing as a pleasant conversation between professional colleagues. You won't be offered a job during a prescreening interview. But you can advance the hiring process by distinguishing yourself as a desirable candidate worthy of further consideration.

Sell yourself effectively.

Some physicians mistakenly believe that it's not necessary to sell themselves over the phone. Their typical response is: "My credentials speak for themselves." To a certain extent that is true, but the same could be said of every other candidate being considered for a specific employment opportunity.

Being granted a telephone interview means that your credentials have been favorably reviewed, and an employer (or recruitment firm) is interested in discussing career opportunities. However, they need a reason to extend to you more serious consideration as they rate you with comparably qualified candidates. Here is how you can sell yourself sufficiently to give them that reason:

• Inject into the conversation verbal evidence indicating that you have done your homework in researching the employer.
  
• Amplify information on your CV that demonstrates special scholastic or professional accomplishments.
  
• Provide several illustrations of how you have developed problem-solving skills useful in a clinical setting.
  
• Discuss a particularly difficult medical case that you were involved in, with successful results.
  
• Highlight any special abilities: fluency in other languages, exposure to multi-cultural medical practices, and familiarity with Web-based learning resources.
  

In so doing, you will establish yourself as a serious candidate worthy of further consideration.

Winding down the conversation.

A telephone interview enables both parties to determine whether it's beneficial to pursue matters further. As the conversation winds down, the interviewer might indicate further interest in your candidacy and invite you for an on-site interview. That is a very positive sign and something that you should take advantage of without hesitation.

On the other hand, the interviewer may be more guarded and say something like, "We'll get back with you soon." That comment leaves the door open for additional hiring consideration without making any specific commitment.

If you are genuinely interested in the opportunity and have been left in limbo, then take the initiative to express your interest. For example, "I'm impressed by what I've learned about the practice opportunity and wish to explore matters further. Would it be possible for me to visit the facility and meet the clinicians working in my specialty?"

Phrased as such, your request is direct without putting you in a supplicant position. Even if you are not immediately granted an on-site interview, you have registered your interest and can only hope for the best.

Suppose the opportunity discussed does not really whet your appetite, so to speak. In a tight job market, it's better to err on the side of caution and give the benefit of the doubt, rather than rule out a good opportunity prematurely.

On the flip side, if you are absolutely sure this isn't something you could pursue enthusiastically, inform the interviewer that you appreciate learning about the opportunity but feel that it's not the most appealing career option for you at this point in your professional development. That leaves the door open to broach the matter later on, just in case your circumstances and interest factor change significantly.

If you politely decline furthering your candidacy at this juncture in time, think of a colleague who might be interested. By referring someone else confidentially to the interviewer, you can score some points for being cooperative and respectful of the employer's staffing needs.

A final point. No matter what you decide, make sure you thank the interviewer for the time and information shared. This minor point of courtesy goes a long way in leaving a favorable lasting impression.

The more you interview by phone, the easier it will be to sell yourself and steer the conversation in the direction that suits your professional purposes.

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