Planning and preparing before you begin to send out resumes 
could save you some embarrassing moments when you receive that 
unexpected call.

You just never know when that phone is going to ring. Let's say 
the phone rings just as you are about to sit down for dinner, 
but this time it's not a pesky telemarketer -- it's a company 
recruiter calling. The voice on the other end of the phone says 
she is calling about a resume you sent in six weeks ago. "What 
-- six weeks ago? I sent out 40 resumes in the past six weeks? 
Who exactly are you and what was the job you are calling about?" 
You've been caught off-guard!

The telephone "screen call" can come at any time -- day or night. 
Some interviewers find evenings the best time to catch people at 
home, where they will be able to talk more candidly. That being 
the case, you should be on-call and prepared to receive a 
telephone interview at any time.

Even though you cannot control the timing of these calls, there 
are some steps that you can take to not be caught off-guard.


1. Get organized.

Set aside your materials as though you were going to a 
face-to-face interview. Have a folder with job postings or ads 
you have answered, along with company information. If you have 
several versions of your resume, attach the one relevant to the 
particular job posting. Keep this folder in a specific place so 
you can get to it in less than a minute. When the phone rings 
at an unexpected moment, tell the caller to hold and then grab 
your folder.


2. Be prepared.

This is key to any interview, but for the telephone interview it 
is essential. Practice with a tape recorder to hear the level 
of enthusiasm in your voice. The key to telephone interviews is 
projecting an upbeat image through the sound of your voice and 
the words you use.


3. Know what they are looking for.

Look over the job description to see what the company is seeking 
in a candidate. If you don't have a good description, look at 
other postings of similar positions to see what is being asked 
for. Compare what you have to offer against what they are 
looking for. Be ready to let the interviewer know what a good 
match you are for the position.


4. Alert the household.

Be sure everyone in your household -- children, roommates, etc., 
are aware that you will be receiving calls from recruiters and 
companies. The phone should be answered in a polite, professional 
manner. While you're at it, make sure your voice mail message is 
also professional and upbeat.

Telephone interviews, typically conducted by a human resources 
staff member or a hired recruiter, are used as screening tools 
to save time and money. By asking key questions, the interviewer 
determines whether or not it's worthwhile to pursue you further 
as a candidate. The screenings may consist of a few quick 
questions or as much as a one-hour grilling.

Some general questions you might expect in a telephone screening 
are:

   1. Why are you leaving your current job?

   2. What kind of salary/job are you looking for?

   3. Tell me three adjectives that describe you.

   4. Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem 
      using creativity.

   5. Do you have any questions for me?


If there is some particular skill that qualifies you for a job, 
for example technical skills or languages, there may be some 
qualifying questions about the "tools of the trade."

Getting through this screening is critical for advancing to the 
next step: the face-to-face interview. This puts added pressure 
on you to present yourself in a positive, focused manner. If 
you attempt to wing this call, you may reach a dead end in the 
process. By organizing and preparing you will feel less stressed 
when these calls do come. 

Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and an interview 
coach. Her books, "Interview Fitness Training Workbook" and 
"Boost Your Interview IQ" (McGraw Hill) have sold thousands of 
copies world-wide. Receive Carole's FREE job interview tips by 
visiting her web site at:  http://www.interviewcoach.com