by Lisa Campi

Created on: June 04, 2009   Last Updated: June 16, 2009

In today's increasingly competitive job search environment, the initial telephone screen has become more important to the job seeker as it is the key meeting for him or her to make a good first impression. However, in many cases, job seekers make fundamental mistakes, which harm their chances of obtaining an in-person interview, which is usually the next step in the job hiring process. As someone who has interviewed hundreds of job seekers, here are some of the most common mistakes made during that first telephone screen:

Calling from home when children or pets are noisy. While everyone understands personal demands and that others live in your house, having children or pets interrupt an interview leaves an impression with the interviewer that the job seeker is not paying full attention to what is being asked. It is distracting not only for the interviewer but also for you as the person being interviewed. If you want the job, then please make sure that the children and pets are quiet during the phone call.

Calling from a cell phone while you are driving. Even with Bluetooth technology, driving while you are trying to pay attention to an interview is not a good idea. No matter how good your Bluetooth is, the interviewer can tell that you are in your car and are not paying 100% attention to him or her. Please do not call while you are driving. Pull over and park your car.

Calling from a cell phone or cordless phone whose battery is not fully charged. This is a common occurrence as more of us rely on cell and cordless phones to communicate. In many cases, we forget that the phone needs charging and it dies during the middle of the phone screen. However, having the phone die and call disconnect during the middle of an interview is one way of making sure you don't get to the next step in the interview process. Please check and make sure that you are prepared for the interview with all appropriate phones fully charged.

Multitasking during the interview. Hearing typing or Instant Message beeps during an interview will distract not only you from the interviewer's questions but the interviewer as well as those sounds generally travel over the phone. Just because the interviewer cannot see you, don't assume that he or she won't realize that you are multi-tasking. There is nothing more frustrating for an interviewer than having to repeat a question because the job seeker was not paying attention.

Not speaking clearly or loudly enough. In many cases, the initial screen is just a quick check of skills, verbal communication abilities, etc. When the interviewer cannot hear or understand the job seeker, the chance of that job seeker obtaining an in-person interview is reduced. Clear annunciation and making sure that the volume on your phone is properly adjusted to that of the interviewer is key to making a good impression.

Not being at the number the interviewer was given to call you. Nothing frustrates an interviewer more than calling a number and receiving a voice message after you've made an appointment with the person. Please make sure that you are on time and are at the number given to the interviewer if he or she is supposed to call you.

Bottom line devote your full attention to the interview. Be on time, be where you are supposed to be and be prepared. Avoid these common mistakes and you'll be well on your way to your next job.

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