It's September and interviewing activity seems to be accelerating as managers and recruiters return after the Labor Day holiday.  Some of the  people you reached out to in August and even back in July rediscovered your resume or took another look at your web presence and called you back.  Now you have a phone screen scheduled with someone from human resources, and you are beginning to prepare...  and to worry.  Almost all job seekers say they are more confident and more impressive in person versus over the phone, but almost all companies and search firms want to conduct an intital screening via phone, or perhaps via Skype. Setting Skype aside for the moment,  there are a few tips to help you pass that phone screen and hopefully keep you in the running for the live callback interview during which you can dazzle the interviewers with your presence and business knowledge. Phone interviewing is one part mechanics and two parts content.  This commentary addresses the easier but often overlooked part: the mechanics.

Prepare, prepare, prepare.  Learn all you can about the company, its strengths and weaknesses, its challenges and opportunities.  Learn all you can about its competitors.  Learn all you can about the person who will be interviewing you: visit LinkedIn, blogs, personal websites, Google and Bing. Ask your contacts if they know the person or the company and absorb as much as you can.

Although we all love our cell phones and mobile devices, unless you are 100% absolutely, positively certain that the transmission quality of your cell phone is crystal clear and strong regardless of your location or any other variable, find an old-fashioned land line for the interview.  There is almost nothing more annoying for an interviewier than being able to hear only every fourth word you utter, and I know from experience that after a few minutes, interviewers will not even bother to ask you to repeat yourself; they will simply stop listening, and the call will come to a premature end. 

In the "it hopefully goes without saying" category, be certain you are not going to subject the interviewer to background noises, such as barking dogs, crying babies, lawnmowers, doorbells, the sound of other telephones ringing, etc. 

Get dressed for the call - no sitting around in your robe and bunny slippers. This is an important call, not a chat with a friend.  Being appropriately attired helps you respond appropriately. 

Have all the information you need at hand, including your resume, research on the company, the job description, a cheat sheet with key points you want to make and questions you want to ask.

Stand up while you are being interviewed. It helps enhance vocal quality and is likely to make you sound more confident.

Use a headset or speaker, only if the sound quality is excellent, so you can keep your hands free to gesture (if you typically wave your hands around for emphasis when you talk, you want to be able to do that) and so that you can access materials or take notes.

Smile when you speak: there have been studies that demonstrate that the listener "hears" the smile and feels more positive about you.

Observe the fundamental rules of good dialogue: listen, do not interrupt, do not monopolize the conversation, and be concise, clear, and compelling with your responses and observations.

Embrace these basics tips, and then you can concentrate on the content: you'll be more likely to pass the phone screen with flying colors.