As we are providers of staffing solutions for call center companies, a large part of our interview process is based upon our phone assessments.  With that in mind, this recent article has some great pointers for making sure you use proper phone etiquette (whether on an interview with CallMe! or any other potential employer).

Some highlights include:

Phone Interview Do’s and Don’ts

Create a checklist. Review the job posting and make a list of how your qualifications match the hiring criteria. Have the list available so you can glance at it during the interview. Also have a copy of your resume in clear view, so you don’t have to remember what you did when.

Research the job and the company. Take some time to research the job and the company. The more prepared you are for the interview, the smoother it will go.

Prepare for phone interview questions. Review answers to typical phone interview questions and think about how you’re going to respond.

Use a land line. Unless your cell phone service is 100% all the time, use a land line instead of a cell phone. That way you won’t have to worry about dropped calls and getting disconnected.

Turn off call waiting. If you have call waiting turn it off. The beep of an incoming call is distracting and can make you lose your focus.

Get rid of the distractions. Interview in a private quiet space. That means securing a babysitter if you have small children at home and kicking the dog, the cat, and the rest of the household members out of your interview space.

Have a glass of water nearby. There isn’t much worse than having a tickle in your throat or a cough starting when you need to talk on the phone. Have a glass of water handy so you can take a quick sip if your mouth gets dry or there’s a catch in your throat.

Take notes. It’s hard to remember what you discussed after the fact, so take brief notes during the interview.

Focus, listen, and enunciate. It’s important to focus on the interview and that can be harder on the phone than in-person. Be sure to listen to the question, ask for clarification if you’re not sure what the interviewer is asking, and speak slowly, carefully, and clearly when you respond. It’s fine to take a few seconds to compose your thoughts before you answer.

Related articles by Zemanta

• The Phone Interview – When the Call Comes (iwaslaidoff.info)
• 50 Worst of the Worst (and Most Common) Job Interview Mistakes (usnews.com)
• Don’t wear pajamas for a phone interview (money.cnn.com)
• Better Talking Lets You Practice And Review for Interviews [Interview] (lifehacker.com)
• How to Ace Your Job Interview (abcnews.go.com)

So, now that you have landed your dream job (or even just the right job for right now), what steps can you take to make sure you keep it?

Applicants.com has a new article detailing some of the steps you can take to avoid being on the “layoff list“, but we will add a few of our own:

1) Avoid negativity – experience suggests those that have a negative attitude towards the company, a boss or coworker tend to be moved to the top of the list if a reduction in force is needed.

2) Go above and beyond – it seems that fulfillment and enjoyment go hand in hand with hard work and dedication.  The employee that is always late, watching the clock to be first out the door at 5pm and extending breaks at every chance is often the employee left behind.  On the other hand, challenging yourself to give your best effort and looking for opportunity to perform above expectations can not only get you noticed in the crowd, but can also give you a true sense of accomplishment and increase your sense of fulfillment on the job.

3) Stay organized to avoid stress and increase productivity – our earlier post on Inbox Zero gives an example of steps you can take to manage your time more efficiently.  Other more call center specific steps include entering notes during a customer call instead of after a call to keep things moving or maintaining clear to-do lists of follow-up calls and emails to make sure nothing is lost in the shuffle.

4) Understand the goal of each call before starting the call – as for a call center industry specific item, before entering any call, you need to make sure you understand the goal of the call.  Are you seeking information, a payment or sale, or communicating a message?  Each of these particular objectives require specific steps to ensure you reach the goal.  Make sure you know what you are seeking to accomplish before any call is routed your way or you make that first outbound call.

For more resources, check out our resources page.

Related articles that may be of interest…

• Choosing to Better Your Career (youngmoney.com)
• Hired! Show the employer who’s boss (money.cnn.com)

When it comes to the job search, just getting going can be the most difficult part.  From the Wall Street Journal: The most difficult part of making a career change is starting it, especially with only your desire to propel you.

David Allen, the author of “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity“, says:

You have to be able to take action in your life without being bumped around like a victim..It helps to recognize that being a self-starter is a set of behaviors that you can adopt.

If you’re having trouble thinking of a project to get you moving in the right direction, start with the basics:

Your first project could be something as simple as making a career-opportunities folder, in which you put interesting articles you cut out of magazines or read online…It could be setting up a time each week to reflect on the bigger picture of your life. It’s not a bad thing to hold off on the biggest decisions until your thinking has matured.

For more, check out our career advice resources or our job listings.

Related articles that may be of interest…

• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen (bluearchipelagoreviews.com)
• Early-Bird Discount on “Back to Basics Productivity” Ebook Expires Today – Order NOW! (lifehack.org)
• Nexty Is a GTD-Focused, Web-Based To-Do List [Getting Things Done] (lifehacker.com)
• David Allen on Getting It All Done (ducttapemarketing.com)
• You: Focus Your To-Do List with a “Skydiving List” [Productivity] (lifehacker.com)