If your interview is by telephone, a little bit of strategic planning can help you rise above your competition and get the job that you deserve.

An interview is just like a performance, you have to be on top of your game. This means that you should have put some decent time into research and practice beforehand.

Here are 5 tips which will help you up your gamr on the day to give an awesome telephone interview.

Top tip 1 - Hydrate strategically.

Your brain needs oxygen, blood and water to function at its best. 

Start hydrating yourself at least an hour before the interview. This will also ensure your throat is moist, you don't want to croak half-way through it.

Don't drink so much that it sends you to the bathroom and avoid fizzy drinks, iced drinks and hot drinks.

Many professional singers drink honey and lemon mixed with WARM water before a performance to improve their voice.  I used to use this before big presentations and it really helps. It also has the benefit of being really soothing particularly when you feel under stress. Just reaching out to grasp a warm cup of liquid can relax you in times of stress. Try this out, it works.

Top tip 2 - Warm-up

Before any form of exercise where performance is key, warming up is essential.

If you haven't spoken for several hours before the interview then start by massaging your throat gently in an up and down motion.

Next open your mouth wide like a yawn and moving your mouth from side to side. Then, with your mouth wide open try an up and down chewing motion.

Next run your tongue around all 4 corners of your mouth. This is unloosening you up so that you don't get tongue-tied at crucial moments.
(obviously do these in private because they look strange!)

And finally, try repeating these tongue -twisters and you'll set yourself nicely for your job interview.

a. I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late

b. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
 A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked
 If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
 Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Top tip 3 - Use perfect posture

Your posture is critically important to how you project confidence on the phone.

Standing up to take the call can make you feel larger and  more confident. You can alsp project your voice better when standing…. I mean….how many opera singers do you see singing sitting down?

If you are sitting, don’t sit hunched forward over the phone. Your organs and diaphragm will be constricted and you’ll sound terrible. 

Instead, sit up straight, bring your shoulders back and lift your chin.  Your voice will sound so much more confident because you're not squeezing your inner organs and diaphragm.

Try placing your phone on a stand with the screen at mouth level in front of you and using your headphones, talk at the phone, not down into it.
This will give a more conversational, natural sound.

Top tip 4 - Smile when you dial.

Did you know that interviewers can hear you smile on the phone?
Everyone likes to listen to and work with positive people. 

This was the first lesson I received in telephone sales years ago.

In case you didn't realise it, you are SELLING yourself right now. You need them to say yes to you, so give them every opportunity to do so. So SMILE all the way through your call. 

Top tip 5 - Use strategic notes

Because the interviewer can't see you, they can't see your notes, so take this opportunity to place your notes in front of you just in case you need them. 

For example, remember when they ask, "what questions do you have?"

And you can't remember your awesome ones?  Well this time you've got your notes to help you. It's not cheating, so try it out.

Use each interview format wisely so that they work for YOU!

That's 5 Winning Tips for Telephone Interviews. Each one is guaranteed to help you present yourself confidently and eloquently to rise above your competition because hardly anyone prepares like this.

If you want to learn and practice how to pass a tough interview, let me teach you how. I train the interviewers to interview you. I know how they select you. Join me in the programme to learn how to beat the competition and get the job that you deserve,

And remember, SMILE WHEN YOU DIAL!