12 Tips to Avoid a Bad Phone Impression

12 Tips to Avoid a Bad Phone Impression12 Tips to Avoid a Bad Phone Impression2First impressions have a lasting effect on so many aspects of our lives. Making a positive first impression with a hiring manager can make the difference between your dream job becoming a reality or just aleidlageher job interview.Our client relations department at fields hundreds of phone calls on a weekly basis from job landseekers, and we have collected 12 excellent tips on how job seekers can avoid phone pitfalls and make a good impression on hiring managers over the phone.Here are 12 tips to avoid a bad phone impression1. Be aware of background noise.With our extraordinary new technology, phones can detect and transmit the sound around you easily. The television, radio, or other people speaking can distract away from anything you are saying on a phone call. This is not a good impression for phone interviews or other first impressions with a new employer. Background noise can be as simple as wind or as jarring as the radio turned up too loudly, but either way, it leaves a lasting impression on the person you are calling which is not positive.Heres an example of a job seeker who had too much background noise to be understood when leaving a voicemail. The TV or radio was so loud that she didnt hear the beep prompting her to leave her full message.2. Do not reveal too much personal information.It is surprising how much information can be transmitted over a five minute phone call. It is crucial to keep your call professional and focused on your skills not your recent experience at the grocery store or break-up. Stay focused on the questions you are being asked and do not lead the conversation into personal details.3. Do not interrupt.This is a ayafire way to make a bad phone impression. Phone calls can be difficult because you cannot see the person when they are finished talking. It is better to allow there to be a slight pause confirming they are ready for you to begin, than to talk over them. It is always a good plan to say, excuse me, if you accidentally interrupt or talk over someone on a phone call.4. Do not speak too quickly.There is no need to rush through saying your name or phone number, especially if you are leaving a message or a voicemail. The way that the letters b, p, v, t, c, d, e and g sound going across a phone can make it exceedingly easy for a person to mishear or misunderstand your name. Additionally, it is good practice to state your return phone number more than once to ensure a returned call.5. Do not hang-up without saying, Goodbye.Much like a walkie-talkie conversation utilizing the word over to communicate the other person is free to talk saying goodbye is a formal way to acknowledge a conversation is finished. Hanging up without saying goodbye can be construed as rushed or rude, so always take that extra moment to communicate you are exiting a call.6. Be sure to listen.You can receive a lot of information on a phone call. If you feel you might forget or not understand something the other person is saying, write it down while you are listening. This will allow you to have a moment to ask for clarification or insert a question after the person is done speaking.7. Do not curse.It should go without saying that to appear professional there are certain words and phrases that should not come out of your mouth when speaking on the phone. If you slow down your pattern of speech and think through your answers before speaking, you will run less of a risk of slipping up and using language that could bar you from getting the attention you want from a potential employer.8. Do not have negative assumptions.When you receive a call from a number you do not know, you should never answer the phone suspiciously or rudely especially if you are in the job market. Employers can call from 800 numbers or blocked numbers and screening your calls or screaming into the phone because you assume you know who it is will not get you a call bac k from that employer.9. Do not eat on the phone.Even the slightest amount of food or gum in your mouth is detectible on the phone. You might be terribly hungry at that moment an employer is not going to feel that you take their interview or call seriously if you sound as though you are speaking through a mouthful of marshmallows.10. Keep your voicemail box empty and your message professional.When you are job searching, it is vital to know that you have a professional sounding, empty voicemail box that can field your calls if you are unavailable for any reason. Music, slang, or humor is not the first impression that you would want your employer to have if they were not to reach you directly when calling you.11. Make an email address that is professional.It is entirely acceptable to utilize more than one email address to field different parts of your life. If your email address is stinkpot22xxxx.com, you might want to consider creating another account that is not as personal for job a pplications. Employers do look at this as a first impression of you as a candidate.12. Try to smile while you are talking.Smiling is heard through the phone and will convey your personality and positive feelings about a position. Employers love to hear people that are happy and enthusiastic on the phone. A trick you can use is to make faces at yourself in the mirror (dontget too silly) that make you smile while on the call. The can relax you and send a message that you are happy and relaxed.These tips may seem like common sense, but we talk to job seekers every day that forget one or more of these rules and this can make the difference between being hired or not. Make sure an utilize this list and other job tips on, to make sure you are ready for an interview.Before you make that critical call or start a job interview, make sure to take note of your environment, your tone and professionalism. Like the old Head Shoulders shampoo commercials said, You never get a second chance to mak e a first impression.Readers, have you ever made abad phone impression? What are your tips for job seekers to make a stellar impression over the phone?