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Interviews aren't just about making sure your suit is pressed and shoes are polished. Often, when faced with a wearyingly long list of candidates, employers will set up a telephone interview as an initial vetting process.

For the employer, the benefits are numerous: the call can be delegated to a lower level employee, it can be done quickly and, perhaps most important of all, it's a whole lot cheaper than meeting every candidate.

For the interviewee, too, it can seem an improvement on the traditional face-to-face interview: no frantic searches for the right office, no need to dry-clean your suit; in fact, there's no need to get out of bed at all, is there?

Of course, in reality, telephone interviews have to be taken as seriously as any part of the job application process and there are a number of steps you can take to improve your chances of progressing to a face-to-face meeting. Some of these are obvious: make sure your answer phone sounds professional (blasts of music and amusing messages are to be avoided); turn off your call waiting; make sure you can take the call away from any distractions - evict children and animals; oh, and do get out of bed.

The upside …

There are a number of aspects to this type of interview that can be taken advantage of. With nobody staring at you evaluating your every move, you can make a list of points that you would like to make and have this with you to refer to. Equally, you can have those questions you would like to ask - but always forget to in face-to-face interviews - written down in front of you. In fact, it's well worth keeping an applications file next to the phone so that it can be quickly referred to if an employer contacts you unexpectedly. Include a copy of your application form and any research that you might have done on the organisation, such as print-outs from the company website. This

way you can quickly sound informed and interested - which is particularly important if you've applied for a number of positions and you're trying to recollect which out of the myriad firms you've written to is on the other end of the line.

… and the downside

With the advantages, unfortunately, come equal and opposite disadvantages. You may get to demonstrate your skills and qualities from the comfort of your own home, but you may also get called when you least expect it - making the application file a vital accessory. Equally, even though you don't face the pressures of being judged on your appearance and presentation skills, that puts added stress on what you say and the way you say it. More than ever, your tone of voice will need to convince the interviewer that you are enthusiastic about the position. Here are some points to consider:

• Smile. Smiling can change the tone of your voice, projecting a positive image to the listener.
• Speak slowly and enunciate clearly. Don't be afraid to take a moment to collect your thoughts.
• If possible, keep a glass of water handy.

It can be worth conducting a mock interview with a friend or recruitment consultant and taping it to hear how you sound over the phone. You'll be able to hear all the "ums" and "ahs" you don't realise you're saying.

Finally think about how to close the interview effectively. Your objective is to agree a time, date and place for your face-to-face meeting. Once you have done this, thank the interviewer - and then think about getting your suit pressed.