Phone Interviews They're a quick and easy way to screen potential employees.

Phone interviews are being used more and more as a tool toevaluate candidates before bringing them in for an interview. Theysave time and can help you determine whether you want to arrangefor a face-to-face meeting. Before you call a prospectivecandidate, make sure you have a clear agenda of the items you wantto cover. Organize your questions in advance so that yourconversation will follow a natural and orderly process. It iscourteous to schedule a phone interview rather than assume thecandidate will have the time to talk whenever you call. Be preparedto ask him the same direct qualifying questions that you would askin person.

If the candidate doesn't sound right on the phone, chancesare he won't sound any better when you meet. If this is thecase, you've saved yourself a lot of time. Go on to your nextcandidate.

Excerpted from Attracting & Rewarding OutstandingEmployees