While it’s usually better to meet with a hiring manager face-to-face, that’s not always a viable option. While it might seem less awkward to talk over the phone than in person, this actually can be a bit trickier to handle. Before you pick up the phone, be sure to peruse this list of at-home interview tips we’ve compiled from top resume writers.

1. Dress Up
You might be tempted to simply handle the interview in a comfy pair of sweats and an old t-shirt, but this doesn’t really put you into professional mode. Wear business attire, just as you would for a regular job interview. At the very least, get completely dressed, down to the shoes, even if you are just wearing jeans and a top. Dressing professionally, however, can make you feel more professional and help you make a better impression.

2. Hide Away
If you have roommates or family members living with you, make sure these individuals are not in the same room as you during the interview. You want to be completely focused on the task at hand, and you’ll want to avoid distractions. Our top resume writers also recommend that if you have kids, have your spouse or a sitter take them to the park, so that you won’t have to worry about any noise.

3. Avoid Distractions
Aside from the distractions created by other people, you also might be distracted by other issues. Keep the TV off, obviously, but sometimes it’s wise to clean up your space before a phone interview. You don’t want to be distracted by a pile of dirty dishes in the sink or a mound of dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or piles of bills on your home office desk. Find a clean, clear space and sit there for the interview.

4. Charge Your Phone
Whether you are using a landline with a portable phone or a mobile phone for the interview, you need to make sure these devices are fully charged. If you are using a landline, turn your mobile phone off completely and put it in another room before the interview. If you will be using a cell phone, not only should you ensure it is fully charged, make sure there is a charging cord nearby and ready to go just in case.

5. Practice Your Interview Skills
Whether you are interviewing in person or via the phone, this advice applies to everyone. You need to practice your answers to typical interview questions, as well as preparing a list of thoughtful questions to ask the hiring manager. It also is wise to research the company, as well, so that you have a thorough knowledge of the company goals and mission as well as some information about key players in the firm.

The more you prepare, the better you will perform during the interview process. Our choice for top resume writers can help you with a great resume as well as with some career coaching. So if you are feeling uncertain about your interview skills, consider asking these professionals for help.

6. Take Notes & Prepare Notes
One of the great things about a phone interview is that you can prepare notes and look at them as much as you want during the interview. In a face-to-face interview, it can be awkward if you are flipping through your notes the entire time and avoiding eye contact, but with a phone interview this is less of an issue. Be sure you don’t spend so much time sifting through your notes that you don’t listen properly to the hiring manager or end up with long, awkward silences.

Don’t forget to thank the hiring manager at the end of the phone interview, and our top resume writers also suggest sending a handwritten thank-you note after the interview or, at the very least, email a thank-you note. Many people bypass this step, but it can make you a more memorable job candidate.

If you are searching for the top resume writers, we’ve found them. After studying resumes from a variety of resume writing companies, we’ve ranked Resume Writing Group as our top pick. They provide clients with consistently high-quality, error-free, dynamic resumes that will attract the attention of hiring managers and get you through the door (or on the phone) for interviews.

We all know that hiring managers appreciate prospective employees that are on-time, polite and dressed for success, not to mention qualified for the job position at hand. But what do hiring managers hate? Our top resume writers have a compiled a short list of irritants that will make it difficult for you to earn that new job.

1. Failing To Follow Directions
Read the job posting carefully. If it specifically says not to include a cover letter, then don’t send one. If the listing says all inquiries must be submitted by email, then submit your inquiries via email and don’t make a phone call. After all, if you can’t even follow these simple instructions, how likely are you to be able to follow more complex instructions once you get the job?

2. Making It Hard For Hiring Managers
Do you have a professional website, a blog, a LinkedIn profile or perhaps a social media account that pertains to your profession? Be sure to include this information on your resume so that hiring managers can take a quick peak if they wish. Mentioning that you have a website or blog but failing to include the URL or a link means that the hiring manager will have to search around the internet if they wish to find it, and hiring managers simply don’t have that time to waste.

3. Winging It During An Interview
Did a hiring manager just ask you a question you can’t answer? You might be tempted to simple make something up on the spur of the moment. This, however, would be a mistake as most hiring managers can tell that you are winging it and that you have no idea how to answer the question. You might simply remark that the question is a good one and you need a moment to think about it. Take a few seconds to think the question through and formulate a thoughtful answer. You can even think aloud as you do this, which allows the hiring manager to take a look at how you think and solve problems. Top resume writers also suggest that you practice your answers to typical interview questions prior to going on interviews to avoid these types of situations.

4. Keeping It Super Casual
The corporate atmosphere may be relaxed, but that doesn’t mean that you should be during the interview or within any correspondence with the hiring manager. Dress professionally, use proper and professional language, and ensure that all of your emails include a proper business format.

5. Careless Errors
This might seem obvious, but our top resume writers see careless errors all the time when they are given resumes to review. People often misspell words or use improper grammar or syntax, and this is something that really irritates a hiring manager. If you are sending out a multitude of resumes, be sure to double and triple-check that the company name is correct on each letter or packet you send out. For instance, if a manager from Company A sees the name of Company B on your materials, they will simply toss the resume and application since you couldn’t even be bothered to make sure where you were sending your information.

The best advice we can give you would be to use the services of top resume writers, and we can help you find these professionals. We’ve scoured the internet and reviewed hundreds of resume writing sites and narrowed down a list of the top resume writers. We highly recommend that you contact these companies and hire them to create everything from resumes to cover letters to LinkedIn profiles and more.