It does not take a genius to comprehend why you should not answer your cell phone at the job interview. Answering your cell phone is rude and unprofessional, and unless you are worried that someone is going to die if you do not take the call, the call can probably wait.

Cell Phones Off, Not On Silent

Most individuals turn their cell phones on vibrate to ignore appearing unprofessional. This makes a lot of sense, since you probably do not need the interviewer to know that your ringtone is “Every Girl” by Lil Wayne.

Vibrate, although, is also bad. It might come as a surprise, but employers are not actually hard of hearing. They can hear the buzz, buzz, buzz sound coming from your pocket every time you get a phone call or text message. Your phone requires being off completely.

• When your phone is off the interviewer can’t hear it vibrate or ring.
• When the phone is off, you’ll not be distracted by the vibrations.
• When your phone is off, your pocket won’t light up because someone is calling you.

Do not just turn off your cell phone for the employer. Turn it off for you. It is hard to ignore temptation to check the cell phone when you’ve a moment because you know someone called or sent a text message, but your interview is about you and the job, not about who is texting you. Keep your cell phone off at all times, so there is no motivation to check it before, during, or after your interview.

Before You Turn the Phone Off

Cell phones have many buttons. Before you turn your cell phone off, make certain you have turned it on silent, so that if the phone comes back on by accident, it does not ring during your interview. Many interviews have been ruined by previously-turned-off cell phones turning themselves back on in the middle of the interview.

Your cell phone requires being completely silent and completely off. Only then can you make sure it does not distract you or the interviewer, and will not detract from you getting the job.