Phone Interview Tips - At least you don't have to worry about what you're going to wear

If you've got a phone interview scheduled, first off, congratulation! Its usually a good sign that you're on the right path to landing an internship if a company wants to get to know you better. Besides the obvious (an interview on the phone), you'll want to follow these phone interview tips to better understand the phone interview so you can do you best.

Since the phone interview is usually the next step in the process to landing an internship, its important to show recruiters that you can live up to your resume. Oftentimes, a successful phone interview can lead to a real, face-to-face interview or even an on the spot offer for an internship. Just like an in-person interview, it's important to be yourself, be relaxed, and of course, be professional. Follow these simple phone interview tips and you'll do great:

What: The phone interview is an important stepping stone to get an internship. This is usually your first chance to talk directly to the company and you'll be able to (and expect to) introduce yourself. You should be prepared for the standard interview questions, such as greatest strengths/weaknesses and why do you want to work here. Don't forget to bring a list of questions that you have for the company.

Where: The beauty of the phone interview is that you can be literally anywhere with a telephone. It's recommended that you take the call somewhere private, such as when you're home with few distractions around, to avoid nervousness and background noises. If you're taking a call at home, be sure to remind your roommates to keep down the noise and to respect your privacy during the interview.

When: This is the one aspect of the interview that is usually out of your control. If a recruiter calls or emails you a time, you should do everything in your power to accomodate their request unless its an absolute conflict, such as an important exam or presentation. In this scenario, most recruiters know that school is your first priority and will reschedule. Asking to reschedule because of an intramural soccar game or because your favorite show is on t.v. at that time are not legitimate excuses.

Who: The phone interview is typically one-on-one, with you interviewing with an employee of the company where you've applied for an internship. Oftentimes, you'll interview with a recruiter or someone from human resources, although an employee from the department you're interested in working with might conduct the interview.

Why: Short answer - so you can learn more about the company and so they can learn more about you. Since your resume is just a single piece of paper, the phone interview allows the company to see if you're potentially a good match before you travel to their office for an in-person interview. Use this to your advantage! If this is your first interview, make a little cheat sheet with notes so you're prepared. Once you go into the office for a "real" interview, you're literally in the hot seat and you can't rely on notes. Use your phone interview as a great practice before your first in-person interview.

Last Remarks: Out of all these phone interview tips, the single most important phone interview tip is to be yourself. In order to really standout, you need to be lively, passionate, and energenic - using these to show your interviewer who you really are and why they should hire you. Don't treat this call like any other call - drop the slang, be professional, be prepared, and bring some excitement to conversation!