Oftentimes the first substantive contact we have with an employer or internship site is over the telephone. It could be a scheduled phone interview or a call that catches you off guard as a result of a resume you sent. Whatever the circumstances, you will want to succeed in convincing the interviewer of your skills and qualifications for the job or internship.

Telephone interviews take a bit extra preparation and organization. Follow these tips for success:

Locate or create a quiet space.
If the interview is scheduled ahead of time, arrange to have a quiet environment in which to receive the call; warn roommates to be quiet and keep the phone line clear. If the call catches you off guard, politely ask for a moment to close the door and inform roommates of the importance of the call.

Use a land line.
In this age of cellular phones, it is wise to use a landline to conduct your interviews. This will take some extra effort to arrange in many cases, but it is well worth the time it takes to ensure excellent reception. The Career Development Center is an ideal location to have your phone interview and if given adequate time, the staff can make arrangements for you.

Use your notes.
Keep your notes and materials close at hand with a notepad and pen. Document the interview questions and spend time perfecting your responses for a follow-up interview.

Practice concise answers.
Avoid vocalized pauses such as “hmm”, “umm”, and the word “like” as they are more pronounced over the phone. There will be no facial expressions for you to gauge how your answers are being received by your interviewer. Draw your sense of confidence from the interviewer’s silence taking it as a sign of interest in what you have to say.

Inflections matter.
Get accustomed to answering confidently and enthusiastically with your vocal inflections; you cannot use body language to help convey your energy over the phone.

Speak clearly.
Speak directly into the phone and do not smoke or chew gum. Be aware that background noise can be amplified and will be distracting to the interview.

Provide key points.
Most commonly asked questions are, “Why should I hire you?” and “Why do you want to intern or work with us?”. Be prepared to have 2-3 clear points with which to outline each of these for the interviewer. Do your homework on the organization and be prepared to ask questions. Be energetic and don’t be afraid to let your enthusiasm for the work you could do for them shine through in your responses!

Ask questions of the employer.
If you have not already learned the specific duties of the internship or job, ask about them now. This provides you with tremendous information with which to prepare for the face to face interview and excellent information to assess if this is the best internship or job for you. 

Ask about timeline. Inquire as to when they anticipate making a decision or moving into an in-person phase of the interview process. 

Remember your calendar.
Know when you are available to them next by having your calendar with you.

Don’t jump to conclusions.
Avoid assessing the internship or job opportunity over the phone and accepting any assignment on the spot. It is just fine to thank them for the interview and explain you will be in touch with a response within 24-48 hours. You might want to contact your career counselor and get their advice before accepting the position.