The semester is almost over, so I have been looking around for summer jobs and internships. In my search, I encountered a potential internship that asked to interview me on the phone (the next step would be an in-person interview). I have never been interviewed on the phone before, so I took to Twitter for advice. Many of the responses featured a few of the same tips, so I thought I would share them with you.

1. Smile when you speak. – You automatically sound friendlier and more engaged in the conversation.
2. Speak naturally, but remain professional. – This probably goes for any interview. Be friendly without sounding too informal.
3. Clarity is important. – Take the call in a quiet area where you will not be interrupted. Speak very clearly at a good volume. If possible, use a land line for better results. It’s okay if you only have a cell phone, but if this is the case make sure to apply the first two pieces of this tip.
4. Keep water, a notebook and your resume nearby. – Have water ready in case your mouth gets dry. Be ready to write down any information you are given about the position, contact information, etc. And have your resume on hand in case you are asked something specific about it.
5. Listen! – When the interviewer is speaking, ALWAYS let them finish what they have to say. Pay attention to every thing they ask. You can ask them to repeat items in a list, but make sure this doesn’t happen with everything they say.

These tips are very important for phone interviews, but you should also consider them when making any professional phone call. This means phone calls to set up in-person interviews as well!

Have you had experience with phone interviews? If so, do you have any advice?