So you’re scheduled for a phone interview with a company you’ve been dying to intern for at 2 p.m. sharp. You’re not sure whether to be nervous that your personality won’t shine through the phone or relieved not to have the pressure of meeting face-to-face. Regardless of how you feel, this is a big opportunity, and you want to make a good impression. Here are 5 helpful tips to help you land the job.
1. Choose the right location
Since you won’t have the luxury of meeting in a manager’s office, it’s up to you to find a quiet place to speak. It’s safe to say that a college campus is rarely the soundproof place we would sometimes like it to be. Instead, make sure you find a spot where you can be alone and, even more importantly, have cell phone service.
Tip: If your interview happens to fall at a time when you can’t make it back to your bedroom, reserve a study room in the library or even sit in your car to eliminate all chances for noisy interruptions.
2. Turn your cell phone volume down
Nothing can be more obnoxious than listening to a slew of dings and buzzes from your text messages as you are trying to speak on the phone. It will not only distract your train of thought, but the person on the other line can hear the noises as well.
Tip: Check your phone’s sound settings and make sure the text ringer, not the overall ring tone, is turned off. This way, you will still hear your phone ring when you receive the call, but you won’t hear every incoming text once you answer.
3. Look your best
Even though you won’t meet the interviewer in person, don’t assume you shouldn’t dress the part. Everyone knows that looking good results in feeling good. Doing something to make yourself look extra presentable will give you the confidence boost you need to nail the interview.
Tip: Style your hair and apply your makeup as if it was the real deal, and wear a blazer over your favorite pair of jeans to get yourself in a professional mindset.
4. Use your resources
Since you have the benefit of being unseen, take this opportunity to jot down some ideas about yourself and the points you would like to make during your interview. If you’re asked a question you feel unprepared for, taking a quick glance at your notes may jog your memory in time to deliver a strong answer.
Tip: Employers will often ask about your past job and internship experiences, so have a copy of your resume nearby to reference if needed.
5. End smoothly
Ending a phone interview may seem a bit awkward without the opportunity to give a firm handshake and kind smile on your way out the door. Instead, craft a mature final statement ahead of time that includes thanking them for the opportunity, looking forward to hearing from them in the future, and wishing them luck in the rest of their recruitment process.
Tip: Be sure to still sound like yourself; sounding too generic and rehearsed will take away from the great impression you’ve already made.