Prepare for an Internship Phone Interview

Internship interviews are tricky enough, but a phone interview requires some extra preparation tactics for an A-plus performance. On the positive side, you can keep notes with you like an open-book test, but on the negative, you don't get that same interpersonal interaction. Learn how to make the best of both worlds for your next phone interview.

Steps

  1. Confirm who is calling. Most likely it is the company, so make sure that the number and time is confirmed.
  2. Understand the subject/company that you are interviewing for before you start the interview. Go over as much related information to the topic as you can to boost your confidence and be prepared for questions pertaining to the company or industry. Pauses will not end the interview, but they will negatively effect the overall impression of your candidacy.
  3. Make a list of questions prior to the actual call, make sure you have these questions memorized. Try to have follow-up questions in the case of yes or no answers so that you will gain more specific results from the person in question. Make sure to specify the parts you are interested in so that the caller will understand that your interest in the position is genuine.
  4. Try to get the employer to do the majority of the talking by asking questions to create a more two-sided dialogue. It helps you gain a better understanding of what will be expected of you, and it will show your interviewer that you are interested in the company, and not just showing off.
  5. Activate a calm and collected state of mind for the interview. No matter what time the interview is make sure you have gotten a good amount of rest and have had some nourishment before the interview. People can’t see you over the phone, but yawning and heavy breathing are easy to identify. You have to sound your best because people can’t see you.
  6. Follow up with a thank you e-mail within 24 hours.

Tips

  • Find a place where you won't be interrupted by noise or people. If this is your dorm or apartment, stick a sign on your door reminding people that you need a silent atmosphere.
  • If you feel something was not emphasized in the interview you can mention it on the email.
  • Just try to be cheerful, the pressure of making sure you are at eye level with the person is gone.
  • Smiling before you get on the phone will actually improve your mood.
  • Keep a printed copy of your resume/CV and any key points in front of you, for quick reference. Highlight anything that you want to find quickly.
  • Keep a glass of water nearby, in case you suddenly feel hoarse or croaky.

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