STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I had my first phone interview sessions this month to get my current position.  The great thing about phone interviews is that you can take notes, have them right in front of you, and still look professional.  Here are my tips:

1.  Try to put yourself in a professional environment.  Find a private place where you will not be interrupted or let anyone that might interrupt you know not to bother you until you are done.  In my case, I used an empty office at my job (it was an internal position, otherwise I would have set myself up at home).  I would dress professionally and sit at a desk just to put yourself in a professional state of mind. 

2.  Take notes and use them.  I spread out 3 pages of paper in front of me in easily readable locations.  One had some information on their book list I wanted to use to show them I studied up on their dept.  One had questions and things I definitely wanted to let them know about myself before the interview ended.  The other had answers to questions I thought they might ask.  I familiarized myself with these things as best as I could beforehand, but having them in fron of me was a HUGE help.  And by the time I was interviewing with people in person later that week, I had everything down pat and didn't bring any kind of notes or cheat sheet to the interview.

3.  Make sure your voice sounds professional, but happy.  This will demonstrate that you will communicate well with clients and fellow employees. 

4.  Treat it with as much importance, if not more, as a face-to-face interview.  They are screening you to see if it is worth their time to bring you in.  I'm sure you know this though.  If you didn't think it was important, you wouldn't be asking us.

HTH!