If you have sent your resume to a company, you might get a phone call from the recruiter.....what can you do to best prepare yourself to shine right now? Knowing how to phone interview well is just as (if not more) important than knowing how to interview in person. If you do not impress them on the phone, you probably will not get that chance to "wow" them in person.

Here are some phone interview tips we hope you find helpful:

1) EXPECT a telephone interview. When you don't expect it, you are caught unprepared and thus at a loss for making a good impression.

2) Feel OK to reschedule. If you receive a call from a recruiter that comes in the middle of a meeting or dinner at home, ask to reschedule and provide a couple of dates and times that work for you instead. Recruiters understand will be happy to reschedule which then enables you to feel prepped and focused for your phone interview.

3) Be prepared. You wouldn't go into a traditional interview without rehearsing first, so don't start a telephone interview unprepared. Have your job search organization folder near at hand so you can refer to it if you need to. Where to do quick research? Check out the company's internet site...it will be full of valuable company information, press releases, etc.

4) Find a quiet, private place. Go to a quiet room at the house or seclude yourself in a conference room where it is quiet when it is time for the interview. Plan for up to an hour for the interview.

5) Smile. It carries through in your voice.

6) Stand up. By standing up, more enthusiasm and energy is infused into your voice and you come across as a more vital candidate.

7) Watch your language. Many job seekers get the impression that a telephone interview is not a "real" interview and get casual in their language (even to the point of using profanity). A telephone interview is a real interview and you should speak as if you were face to face with the interviewer.

8) Get the interviewer's contact info. Remember to ask the interviewer's name (and how it is spelled), address, E-mail and telephone number in order to be able to follow up with a thank
you note and know how to reach him/her.

9) Take your time. Job seekers often feel rushed to answer, especially on the telephone. Take your time and think about your answers. When asked a tough question, a good technique is to repeat the question back to the interviewer. This shows you are listening closely and also buys you time to formulate an answer.