By Jim Pawlak

Nick wants to know how to prepare for a phone interview. Job seekers have the advantage in phone interviews because they can have their cover letter, resume and any information they've gathered about the company in front of them. They can also have their questions about the company and the job handy, too.

Job seekers have the advantage in phone interviews because they can have their cover letter, resume and any information they've gathered about the company in front of them.

When asked questions, they can quickly scan their information for response clues. They can select their questions as the interview moves along. Phone interviews should be treated as "first impression" interviews. Fail to make an impressive first impression and you'll never make the face-to-face. The shortest phone interview I conducted in my corporate days lasted just long enough for me to say hello and goodbye: the guy was driving and using his cell phone; the topper - the radio was on. He obviously didn't take the phone interview seriously.

Some of the keys to making an impressive impression include:
1. Find a quiet place to have your end of the conversation. Make sure there's no background noise (i.e. kids, TV, radio, pets), and that you're not interrupted.

2. If you use a cordless or cell phone, sit down and stay seated. A caller can tell if you're walking around; that's considered a sign of nervousness.

3. If you have call waiting, turn it off, there's nothing more annoying than hearing that click and the "human nature" pause that goes with it during an interview.

4. Don't use your speakerphone feature because it can make your voice sound tinny on the other end.

5. When responding, don't hold your hand over the mouthpiece because it will muffle your voice.

6. Like all interviews, think before you speak. Smile while talking, and speak slowly and clearly.