Conduct a mock telephone interview with a friend to gain feedback on your voice quality and speech.

Before the interview, prepare talking points for the call including value you bring to the company and specific questions.

Keep your resume in clear view, on the top of your desk, or tape it to the wall near the phone, so it's at your fingertips when you need to answer questions.

Turn call-waiting off so your call isn't interrupted.

If the time isn't convenient, ask if you could talk at another time and suggest some alternatives.

Clear the room - evict the kids and the pets. Turn off the stereo and the TV. Close the door.

Treat the phone interview as you would a face-to-face interview.

Don't smoke, chew gum, eat, or drink.

Do keep a glass of water handy, in case you need to wet your mouth.

Select a quiet, private room with a telephone in good working condition.

Arrange the following items: your resume, cover letter, copy of application if you submitted one, highlights of corporate information and brief talking points.

Have a short list of your accomplishments available to review.

Use the person's title (Mr. or Ms. and their last name.) Only use a first name if they ask you to.

Write down the full names and titles of each call participant.

Breathe deeply and relax. Speak slowly, clearly and with purpose. Enunciate clearly.

Smile, it changes your speech and the person on the other end can sense it.

Be courteous and try not to speak over the interviewer. If you do, apologize and let the interviewer continue.

Take your time - it's perfectly acceptable to take a moment or two to collect your thoughts.

Give short answers.

Dress in business attire.

Have a pen and paper handy for note taking.

Support your statements with detailed examples of accomplishments when possible. It is easy for someone to get distracted on a phone call, so paint a vivid picture to keep the interviewer interested.

Explain any pauses in your speech to ponder a question or take notes.

If you think of a question or comment while the interviewer is speaking, jot a note on your talking points list, so you remember it later.

During the interview, if the interviewer inadvertently answers a question from your prepared list, cross it off. If you forget and ask it, it will seem as if you were not listening.

Offer to provide additional information or answer other questions.

Use your talking points list of specific skills and accomplishments; cross them off as you work them into the conversation. At the end, if you have some uncrossed items, you might say something like, "I thought you might be interested to know I led a major conversion project, quite similar to what you are planning. I managed a $2.5 million budget and completed it 45 days early, saving over $48,000."

Before ending the call, be sure you know the next step in the process, and offer to provide any additional information needed.

Remember your goal is to set-up a face-to-face interview. After you thank the interviewer ask if it would be possible to meet in person.

Do not hang up until the interviewer has hung up.

Promptly send a formal follow-up / thank you letter, just as you would for a face-to-face interview.

Take notes about what you were asked and how you answered.

Remember to say "thank you." Follow with a thank you note which reiterates your interest in the job.