You haven't been flown in yet, it's just a first step, but how do you impress enough over the phone to get a face-to-face interview? You have to be memorable - not just with what you say, but how you say it. Those "ums" and "likes" you use in regular conversation could count against you like minutes ticking away in a parking meter. "Treat the interview seriously. If they are calling you for a phone interview, it's because you meet the minimum requirements. Treat the phone interview as if it were a face-to-face interview," advises Victoria Snabon-Heath, career services director of The Art Institute of Tampa. In addition to preparing mentally, she suggests, it might be helpful to "get dressed in a suit, even though no one will see you. It will help set your mood." Do whatever it takes, Snabon-Heath suggests, because "you are being screened in or out during this conversation." "Phone interviews are becoming much more commonplace," says Felicia Miller, senior career advisor and job development coordinator for The Art Institute of Las Vegas. The job market is highly competitive, and many companies that are looking for qualified job candidates have to go out-of-state. But before they spend the resources needed to bring you in for a face-to-face, they want to make sure you're worth the time and effort, says Miller. With that in mind, Miller offers the following tips for helping to ace the phone interview, and get to the face-to-face interview: Be prepared. Before the interview, review any available online information for the company and the trends in the industry. Make sure to read any recent press releases so that you can show off your knowledge during the interview while praising the company. If you responded to a particular job posting, have a copy of that printed out for the interview, along with some notes of how your skills and experience match those requirements. Be ready to take notes during the interview, and have your calendar ready to check your availability for the next step in the hiring process. If you are supposed to call the employer, be prompt, but don’t call more than five minutes or so ahead of schedule. The employer may have other things to do before your call. If the job is located outside your area, be prepared to discuss why you are willing to relocate to the new area. Perhaps the new city is closer to your family, or a safer community, or closer to the beach. This lets the employer know that this is a viable opportunity for you. Without the advantage of facial expressions, it's hard to gauge whether or not you've answered a question to the employer's satisfaction. If you are unsure of the question, ask for clarification. If your answer is met with silence, you may want to see if the interviewer understood you by asking a clarification question such as, "Did I answer your question?" Avoid discussing compensation if possible. A phone interview is usually an initial step in the hiring process, and you probably do not have enough information to estimate your worth in the new position. If the interviewer brings up the topic, it’s permissible to say, "I'm looking for the industry standard," or "I'd like to learn more about the opportunity before I discuss that." Thank the employer for taking time out of their day to speak with you. Let them know that they may call you anytime if they have other questions. Make sure your outgoing voicemail message is professional in case they miss you. "It may seem obvious, but make sure the contact number you provide is not your 1980s static cordless phone your Grandmother gave you, or if you give you cellular number, make sure it's charged the night before," says Snabon-Heath. ### About The Art Institutes

Nearly everyone who has ever interviewed for a job can tell you a horror story that no amount of preparation or presentation could have avoided. But according to experts, being well-prepared, poised and enthusiastic can get you through even the most horrible job interview scenarios with your confidence intact. Diana Graves-Sharple, director of career services at The Art Institute of Atlanta, looks back at her own personal experience with a nightmarish job interview and can now laugh. "The interviewer, a sales manager, was an ex-pro football player and conducted much of the interview by shouting at me when he disapproved of my answers to his questions. After about 45 minutes of being brow-beaten, I was just looking for a way to get out of the building," she recalls. Ex-football player managers aside, what can you do to be prepared for the odd interviewer or unexpected questions? "Research and more research," says Kristin N. Miller, career services advisor at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. "If you’ve done your research, chances are you won't be thrown off guard during the interview itself, no matter interviewer's style or questions asked," she says. Miller suggests checking out Web sites like monster.com or careerbuilder.com and printing off the commonly asked interview questions. "Practice answering the questions out loud so you can hear how you sound. This can help you structure your answers so you respond professionally and without rambling," Miller suggests. Just as important as preparation is presentation. "How a job applicant walks in the door, the way that they address the receptionist, what they do while waiting, or even how they fill out the application form are all tests. If they do not pass these small and seemingly insignificant tests, they most likely will not get the job," she cautions. "The old adage is true -- you never get a second chance to make a first impression," Miller adds. Good presentation also means demonstrating that you're excited about the job says Jenny Bouwman, director of career services of The Art Institute of California -- Orange County. "A job interview process is a lot like dating," says Bouwman. "Most employers say that they will hire someone with enthusiasm even if they need training. So, like on a first date, yawning is not appropriate, but being interested in what the employer is saying, and demonstrating excitement can be key to getting a job offer," she says. Last but not least, don’t forget the obvious says Carl L. Brunswick, career services advisor at Miami International University of Art & Design. "I always tell our students to stay away from outrageous or offensive clothing or jewelry, not to talk politics or religion, and never ask 'what can your company do for me?'" says Brunswick. Anything else? Here's Brunswick's final checklist, along with his best wishes for landing the job: Arrive early Carry a few mints and do a fresh breath check Offer a firm handshake and maintain eye contact Follow up with a thank you letter ### About The Art Institutes

Despite a bad rap in recent years internships are one of the best ways to land a good job after graduating from college. According to Career Services counselors at The Art Institutes, a good internship can be an invaluable experience, even if you never end up working where you intern. Nancy Kelliher, Job Developer and Alumni Coordinator for the Career Services Department at The Art Institutes International Minnesota, believes that the best internships are “in a stable environment where the intern can have a positive learning experience.” “A good internship can be a once in a lifetime opportunity – it can launch a career or more practically, help re-define professional goals,” she says. As with any job search, securing an internship means having a polished resume. According to Gina Novak of the Career Services department at The Art Institute of New York City, “Entry level resumes will generally be light on experience, so it’s important to stress your positive traits.” For example, she says if you’ve volunteered your time with a non-profit organization and used work-related skills, that can be just as important as being paid to do the same job. Along with your educational background, your resume should include any other career training you may have had, for example computer skills. However, says Wendy Wagner Lind, Director of Career Services at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, “An internship is a learning experience, so even though an employer is looking for a certain amount of talent, they should be prepared to guide an intern as well. We have found if a student has a great attitude and is willing to go the extra mile, it makes up for some lack of experience.” Art Institute experts say internships are not hard to find, in fact, most companies, large and small, are eager to participate in internship programs. The internet is a great tool for finding legitimate internships. Many corporations both profit and not-for-profit list internship opportunities on their websites. If there isn’t a specific internship link, there may be another helpful contact to point you in the right direction, for example, a public relations or community affairs office. Donna Dessert, Director of Career Services at The Art Institute of California – San Francisco suggests that once you secure an internship interview, remember your interview basics. Arrive on time and dress appropriately. Bring multiple copies of your resume in case you meet with more than one person. As an intern, you may not have a significant job history to discuss during the interview process, however says Dessart, “Employers tell us that ‘soft skills’ really sell.” Applicants should demonstrate they have soft skills such as reliability, good communication, punctuality and passion, in addition to their other skills. “After all,” says Dessart, “people want to work with others who have good interpersonal skills and who will fit into the culture of the work environment.” Should recent graduate expect paid internships? Nancy Kelliher believes they should. “I think it’s fairly important to have a paid internship. Most students must continue working while attending school and a paid internship would allow the individual to pursue their education and their professional goals at the same time,” she says. If you’ve had a successful internship, and want to remain working at the company after graduation, it’s important to indicate this to supervisor. While the ultimate goal may be to get hired at the company where you’re interning, “that outcome often depends on the graduate’s skill level and how much dedication they put into the experience,” says Wendy Wagner. ### About The Art Institutes

What began in the fabulous 50’s with the growth of suburban America is gaining popularity with today’s homeowners. The home bar is back and better than before, paving the way for casual cocktails and stylish home entertaining across the country. “Today, the popularity of cooking shows, travel programs and television series with chic martini toting women are bringing home entertaining back with a vengeance and a new sense of style,” says Michael Anderson, chef instructor for the Food & Beverage Managemen