Take a few deep breaths before the interview:
Stand up while answering, shoulders back (it will make you feel more confident). Write down a few key points that you want to make sure you tell the interviewer. If you need to think about your answer tell the interviewer that so that they don't wonder why there is a silence.
For telephone interviews, the most important point is to behave, get dressed and speak exactly like you would during a face-to-face interview:
Your aim is to convey a confident image of yourself despite the underlying nerves. Have a notepad near you and take notes of the questions they ask so that you can refer to it in case you forget. Have your CV in front of you as during phone interviews they tend to ask general questions about your career history overall. Most importantly, convey you are a likable person and smile just as you would in a face-to-face interview situation.
Do not be put off if you're young:
If you believe you have the right experience and qualifications, keep applying, but do make sure you are applying for jobs that truly match your skill set, otherwise you won't be successful. Look at areas to improve such as content of your answers, being concise and looking smart. Most companies hire a diverse range of candidates, but it may be worth doing some serious research on their website to get a feel for their culture and the types of people who would fit in well there.
Avoid weaknesses that are actually positives disguised as a weakness:
I think picking a real weakness that you can easily address is best. For example: "I can struggle to recall tasks if lots are given to me at one time. I've addressed this by making sure I always have a notebook to hand." Flex this answer depending on the role you're going forward for (for example, if you're going for a role as an analyst don't pick mental arithmetic as your weakness). I would also avoid any major weaknesses like: "I'm frequently late" or "I turn up to work hungover!"
I agree with the panel's comments about discussing weaknesses at interview:
By showing awareness of your weaknesses and giving details of steps you take to get round them, you'll also be showing off other appealing qualities such as the ability to take the initiative or the fact that you've experienced positive personal growth as a result of your actions. In other words, displaying an insight into your own nature can actually be a factor that might distinguish you from other applicants.
Here are my top five pieces of advice for a first phone interview:
1. Keep any answers you've prepared in front of you, don't click around looking for them. 2. Listen carefully and don't interrupt – if something wasn't clear, ask again. It's a usual feature of phone interviews. 3. Have a glass of water handy – it's your first time, you will be nervous and can go dry. 4. It can be helpful to stand up during the entirety of your phone interview as it encourages natural assertiveness and confidence. 5. As tempting as it may be don't click around and type into Google looking for answers if you don't know anything. On phone or in person, just focus on speaking to the interviewer.
Here are my top tips on how to prepare:
Rehearse some interview questions by yourself, or ideally with someone you trust. Get some feedback on your answers – do they sound as good to other people as they do to you? Do good quality research on the business and its people before going for the interview. You must go further than just looking on their website. Preparation and rehearsal are the best ways to manage any potential nerves, so have as many mock interviews as you can. Above all remember the interviewers aren't trying to trick you. It's not an interrogation – although it can feel like that.