As a candidate, should you prepare for a phone interview? Yes!! Here are some of my tips.

1. Find a quiet place where you can focus. Shut off the TV, the cell phone and the computer. Get away from barking dogs and crying babies!

2. Avoid eating, chewing gum, drinking or smoking. That is just good phone etiquette in general.

3. Have your resume handy and key talking points written down. Unlike an in-person interview, you can cheat a bit here. You NEVER want to read a resume in-person, but you can get away with peeking at it over the phone.

4. Have paper handy to capture notes and important topics covered in the conversation.

5. Dress up. You don't have to put your best interview suit on, however, take a shower, do your hair and get out of the sweats or yoga pants. You will feel better about yourself.

6. Smile. Smiling creates a positive mood and will help you project a positive image throughout the conversation.

7. Do your homework. I recommend this with any interview. Know the position that you are interviewing for, research the company and prepare some smart questions based on your research.

8. Be clear and to the point. Avoid rambling at all costs.

9. Thank the interviewer for his or her time at the end of the conversation.

10. Send a thank you email and make sure to reiterate your interest in the open position and one of the important topics you covered in the conversation. It should be in your notes!