Applying for an internship this summer? Read some basic tips that will help you ace the interviews

I have been interviewing candidates for a sought-after paid internship spot this summer.  Most of them have made some rookie mistakes that could have cost them the job.  I decided to share my top five interviewing tips in the hopes of helping next year's class improve their chances of landing a spot.

1. Research the company.  It shocked me to discover how many candidates seemingly had not even looked at our company's web site before the interview.  Read up on the basics and formulate a pithy but well-informed question about the company's business, one that shows an interest in the interviewer's role.  For example, "I see that your company has some of the world's largest organizations as customers.  What is it like negotiating deals with those big heavy-hitters?  That must be a challenge."
2. Research the interviewer.  Similarly, I was surprised to discover that many candidates had done no research on the interviewers before speaking to them.  It is probably safe to assume that any person working in business today has a social media profile.  Read it.  Ask a business-appropriate question about the interviewer's background, such as "I noticed from your LinkedIn profile that you started your career as a school teacher.  What inspired you to change courses to pursue a career in Human Resources?  I am interested because I am torn between teaching and a more business-oriented career path."
3. Be aware of your surroundings.  Most times a telephone interview is pre-scheduled.  Plan to be in a quiet spot, free of distractions and background noise, for the entire interview.   If you are on campus, lock yourself in your car or a phone room at the library.  If you are at home with roommates, ask them not to disturb you.  Make sure that your dog is out of earshot.  Do not schedule your interview while you are driving.   If the interview or phone screen are not pre-scheduled, let the call go to voicemail and call the interviewer back when you are in a quiet location.
4. Practice.  Businesses take their professional images seriously.  Your speech, grammar, and mannerisms must project maturity and professionalism if you are going to land an internship.  Find a trusted friend and practice an interview or even have a casual conversation, if you find role-play ridiculous.  Enlist a third friend to count how many times you use "filler words" such as "like," "um," and "you know" in a two-minute conversation.  Double points for "like, um".  The third friend should also count the number of times you use colloquialisms like "I 'heart' that show".  Repeat until your count for both is zero or as close to it as you can get without sounding unnatural.
5. Follow up.  Even if you decide after the interview that you have no interest in the job, someone took time out of his or her working day to talk to you.  We live in a small world, and you never know when your paths may cross again.  Take a few minutes shortly after the interview to send a quick note of thanks.  Email, LinkedIn or text message are all appropriate formats, although you should know your audience if using the latter.  In my digital world, a paper thank-you note is unlikely to reach me, so although some career counselors apparently still recommend it, hedge your bets and send an electronic thank you also.