You need to follow up on your applications. Call or email the person you applied with and check the status of your application. Following up will increase your response rate exponentially. You will probably get many quick rejections. These are not the end of the world! Some positions have stringent requirements, others are more flexible. Quick rejections give you more time to pursue the job that you can get.

The positive responses will also come—requests for samples, email queries, and phone calls. This is where the interview process starts. The phone interview is a screening process that helps companies weed out unqualified people. They are not going to request an in-person interview until they are certain that you are a real contender. The telephone interview is similar to the regular interview process, but it actually gives you an advantage—they can't see how nervous you are!

Most interviews follow the twenty questions format. Some add a basic writing or editing test. If you are nervous about taking a test, just don't take it! Apply somewhere else—there are many places that don't require a test. Practice interviewing with someone—both in-person and on the phone. Find out where you have problems, so you can work on them and not embarrass yourself during a real interview.

L. H. Garlinghouse from TECH-WRL has some advice for after the interview.

When they call, be confident and professional—before you know it, you won't be a newbie anymore.