Telephone Tips for the Nervous Job Seeker -Part 2

Editor's note: This is the second part o<a href="telephone-tips-for-the-nervous-job-seeker">f Telephone Tips for the Nervous Job Seeker.</a> THEY, THE POTENTIAL EMPLOYER CALLS YOU AT THE OFFICE:  Obviously, if you are employed or still have the use of a secretary to answer incoming calls, all he or she need say is “Good morning, Mr. Smith’s office – how can I help you?”  If unemployed, acquire a dedicated phone line at home just for you (and, please not for your children).  Better still, create a “Virtual Office.”  Sign up for an answering service, a Virtual Secretary, such as Virtuosity (<a href="http://www.virtuosity.com/">www.virtuosity.com</a> – (800) 441-1188).  Such a service will cost between $49 to $99.  They will answer your telephone calls and route to you at a specified location.  If you are not available or choose not to take the call, ‘she’ will take a message for you asking for the caller’s number. You can receive email or SMS notification of all new messages. AT HOME: If you get a phone call at home, I advise all my clients to say the following: “Thank you for calling Mr. Smith.  We are entertaining right now.  Is it possible I can call you back later tonight or tomorrow morning?”  The question that begs itself is clear.  Never discuss an important career decision or career opportunity unless you are properly prepared.  Second, once you can get into the control position, life becomes easier.  Think how much better you will be able to operate when dialing the direct office number the next day. Gaining control immediately when you are not the initiator can be easier than you think.  Use psychology.  Let us assume that one of your phone calls has at long last been returned at home in the evening and you wish to gain control by attending to it there and then.  To collect your thoughts (which might be directed at subject matters not printable here) why not perhaps try something like this: “Mr. Smith, thank you for returning my call.  My guests are just leaving, let me get to my study, I’ll be one minute.” One minute later you pick up (having used the hold button on the phone and not having moved from your chair) and say: “Sorry about that, I am always reminded (with a smile in your voice) of the important phone call that never comes until you get into the bath” The caller has to be flattered by your use of the word “important” and it will cause the caller to make sure the conversation will not be a waste of YOUR time. Finally, if you feel you have wasted your time reading this article and have learned nothing, I hope you will at least retain this key piece of advice: chemistry.   If you don’t like that word, try Comfort. People look for a high comfort level when first “meeting” others on the phone.  A laugh or smile, as you know, goes a long way to break down a barrier.  Can your voice smile? Try it?  It is a fact that people only like people like themselves.  It’s a 2-way street.  If you determine that the potential employer is short, sharp, to-the-point, humorless, gruff, busy . . . then please echo those same energetic traits in your own voice and attitude. I don’t mean to suggest for one minute that you should compete to win, but rather echo and reflect the caller’s high energy level and style so that he/she feels there might be a good chemistry fit.  Conversely, a quiet, gentle and conversational style that you perceive the potential employer to have should be countered with a similar gentle approach (although that might be alien to your personality).  Don’t forget we are talking only about phone manners here; we are not talking about what constitutes a perfect job fit. And finally-finally, no nasty animal is going to jump out of the phone and you say “BOO.”  In spite of what you may think, there is no logical reason to be nervous of a plastic receiver or mobile phone connected through wires into a telephone or cellular network. You are in control, you hold the instrument in your hand next to your ear and you have the power to listen when you choose, answer when you choose and use words, pauses, silences, when you choose.  Yes, you have the choice whom to call, when to call and what to say. Has your goal been achieved?  I hope so.  I hope you will be able to say tomorrow: “Fine, Mr. Smith. I look forward to meeting you next Friday at 12.  It sounds most interesting.” 2009-03-20T15:35:54Z

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telephone-tips-for-the-nervous-job-seeker-part-2

2009-03-29T15:08:53Z

This message is not how to get an interview (or even a job) via the telephone – that is a totally different technique - but rather how to perform once the phone rings.

Telephone Tips for the Nervous Job Seeker -Part 2

2009-03-29T15:08:53Z