Dennison Career Services - "The Job Search Coach"       Christine Dennison, CPC    Job Search Phone Calls ~~What can you do to reduce the stress and increase the effectiveness of phone calls from employers or recruiters? ~~Set the proper serious tone at your house. Check your answering machine message and make sure it's plain and simple. I remember getting some good laughs at the goofy ones I heard when I was a recruiter, but it made me wonder about the professionalism of the candidate. A sense of humor is a wonderful thing, but be careful. Alert the rest of your household to be responsive and helpful in reaching you. It's all a part of that critical first impression. ~~When the employer or recruiter calls, you may be tempted to call the person back so you'll have time to gather your wits, but you don't want to get into a frustrating game of phone tag. You can ask them to hold for a brief moment while you grab your notes, alert the family to be quiet, and shut the door. They’re doing a lot of weeding out at this stage, so be awake and energetic as you focus on the conversation. ~~Your objective is to arrange for a face-to-face meeting, but treat this phone call like a first interview. Be assertive in presenting yourself and responsive to the caller's questions. Some candidates take the attitude of insisting on a meeting before revealing anything, but it usually comes across as being coy or obnoxious. Everyone’s workload is heavy these days and they are trying to get more accomplished by phone. ~~Take notes. Get the name and title (and correct spelling) of the person to whom you're talking, early in the conversation so you won't forget. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to forget important facts, so write down any information they give you, such as job details, timetables, company data. You'll want to sort it out later, and follow up with a letter. ~~What if they seem to be weeding you out or the position doesn't seem to match your background or interests? Most candidates bail out at this point and miss an opportunity. Sometimes the employer or recruiter will "back away" just to see how you respond. Don't panic, don't get defensive and don't give up. There is a point at which you may give up gracefully, but be sure you're not closing doors. You'll want to be considered for other positions if this one is not right. Get as much information as you can, and make it easy for them to get back in touch. Questions? Click to e-mail now