The job market is hard these days, and nearly all interested in obtaining a job are having to polish and re-polish their resumes and increase their education just to have a shot at getting an interview. And guess what? Employers know this and are acting accordingly. Anyone can spruce up a resume using excellent vocabulary and choice inclusions, but very few can actually enhance who they are over the phone – especially when caught off guard.

While applying for jobs, you may receive several call backs for interviews, and there are a number of things you should definitely mind about phone etiquette. After your resume, your first conversation with your prospective employer will leave a lasting impression – even if it only is the HR person giving you a call back. To make sure you give yourself the best likelihood of getting an interview and giving a great phone impression, always make sure to:

Know Your Numbers

When applying to multiple places, trying to keep who’s who can become a little confusing. However, you never want to receive a call-back only to answer it and not have a clue which finance firm is calling.

Try to keep a detailed list of all the locations that you have applied to, and make sure that any important phone numbers are included – both direct lines and HR lines. With this list, you will be able to better recognize a caller, and answer accordingly. If you miss a call from a number you don’t recognize, be sure to use a reverse phone call look-up service, such as Anywho.com, to determine who the caller is.

Replace the Voice Message

If you miss a call from a prospective employer, the last thing you want them to hear is an unprofessional sounding voicemail. Unprofessional doesn’t exactly mean obnoxious screaming or a funny message, either; an unprofessional voicemail is anything that doesn’t have a proper greeting, give your full name, a brief request for a message, and a polite closing. A good example would be: “Hello, you have reached the phone of John Doe. Please leave message after the beep. Thank you and have a great day.”

Always Answer Professionally

When receiving calls from any unknown number, you should never casually answer – even if you believe it may be a telemarketer. Simply answering “hey” or “hi” in a lazy sounding voice can be very off putting to a employer, and can definitely mark the first impression you give in a negative way.

Instead, always answer unknown numbers brightly with a professional manner. A good example would be “Hello, this is John Doe speaking.” Always sound bright and assertive when answering your phone to put your best foot forward.

Because the current job market is an employer’s market, every action taken by a job applicant counts – whether it be the way your resume is worded or the way you sound in your voicemail. Don’t spend hours re-writing a resume or researching a company only to ruin your efforts with poor phone etiquette. Give a great impression on every front, and your chances of securing the career you want will be sure to increase in likelihood of success.

Similar Posts:

None Found