Video Transcript:
Hi! I’m Terri with Workforce Strategies, where we take the hassle out of hiring. One of the things that I spend a lot of my time doing during the day is talking to applicants on the phone. We receive an application or a résumé through various means, we will call the candidate to talk with them about their work history and general qualifications to make sure that they are qualified for the position that they’ve applied for, before we move to the face to face interview stage.
So in this stage of the job hunt, phone skills are critically important. It is the first impression that you give to a potential employer, of who you are. So when you answer the phone, be sure that you are polite and sound upbeat. Mostly, that means awake. You need to sound awake.
Also, when you are returning a call, after somebody has left you a message, listen to the message first. That’s important. Then when you call, identify who you are. Don’t just call and say, “hey, I had a missed call from this number.” That doesn’t help us. That does not help us.
We need to know your name. So it should sound something like this, “Hi, this is John Smith. I had a missed call from you about a job that I applied for.” That helps us know who you are, what you were looking for and we can identify your information and get on with the pre-screening process.
I hope these phone tips help you land your next job.
