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Most of us use the phone so much that we take it for granted. However, as a job seeker using personal marketing to get a competitive edge, remember that the phone can help or hurt you sell yourself. Employers want to know if you're trustworthy, intelligent and likeable. They're going to start making that decision right over the phone based on your voice and behavior. The following will help you become aware of what goes into PPP-Perfect Phone Performance: DO: answer your own phone by stating your name and waiting for the caller to respond before continuing. DO: Keep a pad and pencil near the phone for jotting down messages, and for important names, phone numbers, addresses or other information critical to the job. It's also a good idea to keep a copy of your resume and generic cover letter(s) handy in case you need to refer to them quickly. DON'T: put someone on hold for 'just a moment', which turns into longer than 60 seconds. If someone does this to you, you are within your rights to hang up and call again when they are ready to talk to you. DON'T: answer the phone with anything besides "Hello" or another polite, basic phone salutation. You will not impress an employer if the first thing they hear is: "Whassup?" or any other familiar slang. DON'T: talk to a prospective employer if you're not ready. If someone calls from a company you can't even remember applying to, your cat is throwing up on your new couch, or there is anything else that is diverting your attention, the best thing to do is apologize for not being able to talk on the phone right then, ask to re-schedule the conversation, and get off the phone as quickly as possible. DON'T leave long, complicated voice mail messages spoken so fast that it sends someone scrambling for pen and pad to frantically write it all down. If you don't reach the caller you'll have to talk later anyway, so bag the long story and just leave your name, date, time and a brief explanation of why you called. (more....)
Most initial phone contacts with an employers are brief, usually just to set up an in-person interview/ There are times when your first phone contact with an employer may be an actual interview. How you perform on the phone will decide whether or not you get to the next stage...an in-person interview. Remember, the interviewer has never met you and only has ears intuition with which to judge you. Make sure you are cordial, understanding and friendly to whomever you are speaking, no matter how tired you are or how frustrated they make you. You may soon be working for (or with) them! DO: Speak in a moderate, clear, pleasant tone of voice. Have someone listen to your voice on the phone and critique how you sound. Note any major problems and begin working on making them better. DON'T: carry on two conversations at once..one on the phone, and another with someone else in the room. If you're 'hearing stereo,' put your caller on hold for a moment and remind the person with you that you are on an important phone call. Ask them to wait a few minutes so that you can focus on your caller and complete the call. DON'T: drink, eat, smoke, pop your chewing gum or perform any other audible tasks while you are talking on the phone. Your caller really can hear you shuffling your papers, washing the dishes or flushing the toilet! Each noise is magnified and is really disgusting! DON'T: cover the mouthpiece of the phone with your hand and yell something to another person. Hands are not effective muting devices. DON'T: speak in a monotone, scream, mumble, curse, use slang, be insulting or too familiar, use slang, or whisper under your breath. After The Interview: When the interview is over, make notes right away to capture your first impressions of both the interviewer, the job, and how the interview went. This will be helpful to you when preparing for future contacts with the company. You may think you'll remember all the details, but first impressions are fleeting...write them down!"
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Sample: Develop PPP "Perfect Phone Performance"
excerpted from Chapter 3 (Surviving & Thriving in Interviews) of YOU
ARE THE PRODUCT-HOW TO SELL YOURSELF TO EMPLOYERS (Piggle Press 2000) By Alison Blackman Dunham