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Using the Phone

In the Job Hunt, it is often necessary that you follow-up an interview or resume with a business phone conversation. Potential employers get to know you better this way. Here you will find some strategies that will help you with those conversations that are essential to getting your foot in the door.

Telephone Conversation Strategies

We all know how to use the phone, but many of us feel a bit uneasy when we are making business phone calls to people whom we do not know and are often hard to reach. Ross Perot once said: "I never put a big deal together until I got the right fellow on the phone."

This holds true in the job search: nothing happens until you get the right person to say: "O.K., come on in and let's talk face to face."

9 Strategies for Follow-Up Calls:

Preparation is the key.

By researching the company for basic information like product lines, markets & future prospects, you will come across as an informed professional. Additionally, there will be less nervousness on your part since you will have a sense of what the company does.

Have your pitch together so it sounds businesslike.

Practice it via a phone with a friend or mentor who will provide honest feedback. When you feel comfortable making the actual calls, start with companies which are your "O.K. to work for" companies, not your number one, "I just have to work there" company. This way you can smooth up your presentation without hurting your chances with your highly desirable companies.

Batch up your calls.

It is a good idea to batch up your calls and make five or more in one session. After your first call, you become more relaxed and do a better job selling yourself.

Make sure that the person knows who you are.

For example: "I am Joe Smith calling from WPI. I received my ME degree in 1995 and I am calling concerning ... "

It's good to always ask:

"Do you have a minute to talk?" You can't get anywhere with a person who is running to catch a plane.

Avoiding an obstacle

If you are having trouble getting through the secretary, you can say: "I wrote to Ms. Jones last week and told her I would call today."

Don't give up if your party is hard to reach.

Be pleasantly aggressive. Sometimes it will take 10 phone calls to make contact. Managers are busy & they let you do the calling and writing.

Use voice mail.

Voice mail works well. Leave a well-planned message.

Don't assume your party does not want to talk to with you.

Engineering managers do want to talk with engineers who have graduated from WPI.

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Last modified: November 16, 2006 16:38:08