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2.1 CAREER RESEARCH |
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Using the Phone |
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The telephone may be your most important occupational exploration tool. Using it effectively can bring you more information and job leads than any other method. Calling employers can lead to valuable information that you can use in various stages of gathering information, making decisions and tapping into the hidden job market. Employees hold the most current information regarding their industry and the future of specific occupations. DO NOT ASK FOR A JOB. You are looking for:
- information
- possible informational interview
- review of/advice for your resume
- referrals or names of other employers
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Preparation and practice will make you a lot more successful. Practice making calls with a friend who will play the part of the contact person. Tape record the practice call and think of ways to improve your performance when you listen to the tape. |
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General Telephone Tips |
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- Smile when you talk on the phone! Use a friendly and conversational tone of voice. Your mood and physical condition show in your voice.
- Try to speak at the same rate as the person you are talking to. This will
help you avoid letting your nervousness show by talking too fast or too slow.
- “If you don’t know where you’re going, you will probably wind up somewhere
else” is an adage that applies to phone calls. There is no substitute for preparation!
Know what information you want to gather before you make the call.
Being prepared will give you confidence.
- Keep good records. Make notes about every call you make . . . you never know
when you will have to refer back to a conversation.
- Write an outline of what you are going to say on the phone. This will help
you to be less nervous and to assure you get all the information you need.
Additionally, you will come across as organized and professional. See the
example on the next page.
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Cold Calling |
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Tap into the hidden job market by using the telephone to make cold calls. Use the Internet and Yellow Pages to identify companies where you might like to work. Make a list of places to call, including the company name, address, phone number and any facts about the company you may obtain from your contacts. Don’t worry if your list is long. A longer list is better because your chances of finding a job increases as your list gets longer. You could create this company list by researching in a specific geographic area or a certain industry. When you make cold calls to the companies on your list, keep the following tips in mind: |
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- Research a company before you call. Refer to section 3.4, Research Companies, for more information on this topic.
- Ask the receptionist for the name of the person you should contact; that may be the head of a department, shop manager or foreman, etc. Write down the person’s name! Then ask to speak to that person.
- If you are calling as a result of a referral, begin the conversation using the name of the person who referred you (i.e., “Hello, Ms. Jones, John Doe suggested I call.”)
- Mention you need only a few minutes of the person’s time.
- Find out the position of the person you are talking to. Giving your speech to the wrong person can be a waste of time to both parties
- Don’t give too much information. If your purpose is to get an informational interview, tell enough to interest the person in your skills, get an appointment and get off the phone.
- Ask the employer how your skills can benefit the company and what additional skills would make you more employable.
- Persist. Make new contacts every day and follow up on every lead you get!
- This is not easy. You will hear “No” more often than you hear “Yes.” Don’t give up!
- Send a thank you note!
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Try to obtain some sort of information from everyone you contact. Such as:
- Informational interview
- Referral to another source
- Job lead
- Experience/qualification required for field
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