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2.1 CAREER RESEARCH |
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What To Say On The Phone |
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Talking to the Receptionist/Secretary: |
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YOU: |
Hello. My name is ______________. May I speak with Mr./Ms. _______________? (if you do not know the person’s name, ask for: your production, marketing, design, construction, etc. manager) |
RECEPTIONIST: |
What is the purpose of the call? |
YOU: |
I’m looking for some information that pertains to their department, and I was referred by Mr./Ms. _________________. |
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If they offer to put you through to the person’s voice mail, do it. You may or may not want to leave a message, but chances are you will find out the person’s name from their voice mail recording.
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When You Get Through |
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- Have an outline or script prepared.
- Introduce yourself. Mention who referred you.
- Give a brief description of your background.
- Have a list of topics and questions you want to discuss.
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Using A Script |
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When making your phone calls, use a script. It helps to get the conversation going smoothly and will make you more comfortable. There are three primary reasons why you would call an employer and each one requires different questions. |
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| A. Career Exploration |
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When you are not sure what career you want to pursue and are in the initial stages of exploration, you want to speak with individuals who can look at long-range projections and understand your field of interest.
“I am seeking information about the (medical, aviation, electronics) field and I would like your advice. I know you are very busy, but I only need a few minutes of your time.”
- What do you see as a growth area for this industry?
- What problems/issues do you see that will affect this area in the future?
- What job titles do you see as hard to fill in the future and why?
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| B. Specific Occupations |
Once you have narrowed down specific occupations, you will want to
research them and speak to people who understand those jobs (managers,
supervisors, trade journals and schools). |
“I am very interested in the occupation of ___________ and I would like to ask your expert advice on this area.”
- What qualifications do people who work in ___________ position have?
- Do you have difficulty finding qualified applicants when you have a job
opening for a _______?
- How many people work in your company who have this title?
- What do you see in the future for this occupation?
- How many people have you hired in the last six months?
- How many positions do you plan to hire in the next year?
- What do you see as an entry-level salary? What salary after two years?
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| C. Company Information |
| Once you begin your actual job search you need to focus on companies where you can target your resume and maximize your interview time. Try to speak with managers and supervisors. Human resources can supply you with reports and brochures and employers themselves can be a good resource. This is where your network contacts and library research can be of great help. Obtain as much information as possible prior to contacting the company directly.
The telephone is one method of researching the company. Section 3.4 will
give you additional methods. |
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It matters if you just don’t give up. (Stephen Hawking) |
