Marketing yourself over the phone is a necessary skill when job-hunting. You need to prepare and practise it.
Have a telephone script written down so that you feel more comfortable on the phone. You’ll know what you’re going to say and you’ll have worked out beforehand how to say it in the most effective way.
A script is no good if you don’t speak to the right person. Make sure you’re talking to the person who can make hiring decisions before you start selling yourself. In a separate call to the workplace, ask who is responsible for hiring people in your area of interest.
If a prospective employer is too busy to talk to you, find out when is a more convenient time to call them back.
Be interesting
Employers are busy people. Keep in mind that when they answer the phone they might be thinking about something else, in the middle of organising something, or about to rush off to a meeting. You need to be able to immediately catch their attention. Employers are interested in things that help make their business profitable and successful. If an employer thinks you can benefit them, they are more likely to hire you. So have a skills statement ready, to show them how you can meet their needs.
Further information
Never phone an employer and say, ‘Have you got any jobs?’. This shows that you haven’t thought very hard about the employer’s needs.
Your phone manner can influence an employer’s decision about hiring you. Speak politely, in a friendly and confident tone.