The first telephone conversation with the employer. Talking on the phone with a potential employer

The first telephone conversation with the employer is the most important, because the impression of the applicant depends on it. Based on the results of such a conversation, a decision is made whether to invite the applicant for an interview. How to make a good first impression on the phone.

Almost all of us know the feeling of some kind of awkwardness when you have to call a stranger. Especially if this is your potential employer. Here are some tips to help you overcome your fear of communication by thinking through your conversation in advance.

Let's make a reservation right away that you are not alone in your fear, and it even has a definition - telephonophobia (fear of the phone). To a greater or lesser extent, everyone who has at least some negative experience of communicating on the phone is subject to this fear.

It can be anything - some kind of rudeness, refusal, or unpleasant news that you happened to hear on the phone. Sometimes the cause of telephonophobia is the lack of a visual image - a person does not see his interlocutor, and this causes him discomfort and anxiety. Removing this state is quite simple - you just have to imagine that the interlocutor is sitting next to you. Turn on your fantasy and create a "body shell" for the person you are talking to.

Imagine it the way you would like it to be, it's not difficult at all. Before a responsible and important call, you need to relax and focus. Don't think about your fear. Think about what you want to get out of this conversation. Concentrate only on the upcoming call. Take your time with the answers, pause for 1-2 seconds. Remember that you are not in any danger, and being afraid of talking on the phone is simply stupid.

What is all this for?

According to the results of numerous studies, when a man is tense, his voice sounds monotonous, and tension is heard in him. The voice of women sounds confused, indistinct, emotional.

When talking on the phone, try to act as if the other person is right in front of you. And if you tend to gesticulate during a normal conversation - gesticulate, you can walk around the room, do everything that comes naturally to you during a conversation.

You can talk standing up - this gives your voice some representativeness and confidence, and also sharpens your thinking. Standing up to talk well when you argue with someone, and defend your position. And if, on the contrary, you want your interlocutor to perceive you as a soft and calm person, take a comfortable position - fall apart on the sofa, in an armchair, on the floor. And smile! A smile gives the voice a unique peppy note that is positively perceived by any person.

Conversation with the employer - a short "scenario"

Do not rush to call, first think over the whole course of the upcoming conversation. Don't "pour water" once you've said everything you need to say and have your questions answered, say goodbye politely and hang up.

A sheet of paper and a pencil should always be “on duty” near the phone. In order to overcome the excitement at the very beginning of the conversation, you can use pre-prepared theses. Say hello and introduce yourself. Briefly state the reason for your call, say who exactly you would like to talk to. Tell us what kind of position you are interested in, ask if the employer has received your documents. If you are arranging an interview, agree on the exact date and time of the interview.

If you need to meet someone or contact additionally, find out their coordinates - email addresses, phone numbers. At the end of the conversation, be sure to thank the interlocutor for the attention paid to you and say goodbye politely. Do not forget that the conversation should be extremely short and to the point - do not be distracted by extraneous topics.

If an answering machine answered you

Don't hang up. Leave your message briefly describing the essence of the call. Say, for example, that you wanted to know if the employer received your resume and that you would like more information about open positions. Be sure to introduce yourself and provide your phone number. And do not be upset if your rhetorical skills leave much to be desired. The more often you resolve issues by phone, the more confident you will feel.

In most cases, the recruiter calls to clarify some questions about your professional experience, to clarify your interest in the vacancy. He can discuss with you another vacancy, but almost always the main objective a call from a recruiter - to get a first impression, and already in the process of a conversation, make a decision to continue to get to know you or say that “you are not suitable for us”. There are several rules so that the relationship that began with the employer does not end with a phone call.

While you are actively looking, be always prepared for the fact that a potential employer may call you. The call should not throw you into confusion, even if no one has called you about work for a long time. Don't let joy keep you from being in control of the situation and your emotions. While you are looking for a job, never relax.

If you received a call from an unknown number, assess the situation, how favorable the conditions are for an important conversation. If you are not sure, it is better not to receive calls from unidentified callers.

Prepare for a situation in which you will not be able to respond to phone calls. Set up an answering machine to let you know when you will be free. Or prepare an SMS template in which you inform that you are currently busy and will be ready for contact at a certain time; send as soon as you hang up the call. Such feedback the recruiter will appreciate it highly, and most importantly, you will remain in his memory (most likely, he will call others, and more worthy candidates may appear).

The recruiter notes:

You have prepared in advance, i.e. you plan your time, and take into account various factors;

You are active, and you are not waiting for a call in languor, looking at your device, because you have something to do;

You are in demand, they call you and, possibly, offer you a job.

In addition, the recruiter will be humanly grateful to you for saving his time (believe me, he spends a lot of time dialing candidates).

Your response to a phone call should sound cheerful and friendly. Make sure that your speech is clear and literate, the answers and questions are clear. Don't mumble. Be sure to practice with friends. Find out what impression they have of you when you answer the phone. Work on it.

When a telephone conversation with a company representative begins, make it possible for you to have paper and a pen handy. Record everything. Try to immediately remember the name of your interlocutor. If you can't figure out how the person introduced himself, be sure to ask again. And then call by name. If for some reason a person does not introduce himself, be sure to ask yourself.

You may be asked some clarifying questions regarding your professional experience. We need to find the most concise and unambiguous answers. Do not indulge in explanations unless you are specifically asked to.

Ask for the name of the company the person represents, specific job title, and basic requirements. If the company is not named, it is very strange. Evasive answers will indicate to you that this is not the right company if you have not previously been interested in working in network companies or other dubious money-making offers.

You can ask your questions. It is better to limit yourself to one or two fundamental questions that may influence your decision to continue to get to know the company further or not to spend your time on it. Don't waste yours or anyone else's time.

After talking on the phone, immediately write down everything you heard in detail. Check company information online as soon as possible. Prepare for a meeting with the employer.

Don't wait for an employer. Take the initiative in your own hands. But first, learn when to say what and what to keep silent about.

The first conversation with the employer can easily be the last. Rabota.ru was six general rules how to get started with a recruiter. Plus examples of what to say in two typical situations: during the first call and in the reception area .

6 common commandments

1. Appreciate the time of the interlocutor. Speak clearly and specifically. Optimal talk time: 4-5 minutes.

2. Take your time, do not swallow words and phrases. The manner of speech is the main thing that allows you to form an opinion about you on the phone.

3. Don't ask about salary. Many staffing agencies and direct employers do not like this. We understand that the issue of money is very important, but accept the rules of the game.

4. Do not immediately say that you are an excellent specialist - this is a bad form.

5. Do not ask the employer if there is a chance that you will be accepted for this job.

6. If during the conversation you are invited for an interview, ask where and at what time you need to drive up. Find out what documents to bring with you.

You call your employer. What should I say?

You have been sent to the job you are interested in. Attached to it. Be sure to call within an hour after sending to find out if it was received, all personnel officers advise without exception. After all, a letter can get lost, arrive in the wrong encoding, or simply be overlooked (personnel officers are people too).

The first thing you do is say hello and introduce yourself: “Hello. My name is Alexander Petrov. Are you comfortable talking now?

Then tell us what vacancy you are calling about: "I'm calling about a service engineer vacancy posted on the Rabota.ru website."

Say you sent your resume. State the departure date and your address. For example, like this: “Yesterday I sent you a resume by mail. My address is petrov@yandex.ru. Have you received my resume? It came without a hitch, is it readable?

If everything is fine, ask when it will be possible to find out the verdict: “Tell me, please, when is the best time to call to find out the result of the review of the resume?”

Most likely, you will be asked to call back within a week. Be prepared for the fact that the recruiter will say unfriendly: “I got everything. I'll call you myself if the resume interests me. In this case, many applicants give up and no longer dare to call. But if the vacancy is very attractive to you, take courage and call back at the appointed time to clarify the result.

You are going to the employer. What should I say?

The first contact with the employer can be established not only by phone, but also directly in person. It happens that the announcement indicates the possibility of a meeting without first sending a resume by mail. This usually applies to vacancies for entry-level employees.

You go to the office of the company. Take your resume with you. You report at the entrance that you read the job ad and came for an interview. “Hello, my name is Alexander Petrov. I came in for an interview for a service engineer position. Who can I talk to about this?" Most likely you will be taken to a recruiter who will interview you.

Have you been denied? There's still a chance

The employer and his motives are always a mystery. Unfortunately, you may be refused, even if the resume is impeccable and the conversation on the phone is built according to all the rules. First, never lose heart and don't take rejection as a personal insult. In the country .

Second, remember that the answer "no" can be used as a reason to continue the conversation. If you really need this particular job, ask why you were refused: “I have relevant experience, I really want to work in your company. Please tell me why my candidacy did not fit? Suddenly the employer will be disposed to the conversation. For example, he might say, “It seems from your resume that you changed jobs too often. It's disturbing." What to say in such cases, find out in the instructions "" (they ask similar questions by phone). If you quickly find your bearings and unobtrusively give a decent answer, there is a chance that you will still be invited for an interview.

Illustration. How not to speak

Assisted in the preparation of the material: Development Director recruitment agency Dmitry Bykadorov; head of the recruitment department of the recruitment agency "" Alla Klimova.

Ekaterina Kozhevatova

The very first stage of a job interview is a telephone interview. This stage is mandatory for all candidates for junior, middle and senior positions. Sometimes it is replaced by written communication by e-mail when everything is clear according to the received resume and you are immediately invited for an interview, or the future manager wants to get exact answers from the recruiter from the applicant. But this is rare, most often these issues are resolved by phone.
You can call the representative of the employer and clarify some details. Perhaps you yourself decided to call to find out if your resume has been received (I advise you to do this, since practice shows that not all resumes reach the addressee). The main thing here in both cases is to be prepared for a telephone interview and avoid an irritated voice and extraneous noise. Remember that you are not seen, and your calling card becomes what you say and how you say it.
If you are calling an employer, before calling the organization, determine for yourself:
. purpose of the call
. call content,
. Prepare the questions you would like answered
. prepare answers to questions that may be asked by the employer,
. find out the position and full name of your future interlocutor,
. Have paper and a pen ready in case you need to write something down.
. Put your CV and job posting in front of you.
According to the rules business etiquette The rate of a phone call is three minutes. Usually telephone conversations are carried out according to the following algorithm:
1) greeting,
2) representation (full name, vacancy of interest, education, qualifications, work practice in the specialty),
3) ask your pre-prepared questions about the vacancy
4) answers to the questions of the recruiter
5) demonstrate interest in working in this company or refuse a vacancy if it does not suit you.
6) if the answer is “yes” from the employer, agree on the date and time of the meeting, “no” take care of the information: possible work in the near future, work not in the specialty, etc.
7) Express gratitude for your time.
Remember the following rules of telephone etiquette:
. Introduce yourself and state the purpose of your call.
. Smile. The person on the other end of the line senses this in the tone of your voice.
. Do not shout, even with poor hearing - this will not improve communication. Speak your words clearly.
. Never interrupt the interlocutor in mid-sentence, let him finish the thought.
. Do not ask several questions in a row, pause to hear the answer. Your questions should be clear and short.
. If you didn’t understand or didn’t hear something, then ask the interlocutor to repeat or clarify the information.
. When making an appointment, do not try to solve all the questions at once by phone.
. Repeat again what your interlocutor should remember (date of the meeting, phone number, full name, etc.)
If you are called by an employer who found your resume on the site, it is appropriate to ask about the company, the vacancy, future responsibilities, working conditions, work schedule and location of the employer. In this situation, you can find out about the future salary, but at a face-to-face interview this should not be asked until the moment when you have definitely decided to hire or this question from the employer. If you get a call when you're busy, it's best to ask to call back later and/or write down their phone number and call back when you're free. But I advise you to postpone the conversation on the phone if you are on a face-to-face interview in another company: not all recruitment managers will be loyal to this.
If you are interested in the proposed vacancy and the employer is interested in your candidacy, then you discuss the date and time of the interview that is convenient for you and the interlocutor and write down how to get there. But it’s better to ask the representative of the employer to send email with directions and a job description. Since I personally have had more than a few cases when a candidate confused the Novokuznetskaya metro station with the Kuznetsky Most, along with the streets of the same name, etc. And do not forget to write down the phone number of the contact person in advance in case the recruiter's letter does not reach you, and these cases are not so rare.
Look up information about this employer on the Internet before a face-to-face interview, go to their website, look through the “Blacklists of Employers”, although do not forget that unscrupulous and offended employees can also denigrate good firms.

"I'm calling about a job..." This phrase or something similar has to be said to everyone who is looking for a job through newspaper ads. The first seconds of a conversation are golden, because it is often they who decide whether they will invite you for an interview or not.
And success here depends not only on whether you have sufficient qualifications.

Much determines the fact how exactly you will speak in these first seconds. If you are confused, do not know the answers to counter questions, your chances, alas, are drastically reduced. And how often we exclaim later - oh, sorry, I didn’t think to say this or that ...

Of course, it is impossible to foresee everything, but the most typical mistakes that applicants make in first phone interview with an employer, it is not difficult to avoid if follow a few simple rules.

So, start with such a seemingly trifle as pen and notepad- they must be at hand.

Here is a simple situation: you get through and ask a question about employment, and you are immediately given another (eleven-digit!) number mobile phone, as well as the name, patronymic, surname (foreign!) Of the person who is engaged in the selection of personnel, and finally, the day of the week and the exact time when this gentleman should be called back are called tongue twisters.
Think about whether your interlocutor will wait patiently while you run into another room and, after a break everything upside down, find a pen that, unfortunately, turns out to be faulty?
And it goes without saying that you should not even try to remember this information by ear. Suddenly, you still make a mistake and, having called back the personnel manager at the specified time, shamelessly distort his last name.
Needless to say, in this case, it will be much more difficult for you to make a winning impression. But all these real risks and their sad consequences can be eliminated very simply: at the beginning of a telephone interview about a job, put a pen and notepad on the table next to the phone.

The next step that will bring you closer to being invited to an interview is find documents in advance, that are somehow related to your work activity. This and employment history, and a passport, and a diploma of education.

In addition, it is very useful during a conversation to have your own summary, which will allow you to name all the main dates of your work biography without hesitation.

In principle, the more documents you have at hand, the better, because it is possible that the detailed information that you promptly provide during the first conversation will present you as a neat, pedantic person, able to answer exhaustively the questions posed.
The main thing is that all documents are reasonably laid out and any of them can be quickly used.

Here real case, which was told to the author of these lines by the personnel manager of one of the large St. Petersburg companies.

The applicant called the office on the announcement, who answered briefly, clearly, clearly, without hesitation, named the positions and names of the institutions in which he worked, as well as the dates of the transition from one institution to another.
The personnel manager was surprised at the candidate's preparedness and jokingly asked if he remembered when the United Nations was founded. The exact answer followed almost immediately. As it turned out, the applicant kept an encyclopedia at hand. Just in case.
And the case turned out to be happy: the applicant made a very pleasant impression on the manager, who, by his own admission, getting to know the applicant at the interview a day later, already perceived him extremely favorably, so without much doubt he offered him vacancy in company…

Often, in the first telephone conversation with the employer, job seekers in a hurry interrupt the interlocutor.
This is, firstly, impolite, and, secondly, unreasonable: let the employer calmly ask you about everything that interests him. Perhaps then you will not have to waste time on your questions - you will be refused immediately.

If you are invited for a job interview, feel free to ask about what interests you. However, do not try to find out over the phone unimportant details - ask only what is really important.
Let's say you can only work part-time, and it is not clear from the text of the ad what kind of job is offered. Ask if there are such vacancies.
It is likely that in this case we are talking about a full-time vacancy working week, and then, of course, you should not waste time on further actions.

When asking questions, remember that your interests are part of your image, and an important one.
Many job seekers set themselves up for a telephone conversation as if they expect to get a job immediately after the interview. But the main task at this stage is to get an invitation for an interview.
Therefore, do not show excessive interest. Agree - few people like people who ask a lot of questions. And among the managers involved in the selection of personnel, such people are the least. After all, they daily, by the nature of their service, have to answer phone calls from applicants.
Therefore, the fewer questions you ask, the more likely you are to please the employer.

So it is best to write down all the necessary questions in advance on a separate sheet. This will help you feel more confident, and therefore your tone will be more calm and personable.

If a telephone communications bad, do not try to shout - better call back. A screaming person does not dispose to himself even when he does it by force.

Never do not start the conversation with questions like: “Where did I get to?”. First, of course, say hello, then you can clarify: “Is this a firm such and such?”. And only after that you can say the sacramental phrase: "I'm calling about work ...".

If you immediately got through to the HR manager, give your name and try to find out, but unobtrusively, the name of your interlocutor - if an employee of the company introduced himself to you, he will already feel some personal responsibility for communicating with you.

The question deserves a separate comment. about salary.
Often it is not indicated in the ads, and it is possible that you will come for an interview in vain - the proposed salary will not suit you. Therefore, it makes sense to ask such a question by phone.
However, in any case, it should not be the first. Do not forget that you need to talk to people not about what interests you, but about what interests them.

The employer is interested in his work, not your salary.
And he offers you, in fact, a job, and not a salary, which, to be honest, the employer pays not from a pure heart, but involuntarily.
Therefore, if you want to find out by phone how much you will be paid, first clarify what exactly you will have to do, what knowledge is needed in order to do the job efficiently. After the employer sees that you care about his problems, he will more favorably discuss what interests you.