So, at some point in time someone has told you that calling up a recruiter as opposed to waiting for the phone to ring can help your chances of getting an interview, or perhaps you’ve seen the ad and the “Or call Tess on 03 8637… for more information” written at the bottom and thought “Yep, you know what, I haven’t heard anything and I’m going to call for that info, I’m bloody well going to call and make sure Tess knows me and everything I can offer”… Sound familiar? I know, I’ve given the same advice many a time and agree it is a pearler of put-your-best-foot-forward guidance, and it is natural when feeling at a loss and seeing a phone number there to think that calling may just turn your luck around…. I get it, like really I get it, and it can be true, but that is only IF (and that is a massive very bold, very italic IF) you have actually thought about what you’re about to say and adequately prepared yourself for the call… Below are a list of things to think about prior to making that sometimes daunting call. A lot of it may seem crazy but if I had a dollar for every time someone didn’t have this info, I’d probably have close to $128 give or take a few hundred dollars….
Things to consider:
- What the job is i.e. the title or type of job, the location or some defining information which will allow us to know which job it is you’re talking about. Believe it or not, calling up regarding the SMAART Recruitment job on SEEK will not give us enough insight.
- Be confident, be direct and sell yourself – the only thing you will do by calling up unprepared, beating around the bush nervously whilst fumbling over half sentences is ensure that when your CV does come through that you’ve saved us the hassle of giving you a call.
- Have specific, well thought out, intelligent questions that highlight your understanding of the role – asking for “more information” is not specific – you are best to save yourself the call/stress/anxiety and our time by just clicking ‘Apply’
- Be energetic and enthusiastic – again try to sound like the best possible version of you, in a recent survey I conducted of most of society and the recruitment industry, drab monotone was voted pretty much up there with the top ways to make yourself sound highly unemployable
Now all of this may seem slightly on the harsh side, but I say all of this to help you. For every 1,456 candidates who call up unprepared, vague and half asleep there are a handful who call up confident, engaged and sharp and in turn get their interview at the top of our to-do list.
The moral – calling up can help your chances, but only call us (maybe) if you have done the leg work, have a genuine question or feel that by doing so you will magically be casting a love spell over us with your suitability. Otherwise, it may be best to save yourself the time of sneaking into a quiet room at work or flicking off the re-runs of Khloe and Lamar because chances are it can do the opposite of what you set out to achieve and end in a sore head/frustration/missed TV time.