When Looking For a Job- Mind Your Phone Manners

When you are sending out resume after resume, getting your phone to ring can be an accomplishment in itself, but be sure that your phone manner isn't causing employers to pass on asking you for an interview. When you think about it, you can imagine being a hiring manager with a stack of people to call to schedule an interview. If you are less than confident about the candidate after leaving them a message, it is very easy to just skip to the next person on the list. Don't let this happen to you.

Here are some tips for making your phone employer friendly:

• Keep your voice mail greeting simple- When employers call, don't subject them to 30 seconds of your new favorite song before they get to the voice mail greeting. Call tunes can be fun for friends, but when you are hoping to get calls from potential employers, take it off your phone. Also, record a simple greeting stating your name and number and asking the caller to leave a message. Remember that sometimes, this is the first impression an interviewer will have of you. Make it count.
  
  
• Don't let other people answer your phone- When a hiring manager is calling to schedule an interviewer, the last thing they want to have to deal with is a small child answering the phone. Or worse, someones grandparent or college buddy who thinks that the caller must be a friend who is joking and who doesn't understand what the caller is trying to say. To avoid these situations, be sure to guard your phone when you are looking for a job. It would be awful if someone from the company you are dying to work for called you for an interview and they ended up talking to your friend who kept asking if they were someone who was at the keg party last night. Just don't let this happen to you.
  
  
• Keep a professional manner when answering your phone- When you answer your phone and you hear a professional voice asking for you, don't respond with a confrontational “Who is this?”. It will turn the employer off fast. They want to get the feeling that you are a professional who is well versed in handling simple customer interactions like answering the phone.
  
  
• If you aren't able to talk, don't answer- It is better to let an employer leave a message than answer your phone when you aren't in a place to talk. They don't want to hear you arguing with your child, checking out at the grocery store or be put on hold while you place your order at the drive thru. If you aren't in a position to have a professional conversation, call them back. Most busy professionals understand and will appreciate you making sure that you are able to devote your attention to them.

Having a great phone manner is a skill and it takes some thought and practice. Follow these tips and think about what your phone manner says about you.

Have you had any bad phone experiences? Let me know in the comments.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Take a look at PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Toxic Attitudes That May Be Poisoning Your Job Search and Your Career

As a whole, humans are very hesitant to change the way they do things, even when it is clear that the way they are doing it isn't working. Changing your attitude about things is one of the first steps in making changes that are lasting and productive. If you were to ask the most successful people in your career field, you will find that they tend to all have an attitude of willingness to make change and do whatever is necessary to be successful.

(Take a look at 5 Rules For Making A Change Today!)

Here are some toxic attitudes that may be poisoning your job search or your career

• I don't need a professional social network. It just seems phoney. I don't want to be one of “those people”- Actually, you do. And, of course you want to be one of “those people”, if by “those people” you mean successful people. Creating a professional social network is not very difficult to do, and it allows you to keep up to date with what is going on your field. Creating a dynamic online presence is one of the best ways to make yourself important in your career path, and it raises your value to your employer and to other potential employers.
• If they will just give me that promotion, I will show them how awesome I am- This rarely ever works. You have to show them how awesome you are before you can expect to be promoted. When you demonstrate your value, people notice much sooner than they would notice your untapped potential. Don't strive to be a diamond in the rough, show them your sparkle.
• I am going to stick with this until it is successful- I think it was Kenny Rogers who said “You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run.” This advice, while great for poker, is still true in life. When you are working at something that isn't succeeding, there is a time when you need to just walk away. Sometimes that can mean handing a project off to someone else or taking a different path. Persistence is certainly a virtue, but you have to know when drop something that is draining your time and talents.
• I don't need people skills, I have (business/ technical) skills- No matter what field you are working in, you always need people skills. Even in highly technical fields, being able to deal with co-workers, bosses and the people who work under you is a huge plus.
• I updated the resume I have had since college. I don't need to use keywords or tailor my resume into a marketing tool. I have years of experience and training that speaks for itself- Yeah, about that...you do. This is one of the things that still amazes me, when you are looking for a job, try anything. This isn't the time to get stuck by thinking that they way you do things are the best, and any attempt to change it is missing the point. The job market has changed, and employers don't care so much about your years of experience and training. They want to know why they should hire you and what are you capable of doing for the company today.
• I just want to be sure that I get it perfect- This is always a challenge for me. Especially when I am working on a deadline. I had to realize that they don't want it perfect, they want it by Thursday. Being a perfectionist is great, but there is a time when you have to let go and get it done the best that you can in an allotted time frame.
• I don't have the time or inclination to “schmooze”- Well, you better find some. Making professional connections is important. Nurturing those relationships, even more so. Never underestimate the power of a professional network. When you are given the chance to attend business conferences and other events, get to know the people in your industry. Get their contact information and add them to your social network. Get to know them. They can be the single most important source for job leads and information.

When you change your attitude, you can change your world. So think about some of the attitudes and beliefs that you cling to, and see where you can make a change.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Take a look at PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.