An employer often calls once. If that call goes badly, or goes to a voicemail that is not set up, you may never hear from them again. This lesson is about the ninety seconds that decide whether you get an interview.
Answer with your name: "Hello, Thabo speaking." It tells the caller immediately that they reached the right person, and it sounds prepared.
Keep a pen and paper, or a notes app, wherever you usually are. You will be given a date, a time and a place, and you will not remember all three.
If you are somewhere noisy, say so and ask politely to call back in five minutes. That is far better than shouting over a taxi rank and missing the address.
An unknown number calls while you are in a noisy taxi.
What happens: You mishear the time, they repeat themselves twice, and the call ends with both of you unsure. Some employers will simply move to the next candidate.
What happens: Polite, professional, and you take the details somewhere you can hear. Employers respect this far more than people expect.
What should my voicemail say?
Set it up, first of all, because many people never do. Keep it simple: your name and that you will call back. Avoid music and avoid jokes. If an employer reaches an unset voicemail or a novelty greeting, some will not try again.
I missed a call from an unknown number
Call back the same day, and say why you are calling: "Good afternoon, I have a missed call from this number, my name is Thabo Mokoena and I have applied for a few positions." Do not wait for them to try again, because often they will not.
Before you move on
- Set up your voicemail
- Practise answering with your name
- Keep a notes app ready for details
Check what you know
3 questions. Have a look at what this lesson asks.
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