Making a Phone Call

Phoning an employer is not a social call - it is different to chatting to a friend. It's a business call - so before you phone, go through this checklist:

If you are using a mobile phone, make sure it is charged, topped up and that you have a good signal
Know who you want to talk to and have their name or job title written down
Have a copy of any advert or letter in case you need to look at it
Have a pen and paper ready to take notes - make sure the pen works!

When you make the call...

Introduce yourself. Speak clearly and sound business-like. Remember, it's a business call
Explain why you are calling and who you want to talk to
Know when you can go for an interview. Sound organised. If you are offered an interview, write down the date and time and the name of who you are to see. Read it back so you can check the details
Thank the person for their time. Always be polite
Don't rush your answers; take your time and answer questions fully
Don't mumble - sound enthusiastic and interested
Some people say you sound better over the phone if you're smiling and standing up

Interviews on the phone

Some companies do a quick mini-interview over the phone before deciding if they'll ask you for a further interview. It is just like a normal interview, be prepared to answer some questions about yourself, your qualifications and your experience.

Always try to research the company before you call them - whether cold calling or for a phone interview.

Make sure everything is quiet
If the employer rings you when it isn't convenient, explain why and ask if you can ring them back
Don't eat or smoke
Put notes of anything you want to say by the phone. Have a pen and paper and write anything down
Try to relax and be natural
Listen to what the interviewer is saying
Ask if you aren't sure what a question means

Cold calling

You might want to call a company to find out if they have any vacancies, even if they haven't advertised any. This is called making a speculative application. Follow the same rules as before, but be extra careful to:

Explain why you are phoning, as the person at the other end isn't expecting your call. (You want to know if the company is likely to have any vacancies in a particular job)
Speak to the right person - it may not be the person who answers the phone. (You want to speak to the person responsible for recruiting for whatever job you want)
Offer to send in your CV so they have a record of your interest
Write down any instructions you are given - where to send your CV, when would be a good time to call back if they have no vacancies at the moment

Always try to research the company before you ring them. Their website is a good place to start.