Your phone lights up and you eagerly look to see who texted you or sent you a Snapchat. Unfortunately, it’s an unknown number calling you. You silence your phone and ignore it. Sound familiar? In an age where email and texting are most prevalent, the idea of talking on the phone seems foreign, doesn’t it? When you do get a call, it’s often a telemarketer or automated message, further perpetuating your negative view of phone calls.
Despite its downfalls, knowing how to talk on the phone is not only necessary but also sets you apart from the competition in the job market. If you give your contact information to a recruiter, they will likely try to reach you by phone. Having professional courtesy on these calls, and all calls in general, will make you much more marketable. Check out these good, old-fashioned phone etiquette tips we can all use a refresher on.
- When answering the phone, speak with a polite and friendly voice. Remember, you may not know who is on the other line; it could be your future employer. Also, if you have just woken up, consider prepping yourself to answer the phone or simply waiting to call the person back when you have more energy and are prepared for the conversation. This will help you more effectively communicate with the other person.
- It is a professional courtesy to return calls to indicate your level of interest in the nature of the missed call. If you are not interested, simply state so in a respectful manner. You may have given your contact information to the recruiter, and they are just following up with you. You would probably hope for the same. I know I would.
- Your voicemail message can say a lot about you. Having a clearly-spoken, professional, and upbeat message sends the right signal to recruiters that you are a promising candidate.
- Sometimes when you interview, you may have a phone interview first. Being prepared and available to answer the phone at the scheduled time is crucial. If you do miss the call, however, call the interviewer back immediately, apologize, and ask for the interview again.
These suggestions just scratch the surface. What’s your best phone etiquette tip? I’d love to hear!
Veronica Goodwin, also known as V, started with Aureus Medical Group as an Account Manager in September 2011. In May 2013, V stepped into the role of Nursing Student Outreach Coordinator. Prior to Aureus Medical, she worked as a Branch Manager with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design and Minor in Problems of Philosophy from Creighton University, V has a creative outlook on the world and enjoys sharing that with others. In her downtime, V can be found with friends or family, traveling, playing games, and learning about various wellness theories.