A great job may be a phone call away, but many job seekers inadvertently sabotage their efforts to land it. Why? I have asked myself that on many occasions, most often when I receive a request for information, an urgent insistence that I return the call, or an appeal from a desperately seeking job-searcher on my voicemail.  This is frequently what I hear: “Hello, remember me?  I spoke with you four months ago about my job search.  I really need help now.  Can you call me immediately?”

I take great pride in trying to return phone calls the same day, but the above individual left no name, no phone number, and no way to connect.  Okay, so this my be the extreme example, but I am constantly receiving phone messages that sound as if  the individual is calling with open windows as he or she hurtles down I-15 at rush hour.  With ambient noise and background stereo, I can barely make sense of the caller’s remarks. Some individuals must be on a treadmill when they phone, sounding breathless as if they’re gasping for air. 

Cell phones have a way of garbling intonation, and numbers may become unintelligible or dropped. I have spent many a morning arduously trying every possible sequence of numbers within an area code just to be able to respond to a call.  The muffled garbled message sounds like (-- -- 2) 585-50--. No city, no last name.  What am I to do?  No doubt, the person who left the message believes that I deserve to burn in hell for failing to respond to his/her exigency.  I, on the other hand, suspect that Dante has a special place for inconsiderate job seekers who fail to follow proper phone etiquette.  May they slowly smolder among the debris of old cell phones.

But seriously, folks, it’s a very selective job market out there, with many employers receiving hundreds of résumés for each available position. Those employers in hiring mode want candidates who, at the very least, can pass the “phone test” before being offered an interview. 

Here are some tips and suggestions about proper phone etiquette that job seekers need to keep in mind:

1. When making a business call, identify yourself clearly—something as straightforward as, “Hello, this is Julie Swaner, a U of U alumna, and I need some career advice.”  Briefly state the purpose for your call and ask if the time is convenient for a short conversation.
   
   
2. Voicemail messages should be short and to the point.  Speak clearly and slowly.  Leave your full name, your phone number, and a brief message.  It’s probably a good idea to repeat your phone number at the end of the message to make sure it’s received.
   
   
3. Don’t have your cell phone answer with a blast of loud music or a rap message. Listening to 30 seconds of unwanted noise can be both irritating and inappropriate.  And all you will have achieved is to make a very negative impression.  Was that your intention?
   
   
4. Avoid using gimmicky responses on your answering machine (“Sam’s Mortuary, you stab ’em, we slab ’em”); otherwise, that click you hear on the other end of the line may be the sound of your dream job saying “bye-bye.”
   
   
5. Don’t answer your cell phone or home phone with “Yo!” or some other “cool” greeting. You can’t go wrong with a simple “Hello.”
   
   
6. Be prepared. It can be very annoying to employers who are phone screening to have to repeat information again as you seek to retrieve a pen or pencil.  If you aren’t ready for the call, don’t take it.
   
   
7. Make sure that you have a telephone answering capability so that you sound professional and prepared. It’s annoying if your phone rings and rings with no answering machine or voicemail capability to record messages. It can also be annoying if the caller constantly receives a busy signal.  This usually indicates a dial-up Internet connection, and you most probably will not be called again.  A potential employer might try a second time but not after that.  Can you afford to be torpedoed? Make the necessary investments!

The bottom line is: The way in which you answer the phone or store phone messages for ready availability can either enhance or torpedo your chances of getting that all-important interview. Be wise and be prepared with something as basic as speaking intelligibly over the phone. Otherwise, your future employer may end up being someone else’s, and your dream job will get passed on to applicant No. 2.

Need help finding a job? Call me: Julie Swaner, (801) 585-5036, or e-mail.

P.S. Kristin, wherever you are, I hope you find this article, because I can’t reach you!

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