Setting up interviews with potential employers is key to
increasing the chances of getting a job. Successful job seekers are proactive in their
approach to setting up interviews; they take the initiative to make direct contact with
potential employers.
Your success in setting up interviews depends on:
Setting up an interview is a type of sales call. You are
trying to sell yourself as a possible employee. You will have about 20 seconds to capture
your contact's interest. Therefore, what you say has to be to the point, concise, and
persuasive. Two strategies for planning include:
- Identifying the specific objectives of your call.
- Writing a script of what you want to say.
Your main objective is to set up an interview. It is helpful to
identify secondary objectives in case an interview is not possible. For example, you can:
- Request an Informational Interview.
- Present your qualifications in case an interview is possible
in the future.
- Find out the name of another person to whom you might talk
about an interview.
Writing down what you are going to say helps to ensure that you
communicate effectively in a short amount of time. Here is an outline for your script:
- Introduction. Tell the person who you are
and how you got their name.
- Lead statement. Make this a quick statement
designed to explain why you are calling and to get the person's attention. Do not begin by
asking if they are hiring, or by saying that you are unemployed.
- Body. State your purpose for the call and
describe your qualifications. Sell yourself from a position of strength and stress those
skills, attributes and accomplishments attractive to the employer.
- Close. Schedule the interview or indicate
what you will do to follow up (call again at a specified time, send a resume, etc.).
To avoid reading your script to the person you contact, practice
in advance so that you sound natural.
A "voice-mail" script can help you
leave polished voicemail messages. Plan on leaving a short (30 seconds or less) message
that is upbeat, simple, and clear. If you have voicemail or an answering machine, be sure
your message is polite and professional. Also be sure to answer your messages.
Contact the right people
If you have already submitted an application or resume to a potential
employer, follow up by contacting the employer to set up an interview. Depending
on the company's Hiring Process, first you might have
to contact someone in the human resources department. You can also contact employers
directly. For example, you can contact:
- Employers who have advertised jobs. Even if
an advertised job discourages direct contact, it is to your advantage to take the
initiative. If, however, the ad requests a resume, send it in before following up with a
phone call.
- Potential employers that you have learned about from your
networking contacts. You can use the name of your networking contact
to introduce yourself to the potential employer. Make sure they know that
your goal is to set up an interview.
- People to whom you have not been referred. This
type of contact is called cold calling. It is difficult for many people, but
can be an effective strategy for getting an interview.
Use good communication techniques
Setting up the interview is the first contact that a potential employer
has with you. This is an opportunity for you to make a good initial impression.
Here are some tips for communicating effectively:
- Be organized. Have all of your job search materials
with you and take notes.
- Listen carefully. Be aware of what your contact is saying
and how she or he is saying it, so you can assess how you are being received.
You want to know if you are being received with interest or if your call or
contact came at a bad time. An interested contact will often respond with
questions. If you sense that you called at a bad time, ask if there is a better
time.
- Overcome objections. Objections come in many forms. "We
are looking for someone with more experience or education," or "Sorry,
we're not hiring right now." Press on to your goal and continue to sell
your qualifications. Look for ways to eliminate the objection.
- Smile. Even if you are setting up the interview over the
phone, smile. It will come across in your voice.
- Dress as you would for an interview. Even if you are calling
on the phone, your professionalism and preparation will be evident in your
voice.
- Be persistent. If you cannot get past the receptionist,
try before 8:00 a.m., during lunch, after 5:00 p.m., or on Saturday morning.
If you still cannot get through, solicit the receptionist's assistance. Remember,
it is the persistent 10% of salespeople who make 80% of the sales.
Once scheduled, see Interview Tips.
Source:
Creative
Job Search,
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Page last updated in August 2008.
Interview and Negotiate
