So, you’ve gone to a lot of effort to submit a great application for a job that sounds amazing, and it would be the perfect opportunity to start your career. The only problem is you have not heard back from them, and you’re wondering if they will contact you to arrange an interview. Perhaps you have been referred to or want to approach a potential employer or organisation that you would love to work for.
What do you do? What do you say? How do you start a conversation to create an opportunity?
In either of these situations, it’s about following up and taking action. We know it’s not easy getting a job, but there are certain steps you can take to help you get noticed and potentially increase your chances of having an interview.
It may require you to step out of your comfort zone, but if you’re eager to get your dream job or create an opportunity with your dream organisation, then we encourage you to take action and make a phone call. Many people are hesitant to do this because of call reluctance and rejection. You need to be different and put yourself out there!
By following up on your job application or job opportunity, it shows initiative and enthusiasm. It also gives you the chance to have a conversation and make a good impression with your potential employer.
Before you make the phone call, think about your reason for the call and plan what you are going to say. You don’t want to get muddled up or side-tracked, which could potentially jeopardise the opportunity.
Below are our recommendations when making a phone call:
- What is your reason for the call?
Is it linked to a job you have applied for? Or maybe an opportunity you have come across where you have seen the job advertised? Or have you been referred to a job opportunity?
- Write down your call script.
After you have introduced yourself, you need to get straight to the point of why you have called them. We recommend that you write down what you want to say.
For example, ‘Hello, my name is…The reason for my call is…’
- What are the main points you want to get across?
This is about who you are and why your strengths make you worth being considered a potential candidate for their company/organisation.
Ensure you have 4-5 points to convey. This is where you are selling yourself. What experience will you bring? What can you offer the company?
- What key questions will you ask to create a conversation so this potential employer will consider an interview with you?
Try using open-ended questions starting with: Who, What, Why, When, and How, as this keeps the conversation going.
Write down 4-5 questions you can ask.
Other recommendations to consider include:
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- Thinking about the pushback you could receive and what you could say if they don’t want to see you. This is all about selling yourself.
- Reiterate the reasons why you have called them again. (Sell the Value of You!)
- Wait for that opportunity and try and schedule an interview.
- If they ask you to call back at a later date, then plan for the next follow up call. Make sure you follow up!
You have nothing to lose by trying to call and sell yourself into an employment opportunity. At Keyba Careers, we always recommend being different from others when applying for a job opportunity, even if the call is to find out whether they received a copy of your cover letter and resume.
Remember, business owners are always looking for someone who goes out of their way and above and beyond. Following up demonstrates initiative. It shows that you are keen on the job opportunity with their company/organisation. To help you plan your phone call, download our recommended call plan below!
To ensure you present the best version of yourself in an interview and you are job-ready, register for Keyba Careers’ short online course. It is self-paced, and you have 12-months of access to all the resources.
Free Download – Job Opportunity Call Plan
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Complete the following form to download Keyba Careers’ recommended Job Opportunity Call Plan
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