Gatekeepers.
You know, HR managers, secretaries, receptionists.
It’s their job to shield managers from outside calls. They can be the main obstacle that keeps you from calling decision makers to make sure they got your resume.
Want to get around those gatekeepers and make contact with people who can hire you?
Try this telephone script, based on the work of sales professional Chet Holmes (http://www.chetholmes.com). If you’re a sales or marketing pro who wants an extra edge – he is the guy.
You: “Hello, this is Larry Smith. I’m calling for Frank Jones” (lower your voice and speak with authority, like a TV reporter or FBI agent. This sets you apart from other job seekers, who try to sound hopeful or friendly and instead come across like supplicants when they call.)
Gatekeeper: (who now can’t put you off by asking, “May I ask who’s calling?”) “He’s not in” or, they may say: “Is he expecting your call?”
You: “Who am I speaking to?”
Gatekeeper: “His assistant.”
or, they may say:
“This is Sally Jones.”
You: “What’s your name?” (Then, use his/her name below)
“Hi, Sally. I sent him a proposal 2 days ago (that’s what your resume is!) and I want to make sure he got it.”
You will be in charge of the entire conversation from this point on.
If the gatekeeper tries to put you off further, try this:
You: “I’ve been conducting research related to the XX job he’s trying to fill. I want to ask him a few questions, because I may have found an employee for him.” (That employee is you, by the way!)
Action Step: when calling to follow up after sending your resume, NEVER think of yourself as an annoying pest.
You’re actually doing that company a favor. I have met job seekers who were interviewed and hired after calling to follow up and learning their resume had NOT been received.
So you must follow up.
Rehearse this script and try it out the next time you call a company to follow up after sending your resume. It could open doors to you … and generate job interviews.
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This job hunting post was adapted from content provided to by my good friends Kevin Donlin and David Perry, co-creators of the Guerrilla Job Search System.
Kevin and David have been interviewed by CNN, New York Times, Fortune magazine, and the Christian Science Monitor about their method to finding a job.
Get a free audio from Kevin and David on how to get your job search into high gear
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