The Lost Art of Conversation

 

Many employees, especially millennials, prefer connecting with others by email or text rather than through a phone call. However, this may have adverse effects when you’re conducting a job search. Find out why most hiring managers and recruiters prefer you talk with them verbally when securing your next position.

Importance of Dialogue

Having a dialogue is imperative in forming a relationship with a hiring manager or recruiter. It’s one thing to read your resume and learn your skills, experience, and other background information. It’s another to hear you passionately speak about your accomplishments in helping past employers, what other career goals you want to achieve, what’s not meeting your expectations within your current role, and how you may assist a potential employer in attaining their business goals.

Hiring managers and recruiters want to hear your enthusiasm for a new position, gauge your interest level for filling a role and gain feedback on the hiring process. Managers and recruiters also want to know whether you’re being accurate and honest with the information you’re providing them so they may better determine whether you’re qualified for the role. Discussing these questions as part of the conversation clearly help in determining these answers.

When speaking with hiring managers or recruiters, ensure you provide clear, concise, complete answers to their questions. Point out specific examples of what you have done and what roles you were part of. Discussing what the team or department did is not representing what you did. The more detailed information you provide, the easier it is for them to decide whether to move forward with you in the hiring process.

Leaving a Voicemail

If a hiring manager or recruiter doesn’t answer your call, you typically should leave a voicemail. This is especially important if you have a list of items to discuss. Be sure to clearly state your name, the reason for your call, and a good number to call you back. Use this opportunity as yet another opportunity to use your voice and tone to demonstrate your feelings about the situation or opportunity.

Appropriate Times for Email or Text Messages

There are times when emailing or texting a hiring manager or recruiter is more beneficial than calling. For example, when updating a recruiter on your job search, confirming receipt of information, outlining your availability for next steps in the process, or setting up a specific time to talk.

Avoid using emojis when texting a manager or recruiter. Managers and recruiters may not understand emojis, may not be able to see them on their mobile devices, or may find emojis unprofessional methods of communication.

Always ask permission before texting a hiring manager or recruiter. Some may prefer to be reached by phone or email. It’s important to ensure you and the recruiter or manager both agree on effective forms of communication and when it is, or is not acceptable.

If you have any questions or would like additional thoughts or perhaps a new career in 2017, we’d love to talk with you about potential opportunities. Feel free to call Next Level Professional at (262) 293-4288 or email me today.

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