If you are looking for work, we recommend the following:

Be contactable

The voicemail you have on your phone is important. A bad voicemail will not make for a good impression. It is likely to deter the recruiter/potential employer completely and your job opportunity can be lost. Your voicemail should clearly confirm your name to verify to the recruiter or potential employer they have the right person to leave their message regarding the job.

If you are actively looking for work, check any missed calls and respond to any messages as soon as you can. 

Know what you have applied for

When you have multiple applications in the market, it can be hard to keep track of these all, as some responses arrive quickly, whilst others are slow. Keeping a list of the job and employer somewhere you can easily reference it is a good way to jog your memory.

Purpose of a phone screening

If you have perfected your elevator pitch, this is your time to use it!
 
Recruiters and employers will be wanting to confirm a few details, here are some of the most common:

• Attitude and enthusiasm
  The way you answer the phone and engage with the person on the other end can have an impact on their overall impression of you. The interviewer can only hear your voice, so ensure your voice reflects your energy.
• Reasons for applying for the role

Common reasons include:

• Career progression opportunities
• Aspiration to work for the company
• The duties of the specific job.
• Confirmation of ability to do the role
  This is where you sell your skills, confirming to the recruiter/employer that you can do the role. If you don’t have experience or a specific skill set, let the employer know you are willing and quick to learn.
• Salary expectations
  You don’t have to give a specific figure, if you feel comfortable you may wish to share your current salary if appropriate. For some roles this question is asked at interview, but if there are specific salary requirements it can be covered off at this point in the recruitment process.  Read more about negotiating your salary here.
• Current situation 
  This is where you can share your current work status, progress of other job applications and any additional relevant information.
• Notice period
  Working/not working, 2 weeks, 4 weeks or more. Be honest regarding your notice period. For some positions you may be able to negotiate your notice period, for others you may need to provide the full allocation to be fair to your current employer. 
• Interview availability
  This is another opportunity to show you are motivated to the position, by demonstrating your willingness to work to an interview. If you are currently working and would need some time to organise an early finish or long lunch, say this now. If it is hard to get away from work, an online interview may be a suggestion you could offer.

Don’t forget you can ask questions too, an interview is always a two-way street, and by asking a question you demonstrate a genuine interest and motivation towards the vacancy. Questions you can ask include:

• Next steps in the process – what happens now and when can you expect to learn feedback?
• Has there been many applications for the role? (to give you an idea of your competition)
• Timelines for the overall recruitment – when do they want someone to start?

As a Recruitment Specialist, we ask these questions in conversations with job seekers on a daily basis. The more we can learn regarding your current situation and job aspirations, the better equipped we are to support you with your job search, whether it be a new role or next step in your career.