Be prepared! Obviously you can’t predict when you are going to get a call but you can make sure you are prepared for it when you do....

1. How to handle a recruiter’s call following your application

2. Be prepared!
Obviously you can’t predict when you are going to get a call
but you can make sure you are prepared for it when you do.
Make a note of each role you have applied for and the
recruiter responsible so that when they do call you’re not
caught off guard. If you had any questions or queries when
you were reading the job advert make a note of these too,
asking questions is a good way to show you are truly
interested and have paid attention to the advert. (as long as
you don’t ask a question where the answer can be found on
the advert, this proves the opposite!)
If you are not prepared or they have caught you at a bad time,
it’s perfectly acceptable to ask if you can call them back at a
better time.

3. Don’t say you will do anything!
After you have applied for a job vacancy, if the recruiter thinks
your CV is suitable they will call you for further information.
This is not an automatic acceptance but a screening process,
and there are a number of things you can do to improve your
chances of getting invited to an interview. There are a number
of common mistakes we repeatedly come across which count
against a candidate and all are easily avoidable.

4. Have something extra to offer
The recruiter will have your CV in front of them when they call
you so when they ask you to tell them about yourself this is
your chance to give the extra information that they don’t
already have. Explain what you enjoyed about your last role,
what you were good at, any achievements that would be
relevant to the role you have applied for. Think of the skills
listed on the job spec and point out when you used them in
your past experience.

5. Be professional and polite
Although this is not a formal interview you will still be
assessed on how you come across on the phone. The recruiter
will be using this first impression to assess whether you are
suitable to put forward to their client, a bad phone manner
will never do you any favours! Be friendly but professional. If
you know you have applied to jobs recently, be aware that
you will likely get phone calls from unknown numbers so
always answer the phone politely.

6. Show your interest
If after the call you are still interested in the role, make sure
you have made this clear. Make a follow up call or email to
reiterate why you think you are suitable. Find out about the
next step in the hiring process and show your availability and
interest in a formal meeting. Even if the particular role you
applied for doesn’t work out, if you have made a good
impression and stay in contact you are much more likely to be
contacted for future opportunities.

7. Voicemail
If you happen to miss a call about a job application you can
still make a good impression by having a professional
voicemail facility. Keep it simple; confirm your name and ask
the caller to leave their name and number and say you will
call them back. Check your messages regularly and make sure
you respond to calls promptly to avoid missing out on roles
that may be filled quickly. If you are unable to call back, try to
send a quick email acknowledging the call and arranging a
suitable time to follow up.
Joke or silly voicemail messages are never a good idea and will
most likely put the recruiter off from calling you again. Having
no voicemail at all can be equally off-putting, make sure your
phone has this set up properly.