👉 Did you know that phone etiquette costs some aspiring MSLs their dream job? With so much stacked against you in trying to get your first MSL job, don’t allow your phone skills to be what stumbles you. In this short video we will discuss two pro tips that will ensure the call with the HM starts off on the best foot.

👉 To begin, let’s talk about how to answer the phone. When the hiring manager calls, don’t answer the phone by saying, “Hello.” What’s so wrong with that. It’s just not professional enough. When you know the hiring manager is calling you, answer the phone this way, “Hello, this is Michael, is this Beth?” People love to hear their name.

👉 Once they confirm is it them, say their name again and that you’ve been looking forward to the call. “Hello, this is Michael. Is this Beth?” “Yes it is” “Beth, thank you for calling, I’ve been looking forward to it.” Answer the phone that way, and you will have the hiring manager smiling for the moment the interview starts.

👉 But even if there is no set appointment. Get in the habit of answering the phone by saying, “Hello, this is Michael.” This is how the best MSLs answer the phone, poised, professional, and ready to bring value.

👉 Here’s another tip. If HR is setting up a call with you and the HM, what is typical is the HM will initiate the call. When coordinating the call with HR, by asking, “What number will Beth be calling from because I’d like to save it in my phone so that it doesn’t send her to voicemail.”

👉 If you can get it, you want to save Beth’s number in your phone. If you can’t get it, change the settings on your phone so that it doesn’t automatically send an unknown caller to voicemail. The last thing you want to do is waste precious minutes of your interview playing phone tag and sending a weak first impression.

👉 So, the two pro tips are. #1 Answer the phone with your name and theirs. #2 Save their number in your phone ahead of time or turn off the “send unknown numbers to voicemail setting” so that you don’t have an awkward start to your interview.

📗 STAR Model:

◾ (S) Situation: Describe the context or challenge, but don’t spend too much time or add more detail than necessary.

◾ (T) Task: Explain the task or goal you were working toward. This should be one sentence.

◾ (A) Action: This is the most important point. Detail the specific actions you took to address the situation.

◾ (R) Result: Share the outcomes or results of your actions. This could also be one sentence.

Follow that model when answering, and you’ll look like a pro in your MSL interview. 🏆