Page 16 - HIWT Summer 2011 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

ASK THE RECRUITER: jOB SEARCH ETIQUETTE

By Anne Kutscher, might not act professionally on the job. While you are job
SPHR hunting, tone down the individuality by using a standard ring
Recruiter, Cianbro tone.
www.cianbro.com
When taking a recruiter’s call, be sure to answer the phone
professionally. Do not answer the phone if you are in an
My career advisor told area where there will be a lot of background noise (crowded
me that I should change restaurant, shopping mall, daycare center, busy park, outdoors
my email and voicemail with the wind blowing, to name a few). Think back to what
greeting to something more “dear old mom” taught you when it comes to phone etiquette:
professional. Do recruiters be sure to speak up and avoid mumbling and “marble mouth
really care what my e-mail syndrome.” If a recruiter cannot hear or understand what
address is? you are saying, they are no longer going to be interested in
speaking with you. It is best to avoid answering the call when
Finding employment in this day and age is not just a matter of your phone is ringing while you are in the middle of a lot of
having the right skills, knowledge and ability…it is a matter distractions. Let the recruiter leave a message and call them
of navigating the employment process and impressing the back when there are fewer distractions. Find a quiet room
hiring managers with your professionalism. Recruiters are with no television or the chatter of children or barking of dogs
swamped with dozens, if not hundreds, of candidates for each to distract from the conversation.
opening they need to fill. They can and will use the littlest
reasons to disqualify an applicant to narrow down their pool Most companies use one main number for all incoming phone
of candidates. calls. Be sure to listen to the message the recruiter leaves and
call the recruiter back at the specific number they provide in the
When completing any on-line application you are required to voicemail. Your call will likely be answered by a receptionist,
input an e-mail address. This address is seen by the recruiter who will not know who placed the call. Recruiters do want to
long before they see your resume and work experience. While hear back from you, so they will leave contact information for
an email address that refers to your favorite race car driver, your return call. Be sure to show the company that you know
sports team or alcoholic beverage might seem funny to you and how to follow directions from your first interaction with them.
your friends, it looks unprofessional to potential employers
who will question how you might behave on the job. Keep Stepping up your game by making a few of these changes
your e-mail professional by using your name. Try to avoid will allow you to land that next job sooner than your peers.
using your birth year or something that can be mistaken as Recruiters are constantly looking for reasons to narrow their
your birth year as a part of that e-mail address. Employers are pool of candidates. Don’t let them discard you because you
required not to discriminate against someone because of their did not take Mom’s advice.
age. Avoiding hints of your age could keep the recruiter from
rolling their eyes as they start reviewing your application. You Anne Kutscher, SPHR is a Recruiter at Cianbro, a heavy civil
want the recruiter to be excited to pick up the phone to call and industrial construction company with offices along the
you. Eastern Seaboard. She works out of their Southern New
England Regional office in Bloomfield, Connecticut hiring
These days, cell phones have all kinds of options that allow individuals to work on any number of projects in sixteen
states. Cianbro is a tobacco-free, equal opportunity employer.
you to customize the phone and showcase your personality. Women, minorities and veterans are strongly encouraged to
These include fun ring tones, or allowing your favorite song apply.
to play, when someone calls you. Although it seems boring to
have a standard ring tone for the caller to hear, when you are You can reach Anne at 860-761-6267 or
job hunting, what is considered to be boring and bland in some akutscher@cianbro.com
circles showcases professionalism in most others. Companies www.cianbro.com.
want their employees at all levels to act in a professional
manner. Most occupations have individuals interfacing with Students and graduates looking to submit a question should
the customer or client at some point, so recruiters and hiring contact Anne directly or contact Marty Baker, Editor of The
World of Welding, at Marty.Baker@welding.org
managers keep a sharp eye out for warning signs that someone or (937) 332-5603.

16