It's a good idea to keep a pen, some writing paper, and a copy of your resume by one or two phones in your home. This way, you'll be prepared for a call when it comes and will be able to take notes. Make sure you get the correct pronunciation and spelling of the name of the individual who's calling you along with his correct title.
If you find that you need a moment to collect your thoughts and refocus your attention at the time that a call comes, ask the interviewer to excuse you for a moment while you shut the door. When you return, the interviewer will most likely tell you something about the position he has to fill. Before he starts to ask you questions, try to find out more about the job. Ask the inter viewer to elaborate on one or two points he's already made, or ask him to describe the position's most important responsibilities and duties. The more information you can get, the more knowledge able you'll be about the position and, in turn, the better equipped you'll be to bring forth those parts of your background that are the most pertinent to the company's needs. Your goal, of course, is for this telephone interview to lead to a face-to-face meeting.
Telephone Service
The last thing you would want to have happen is to lose inter views because company representatives were unable to reach you on the phone. Make sure your telephone will always be answered, day and night. If no one is going to be home during certain hours, buy an answering machine or arrange for an answering service.
Retail Outplacement Firms
Also known as career marketing firms and executive marketing firms, these companies are very controversial. Their numbers are growing rapidly, and they attract most of their clients through advertising their job-hunting services in the classified section of Sunday newspapers. A few of the larger firms advertise as well in National Business Employment Weekly and the Tuesday edition of the Wall Street journal.
Some job-hunters realize great success working with these firms. Many more experience mediocre results. And a small percentage end up suing for refunds, asserting that they received shoddy assistance in return for their money and that they were promised many things that weren't delivered. Should you decide that you want to find a firm or individual to help you with your job search, your challenge will be to identify the right organization or person to work with.
Retail outplacement firms provide the following services, although very few offer this complete range: testing to identify a client's strengths, weaknesses, interests, and personality traits; establishing job and career goals; providing a list of employers and recruiters to contact; preparing resumes, cover letters, and broad cast letters, including handling their mass mailing; tailoring letters in response to job advertisements; assisting in interviewing techniques, sometimes including videotaped sessions; counseling on how to get the types of interviews desired (the focus often being a resume-mailing or letter-writing campaign, networking, and cold-calling on the telephone); providing consultation after each interview to evaluate the meeting as well as plan the next step to take; negotiating salary and benefits; and offering a telephone answering service and/or a temporary office. Some firms also contract to work with a client for several years after the new position has been found. Here, they'll offer assistance in matters such as salary reviews, performance appraisals, and evaluating future job offers.
It's important to understand that a retail outplacement firm-unlike an employment agency and an executive search firm-will not arrange interviews for you with prospective employers. It will show you how to do this yourself. In addition, the firm will charge you a fee that can range from a few hundred dollars to over $10,000, depending on the scope of services you sign up for and what your income level is. Some firms will require the fee to be paid in advance. Others will allow you to pay in stages as the firm performs additional work for you; however, you will have first signed a contract obligating you to pay the future installments. Additionally, this fee will not be contingent on successful results. The firm will be charging you for its time and knowledge of the employment field. If the word "guarantee" is ever used, make sure you understand exactly what's being promised and that this promise is in writing. Never rely on anything that is said orally.
