Using the Phone to Make Genuine Connections

From the Wall Street Journal | Feb 10, 2010

Tiffani M. Davis was a senior level producer at ESPN, Inc., when she was laid off in May 2009 after two years with the company. Previously, she worked at ABC News as a producer for "Good Morning America." Ms. Davis, 35, received a master's degree in journalism and public affairs from American University in 1999. She lives in Fort Washington, Maryland.

I've always considered the job postings ending with "Please do not call regarding this position" to be a calculated weeding out factor. In my opinion, the please do not call rule is a gauge between the passionate job seekers and the other, unsure job seekers.

I've sat many nights and early mornings in my computer room trying pinpoint the best time to call senior recruiters and human resource managers. When I see a position best suited for me, I think of how I can get a jumpstart on the competition. For me, the quickest response from recruiters has been from either an early Monday morning phone call, or a Sunday evening voice message. Now, I completely understand that human resource representatives cannot return every job seeker's telephone message. But every position I've obtained started with an initial telephone conversation. I have never received full-time employment through a job bank or an online company Web site. Most of my television experience stemmed from talking my way into the position.

Unfortunately, the days when I could pick up my cell phone, arrange a meeting with a news executive and walk out with a job is not readily happening in 2010. In the last three weeks, a senior recruiter told me a job I applied to was canceled. And two HR recruiters said they were possibly letting more people go or they were hiring an internal candidate when I was ready to fly to New York for a second interview. I am one of thousands of unemployed journalists and must rely on my background of digging for information and relating to the recruiter on the phone. I scroll through dozens of Internet pages to find leads. I study the requisites of each position, craft my cover letter and resume, align keywords closely with the job's skill set and apply through the company's Web site. I cross-reference the job title with others in the specific company through LinkedIn.

Usually I will find a person whom previously had the title or a related title. I examine the person's credentials and scroll to see, his or her connections on LinkedIn or Facebook. While I'm on LinkedIn, I sift through the names of HR staff, call the company and ask for the human resources person directly while I'm waiting for the person to ‘friend' me on Facebook or LinkedIn. If I receive voicemail, I leave a message stating my interest in the given position, a 10 second summary of my qualifications and how I can be a jewel working with the specific team.

I'm always looking for that human connection. It's the human voice on the other end that hears the passion, fervor of the job seeker. It is the human on the receiving end that can discover the unwritten talent by conversation and quick interview....the connection could have a senior recruiter saying no on paper and yes over telephone. That is something that Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin cannot do.

Readers, do you find it easier to connect with hiring managers and recruiters over the phone? Share your thoughts in the comments section.