Tips for a Professional Phone Call

Yesterday, I was at the gym sweating it out to Beyoncé’s ‘Drunk in Love’ when my music was suddenly cut off by a phone call. I vaguely recognized the ten numbers that popped up on my screen and had a sneaking suspicion that it was not another telemarketing call, but rather a follow-up call from a phone interview I had the previous week.

As I watched my heart rate on the elliptical monitor rise from anxiety I began to wonder, should I answer it? What if it’s urgent? I was a second away from pressing the answer button before I realized I should not answer it. This was not the best scenario for me to sound professional or be properly prepared. I told myself, “Let it go to voicemail and call them back later.”

It’s later now and I am about to call them back. I figured this was the perfect opportunity to outline some tips for a professional phone call. Whether or not it is a phone interview you should always come across as professional, poised, and calm in any business related phone call.

What to Wear When...

I recently wrote that I attended a career fair at my university. I spent hours agonizing over what I was going to wear. It got me thinking about how important your outfit can be in an interview. Within the first few seconds of meeting someone people make assumptions of who that person is based upon what he or she is wearing. Imagine meeting someone in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. What do you think about him or her? Now imagine that you see that same person in a suit. Do you think about him or her differently? Most people do. Therefore, it’s important to dress appropriately. Below, I will outline the best attire for different job-seeking scenarios.

Phone Interview

Wear whatever you want! No one can see you and therefore cannot make assumptions about you based upon your attire. However, some studies suggest that people are often more professional sounding while wearing professional clothing. My suggestion, wear something that makes you feel confident. If you feel confident, you will sound confident!

College Life vs. Work Life

I love infographics. I think it has something to do with the fact that I am a visual learner. Anyhow, I thought I would share this interesting infographic with you about the differences between being a student and being a professional. Enjoy! 

Also, happy Tax Day to all my finance and accounting friends out there!

Resume Tips

Your resume is meant to be the representation of all your hard work and accomplishments placed onto one piece of paper. When you think about all that you’ve done to get where you are now, the idea of writing a resume can seem a bit daunting. Then, when you find out that on average a recruiter spends 15 seconds looking at your resume before deciding whether or not you may be a good fit, it can seem nearly impossible. Below, I have outlined a few tips that can help ensure your resume will stand out among the crowd.

Welcome!

Hi! Welcome to my professional blog! My name is Ali and I am currently a senior at Drexel University. I am managing this blog as a part of my senior project to explore my passion for all things career related. Several of my posts will focus on things that can help you establish your own career. Every now and then I will post about my own personal experiences of searching for a full-time job. In addition, I will feature some industry professionals who can offer helpful tips. I’m really excited about posting my thoughts and ideas and hearing back from you!