Supercharge your chances of landing your dream job by mastering the art of pre-interview calls with recruiters. By Aoibhinn Mc Bride.
You poured your heart and soul (and the right keywords) into your CV and cover letter and you’ve finally received the good news that a recruiter would like to schedule a “quick chat” before putting you forward for a role.
Before you get too comfortable, know that a pre-interview call with a recruiter is never just a quick chat. And although it is more informal than a face-to-face meeting, a pre-interview call is essentially your first interview, so you need to prepare accordingly.
Don’t get too personal
If your call starts with a few pleasantries including questions about how your weekend went, refrain from giving away too much personal information that might put your professionalism in doubt—nobody needs to hear about how Friday night went.
Similarly, don’t fall into the trap of revealing the real reason you want to leave your current role. Yes, your boss might be unbearable and your colleagues toxic, but a recruiter doesn’t want or need to know these details.
Instead, keep your answers friendly but brief and focus on the positive aspects of your potential new job, not the negatives in the one you want to leave.
Keep it concise
While you might have done a lot of prep for your interview, this isn’t the right time to regale the recruiter with lengthy examples of how you showed leadership or overcame a difficult challenge at work.
Use this call as an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the job you’ve applied for, the company and their culture and why you want to work there, supported by two to three brief examples. Leave lengthier anecdotes about how your skills and experience would benefit the company for your in-person interview.
Ask the right questions
If a recruiter is taking the time to do a pre-interview call with you, it’s because they think you could be a great fit for a role they’ve been tasked with filling. This means they are automatically on your side, advocating for you and looking for the positive in everything you say.
However, you should also do your research before the call and come prepared with questions about salary, benefits, parental leave and career progression opportunities.
So, now that you know what a pre-interview call entails, are you ready to put your skills to the test? The Professional Beauty Job Board features thousands of exciting opportunities across Australia in companies that are actively hiring, like the three below.
Estee Lauder – Beauty Advisor – Myer Melbourne – Part-Time, The Estée Lauder Companies, Melbourne
Are you a dynamic self-starter looking for a progressive career opportunity? As a highly skilled make-up artist, this Beauty Advisor role will allow you to combine your creative and technical expertise and passion for people to provide a welcoming, inspirational and personalized in-store experience. In this role you will also work as part of a high performing team to create impact with in-store events and ensure that the store always achieves high standards of visual merchandising to stand out against our competitors. View more details here.
Client Experience Consultant, Artisan Aesthetic Clinics, Brisbane
Artisan is looking for full and part-time Client Experience Consultants to play a pivotal role in cultivating exceptional experiences for clients and clinicians. As the first point of contact, you will have a natural ability to build an instant rapport and drive a desired outcome for clients and the clinic. Your keen interest in skin health will allow you to actively promote suitable products and treatments to clients, and you will truly enjoy supporting them on their skin journey. Applicants should have proven experience in a similar front-of-house role, including scheduling client appointments, answering client queries and recommending suitable treatments and products. See the full job description here.
Full-Time Department Manager – Macquarie, Sephora, Sydney
Sephora is seeking a Department Manager to lead the Macquarie team in North Ryde on a permanent full-time basis. In this role you will support the store manager and assistant store manager in leading the team in a fast-paced and exciting retail environment to deliver an unbeatable client experience. You will drive a selling culture within your team to meet KPIs and promote Sephora’s values and you will also be tasked with raising performance and capabilities within your team. This is a great opportunity to bring your passion, share your knowledge, and make your mark at a leading global beauty retailer. Get more details here.
For thousands more jobs in the beauty industry, visit the Professional Beauty Job Board today.
This article was produced in partnership with Jobbio.
Read the current issue of our digital magazine here:
- For more news and updates, subscribe to our weekly newsletter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Like us on Facebook
- Join Australia’s largest network of beauty industry professionals on LinkedIn
- Subscribe to our print magazine
Have an idea for a story or want to see a topic covered on our site and in our pages? Get in touch at info@professionalbeauty.com.au.