Always call about a job ad
Even if you think that the company has done a good job describing the position in the advertisement, it's still a good idea to give them a call and ask any questions you may have before sending your application.
You can use the knowledge you receive in the telephone call to write a good and targeted application, and you will also have a head start with regard to the job interview; a head start that may be decisive for you landing the job.
A phone call can help you:
- finally decide whether the job is something for you
- target your CV and cover letter.
- draw attention to your application and thereby get a head start in the job search process by asking the right questions.
Don't call the company in the hope that they'll remember you
It reflects negatively on you if you call just to make sure the employer remembers your name.
It will usually be obvious that you are calling to be remembered if you call without actually having anything to ask or to ask questions that are already answered in the job advertisement.
It is a myth that a phone call alone will put you at the front of the queue. Only a phone call with substance will do that.
Call about a job ad to put yourself forward
The most important purpose of calling about a job advertisement is to gain knowledge that will help you understand the company's most important criteria for the job and what they are looking for in the application material.
You cannot call the company after you have been invited for an interview – and this is often when job seekers realise that they do not actually know what the job entails.
If you call and ask relevant and appropriate questions, you will immediately spark their interest. In addition, you can create a good, targeted application and CV, giving you a good starting point for getting asked to an interview.
Ask specific questions about the role
Your questions to the company where you are applying for a job should
- be based on the job advertisement
- be specific.
There is always something in the advertisement that can be elaborated on.
If the job advertisement states that travel is to be expected, ask how much. If the job advertisement lists a number of tasks, ask how the tasks are prioritised in relation to each other. Often there is a list of tasks, but which ones are most important?
Analyse the job ad and find the questions you need to ask
Analyse the job ad, read all sentences carefully, and use colour coding: Highlight everything you know at least a little about in green and highlight the things you know nothing about in red. Mark things that are unclear in yellow, and then turn the yellow elements into questions.
After the telephone call, they can then be highlighted in green/red or remain yellow if you didn’t find out more. Red elements are okay as long as they aren’t the company’s top priorities.
If they are, you should consider whether you’re wasting your time applying for this job, as you’re not a relevant candidate.
4 good questions to ask when calling about a job advertisement
Here are 4 good questions that are suitable for almost all job advertisements:
- You mention a number of tasks in the job advertisement. Which tasks will take up most of my time?
- Which professional qualifications are you particularly looking for?
- Are there any specific qualifications that are essential? Which ones?
- I have previously worked with similar tasks. Could this also be relevant for you?
Prepare before making the call
A good call about a job vacancy only lasts about 5-10 minutes. Therefore, you should prepare yourself before you call.
Make a prioritised list of questions. Avoid questions that invite yes/no answers – they give you too little information.
The best calls are those where the employer does most of the talking and you take notes. In practice, this means that you ask your question, the employer answers, and you follow up by saying, for example, ‘That sounds good, I've tried that before when I ...’.
You should also be prepared to answer the employer's questions when you call. It is not unusual to be asked who you are, so you need to be ready to introduce yourself – but keep it brief! They don't want to have the conversation on the phone – they want your application.
Use your new knowledge in your cover letter and CV
You have now learned more about the job, and this knowledge should be implemented in your CV and cover letter.
In your cover letter, mention that you have spoken to the person named in the job ad, that the person gave you some information that made you even more motivated – and remember to write why you were more motivated – and then refer to one or two specific topics from the conversation and briefly describe how you would approach the task.