This monthly article gives you quick, easy-to-implement ideas on various subjects. This month’s topics have to do with getting past the gatekeeper and letting your candidates do some of your prep work. 

Topic #1: Getting Past the Gatekeeper

So you’ve done the work of tracking down the name of a key individual and now you’re about to make that all important call but you’re worried about being questioned by a gatekeeper. Here are some ideas for making sure that your call gets put through:

70% of what will determine your success is how you sound (your pace, your breathing, your confidence etc) and about 30% is what you say.

Slow down, talk a breath, speak at a measured pace. 

In terms of tone, it’s important to sound polite but directive. So you’re friendly but also sound like someone with a degree of seriousness and authority. 

Sound like an insider, not a salesperson. Avoid any jargon and phrases only used by sales people such as, “I just want to introduce myself”. 

It’s important to script out your answers to any questions the gatekeeper might fire back at you (such as, “What is this regarding”?) so that you sound polished and confident when you answer them. After you’ve answered the question, go right back to your request (don’t pause and wait for a response).

Here’s a cheat sheet:

1. Sound like an Insider:
Hi this is _________ _________ calling for Bob.

2. If you’re questioned: 
The call is regarding a confidential matter that I need to discuss with Bob. 

Or: The call is regarding a business issue of a personal nature.

3. If asked what kind of company you are:
We are a consulting firm called _____, can you put me through to Bob now?

Topic #2: Let your candidates do the work

When you make a candidate presentation to a client via email, you must likely include an introduction and some of your notes to entice your client. These might be the same notes you use for that candidate if you’re making a MPC marketing call. It takes time to create these notes and to be sure that they are the best of the best in terms of highlights that you should point out. So, why not let the candidate do some of that prep work for you?

There is no way that you know more about this candidate’s career accomplishments than he does. But you might be better at teasing it out of him or wordsmithing how those accomplishments are presented. There are several advantages to getting your candidates involved in coming up with their own selling points such as:

It lets you see whether this candidate is able to clearly articulate his selling points or whether you need to do a lot of prep work with him.

It helps the candidate to pre-meditate how he should present himself during the interview while there’s still time for you to help him refine his approach. 

It gives you the opportunity to send a cover page to your clients with the exact same format for each candidate. This makes it easy for the client to evaluate your people and shows that your firm has a professional, consistent process. 

Your role changes from “copyrighter” to “editor” as much of your presentation is finished for you and this saves a lot of time.

Below are some sample questions that you may want to include as a cover page when you present your candidates. You would send these to your candidate in advance and then act as the editor to make sure that they’re ready to send out. 

Sample Questions:

1. What do you think are your best intangible personality traits that would be of interest to a future employer and why (work ethic, project completion, people skills, foresight/planning, organizational skills, ability to deal with upper management)? 

2. What have you done that has increased efficiency or saved time for your department or company?

3. What have you done that has saved money for your department or company? 

4. What have you done that has increased revenue for your department or company? 

5. What have you done that has caused you to stand out amongst your peers? 

6. Describe of a time when you thought there was no way out of a negative situation at work and how you overcame it.