Client Comfortability
In my experience making the client feel comfortable is paramount. If this is accomplished
there is a much better chance of a enrollment.
Yuleika,
We all draw off the emotions of others,
Timothy,
We can never be prepared for every experience. However, our self-confidence will carry us through difficult situations.
Andrew,
Agreed! The interview will then take a natural course.
Joseph,
I would be nervous if I saw the rep was nervous!
Kimberly,
We certainly draw from those to whom we speak. When you speak with confidence and knowledge, they will receive it and draw from it.
For the most part, I agree that being comfortable ourself will translate into a prospective student being comfortable. But being comfortable ourself may not always be such a simple objective. We may come up against an incredibly shy individual who is not so easy to converse with, and we may find this to be unsettling and it may translate into nervousness on our part. We may need to ask many more questions than we initially anticipated to try and coax an individual to open up. We can't just be satisfied with thinking we are comfortable and very at ease in our approach, so what's the problem with this person not talking. We may need to do a whole lot more.
I agree, you cannot be nervous in front of a prospective student. You must be comfortable and knowledgeable to put the prospective sutdent at ease. This will also help "open" them up because they will be more willing to have a conversation with you rather than answering questions.
I have found that the best way to make a prospective student comfortable is by being comfortable yourself. The best way to gain comfort is by being fully prepared and knowledgeable about the programs offered at your institution.
Alan,
Anxiety can cloud decision making. Comfort brings a clearer head.
I agree. If you are comfortable and knowledgeable, then the interview tends to be more conversational, rather than a question/answer session. This, in itself, will naturally make the client more comfortable, no matter who it is.
Making a potential student comfortable is important, but being comfortable yourself is far more important. If you are very familiar with all the information about your school, "I don't know the answer to that" should rarely come up. If your client is well informed due to your knowledge, it can be a slam dunk on enrollment most of the time.
