Get Your Students Hired
Great approach Nikeline. Practicing with your co-workers is a great way to support each other and provide feedback to improve our approach. Thank you for your post.
Dr. Jean Norris
I enjoy assisting others with a new opportunity. I feel I have a great phone personality most all of the time. I struggle with the perspectives who do not offer much in return during the conversation; however, I feel the new things I've leared in Module I will be very helpful. Looking forward to trying them out on my next inbound call.
YES , LISTENING EFFECTIVELY HELPS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CALLER. LISTENING PATIENTLY, AND REPEATING TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR OR NEED IS KEY.
MY TELEPHONE PERSONALITY IS 100%. WE ALSO HAVE WEEKLY MEETINGS ON HOW TO ANSWER THE TELEPHONE.KNOWING THAT IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL IN THE OFFICE WE ALL TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND ANSWER BEFORE THE THIRD RING. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SMILE WHEN ANSWERING THE PHONE.
Conducting interviews over the phone presents an interesting opportunity for us to utilize our personality, pace, tone and volume. Making sure that the prospective student gets the correct information is extremely important and all that you mention impacts our ability to clearly communicate. Thank you for your post!
I do tweak my approach to acommodate their style. I believe I am a good judge of character. So if I see that the individual may be more serious, I tone down my bubbly personality to suite their's. Typically it's the more matured generation that tends to be more serious in the area I work in. We do have quite a few younger generation that I can relate to. I have a mature personality but I can also fit in with the younger generation as well.
My phone personality is very friendly and upbeat. I make sure that I speak slowly and clear especially because all interviews are over the phone and I want to make sure that the prospect receives all the right information.
How has your bubbly and exciting personality impacted your calls thus far? I would imagine that most people would enjoy your approach, however when we customize our approach based on the feedback we receive from our students, whether it's spoken or not, we can build rapport with more students. Some people have a more serious personality and approach, and with those students you may need to tweak your approach to accommodate their style.
My telephone personality is professional but bubbly and exciting. I enjoy talking to people. I don't believe in being TOO serious. Sometimes I think being TOO serious makes people uncomfortable.
Do you think this is appropriate?
Kristina, thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds like you have an effective plan that is working well with you. Keep it up.
Dr. Jean Norris
I strive to be professional when answering the phone at all times. I've found that there is a balance needed between having a professional tone as well as a phone demeanor that allows the caller to open up and want to talk to me. I like to put callers at ease and have used over the years questions that will get the caller talking. Of course I still have a mirror at my desk as the ever present reminder to smile and be positive. I'm a firm believer that the objective of the call, whether it's inbound or outbound, is to schedule the appointment to come in and "see for yourself". I work to make it fun, enjoyable, honest and above all keep an eye on the objective of scheduling the appointment to visit.
It's true that our communication style may be different from that of the person for whom we are leaving the message. What can you do to remind yourself to smile to be precise during your messages?
For myself on personal things I want information quick. But after doing this exercise I realsize I need to be more percise and take more time to leave good messages while smileing.
I feel as though my phone personality is very friendly, warm, open and polite- as well as extremely professional
Great point Doug! I'm curious, how do you generate interest and excitement with your prospective students? Would you share some of your success stories?
From the initial greeting, I make the effort to set the tone of the conversation to follow a professional, engaging and informative path. While I do not want to overload the student with information (I prefer meeting face-to-face), I do provide the general information that is requested. My belief is that if we can generate enough interest and excitement during the phone conversation, the likelihood of a campus visit increases dramatically.
my personality is warm and engaging and i listen attentively so that I can respond appropriately.
Conducting every call with fresh energy and enthusiasm is a great approach. I'm curious, how do you prepare for the end of the day calls so that you can conduct the call with positive energy?
Taking the time to build rapport and find common interest with our students is important. What questions do you ask to build rapport and find that common ground?