The other day I got a call from a student asking to interview me as part of her class assignment. I have received many such calls over the five years or so that I have been in private practice. After hanging up the phone, I was inspired to write this week’s post.
Counseling students are often required to interview professionals in the field as part of their curriculum. What people in academia, including the students themselves, often fail to realize is that such professionals are very, very busy, and generally aren’t nearly as motivated as instructors are to nurture and teach students. (Professionals in agencies may be more motivated to establish working relationships with students, but those professionals are very busy as well.)
I remember being a student and being very frustrated because I couldn’t get professionals to call me back. Now that I am on the other side, although I always make the effort to return calls, I can see more clearly why it is so difficult. So that you don’t make some of the common errors I see, I want to pass this knowledge along to you:
- Do not leave long, rambling messages on voicemail.
- Avoid leaving a different callback number. If we have to write numbers down and then punch them in again, we are less likely to call you back. We like just hitting the “call back” button. Especially those of us with iPhones.
- Show appreciation. Don’t just assume that we are going to accept your request. We don’t owe you our time.
- Do a little research. Tell us why you chose us instead of the myriad of other counselors that are out there. You’d be surprised at how far a little ego-stroking goes. Minimally it tells us that you’ve done your homework, and we are impressed. We are more likely to invest time with someone who impresses us.
- When we do call you back, DO NOT ASK US TO HOLD. Seriously. That is so rude. If you can’t have a conversation, don’t answer your phone. We are happy to leave a message. That’s what voicemail is for.
- When we do call back, do not immediately commandeer the conversation with lengthy explanations of your assignment. If we are calling to decline, we do not care, and you are just wasting our time.
- Don’t answer your phone if your child is screaming or if you are at a loud party. If you are unable to give us your full attention, or be heard clearly, don’t answer your phone. Again, we are happy to leave a message.
- Don’t expect us to meet you in person. You are much more likely to get an interview if you offer the option to do it over Skype or over the phone because commute time is not involved.
- If we do agree to an interview, be on time. Call when you say you are going to, and limit the interview to the amount of time that you specified. Be sure to LISTEN to our answers so that we don’t have to repeat information.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Barbara LoFrisco
