Amanda Rose reveals the power of a phone call before applying for a job

Job applications can be time consuming, but a quick phone call at the start can save a lot of hassle.

Don’t turn up to a job interview until you know what the job involves.

Why spend three hours of your time going for a job and showing how good you are for a potential job you might not like?

Instead, pick up the phone.

When job ads say “Call for more information”, the hiring manager is wanting to see who will call them.

If the job ad is vague, you can say: “This particular role interests me, could you let me know the title and actual job description of the role?”

If they have no more information than what is in the job ad, tell them “I can’t apply for a job if I don’t know what is required of me and what the role is”.

You can’t sell yourself against a list of criteria you don’t know exists.

Amanda Rose advises knowing as much as possible about the job before the interview. Picture: Monique Harmer

Ask questions such as: How many people are reporting to me? Who would I be reporting to?

Unless you are a quick learner and not worried about software and technical skills, you kind of want to know about those things, too. Ask before you get in.

Ask for a salary range before you interview, as well – and what experience and qualifications they would be looking for to get the top of that range.

Put them on notice that you know your stuff, you know your value, and you are considering whether you want to apply or not.

Hirers are purposely vague because they want to see what they get when they throw a wider net.

They are vague with money, also, to see how low you will go.

Calling before applying is also a strategic move. Picture: iStock

You might read the job description or hear the answers to your questions and realise that is not the job you want, and you have saved yourself hours of pain.

How many times do you apply to a bunch of roles because you want a job so badly then you get there and realise “I don’t want this”?

It’s also very strategic to call up to find out more information before you apply as you will be top of mind when you send your application.

Once you are in the job interview, that is when you can ask for more detail about the dynamics of the role.

For example, how large is the team? How does it work with other teams? Who was in the role before? What is expected in the first three months of the role? What are you looking to achieve by hiring a new person?

Amanda Rose is a business consultant, workplace trainer, LinkedIn influencer and founder of six organisations – and now she is tackling your career questions for SMART Daily every week.

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