the Maine HR Cafe

Proper phone ettiquette is a major pet peeve of mine. In my world, when you call me, the first things I want to clearly hear is your name, company, and who you are calling. I.E.

“This is Bob Smith calling from the Maine HR Cafe and I would like to speak with President Obama.”

Instead, I usually get junk like, “Is this Bob?”, or “Who is this?”, or “Is this the HR Manager?” Well, let me put this as clearly as all possible – UNTIL YOU TELL ME WHO YOU ARE, WHICH COMPANY YOU REPRESENT AND WHO ARE CALLING – YOU GET NOTHING FROM ME. So instead, the conversation is interrupted by my agenda.

Who are you?
What company are you calling from?
(go slow because I am writing this down in daily b/log)
What can I do for you today?
(note, until these concerns are addressed and clarified – you get nothing from me)

By The Way” Company policy states that we do not confirm magazine subscriptions by telephone and we do not release company information to unsolicited phone calls.

What?

You want to speak who authorized that policy?

I did in response to unsolicited crank phishing calls.

So this afternoon, a call comes into the receptionist. C is for caller, R is for Receptionist, M is for Me (it’s all and always about me). Note C has a distinctive accent not of this hemisphere.

C: “Can I speak to Robert?”

R: “Do you mean Bob?”

C: “That will do.” Call now forwarded to me while I am mentally deep into insurance contributions calculations, not smiling.

M: “Good Afternoon, ‘company name goes here’ “

C: “Is this Robert?”

M: “Who’s calling?”

pause C: “Carey”

silence

C: “A friend of your father’s told me about your company”

M: “Okay” pause

C: “Can I ask you a question?”

M: “You just did, go on.”

C: “Can I ask you, who is responsible for ordering your office supplies?”

M: “No.” pause into silence – I did directly answer the question.

Pause

Pause

C: “Thank you, good bye”

~ by RMSJr on May 7, 2009.

Posted in HR
Tags: cold calling, phishing