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I would like to get the names of specific people at certain consulting firms. They are primarily one level down from the people I know at those firms. Switchboard won't give me this information, and likely doesn't even know it. They just want to refer me to senior partners, or find out very specifically why I am calliing.
Any other suggestions for getting these names, with the least amount of rusing? Thanks.
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This two plus year old ERE discussion string addresses many of the same questions I get asked, over and over today.
What do I say when the Gatekeeper wants to know: My name My company affiliation My business calling
IF she's asking you any of these three things chances are you've already blown it in your approach. There's a wrong way and a right way to talk to the person who answers the main phone at a company - do you know what they are?
Today's MagicMethod Phone Sourcing Clasroom Chat will address this topic today at NOON (EST) over on the MagicMethod network! Its' FREE - be there! ****** Do something today you don't think you can do.
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The only thing worse than a good gate keeper is one that works with recruiters. The only thing I would suggest is 1) call after hours to get names.
2) Ask for Accounts Receivable. And then ask for the recruiter that you want to talk to (but you can?t remember the name)
3) Think of some elaborate story that involves something uncomfortable to talk about (like sex, or kidney problems)
For any of these tactics you will want to use a fake voice because you only want to get the name and call back.
Marcus Williams
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I concur with Andrew about the "stabbing in" approach. It's a hit and miss ordeal, for sure, insofar as the group will be "hanging together" in the telephone systems and maybe they do in Great Britain but they don't usually in the US.
Great Britain population 60,000,000 US population = 300,000,000
Chances are the organizations in Great Britain are smaller than they are in the US, so more drastic measures may be called for here in the former colony. More aggressive stancing, like going right at the Gatekeeper, regardless of her training. If you ASK in the right way (and I'm not suggesting you, oh, here it comes, that nasty r word, ruse) chances are not bad that you will receive information; either that which you need or information that will allow you to build to what you need. The point here is to not be overly-invested in the results of your call - if she won't tell you, do as Andrew suggest, stab in, and talk to whoever answers. Just keep going - they really do sing like canaries - but then, so do Gatekeepers at times!
?The right thing to do never requires any subterfuge, it is always simple and direct.? ~ Calvin Coolidge
Our goal is to save you time and help you succeed.
Steve Levy and I are blogging over on The Recruiting Edge: http://therecruitingedge.blogspot.com/
We hope you'll add us as one of your daily blog reads! The popular and dramatic Desperate Sourcers has changed networks and is now being presented over there ? for those of you who haven't yet heard of it, Desperate Sourcers is a primetime blog soap-series with a business take on career happiness, this new series takes a dark look at the recruiterazzi, where the secret lives of names sourcers and talent scouts aren't always what they seem.
Maureen Sharib Names Sourcer www.techtrak.com 513 899 9628 maureen@techtrak.com Invite me to your LinkedIn and ERE and Doostang networks!
Get the NEW and FREE Sourcing GLOSSARY by e-mailing me: maureen at techtrak.com
?fraid of the phone? Learn stance and attitude that gets you the names you need! Visit the NEW online telephone names sourcing course, "The Magic In The Method" or visit http://www.digitalfilms.com/play.php?id=687777 and watch the movie!
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Dear Noami,
I'm ex-Big4 and now a search consultant in the UK. The suggestions in the last post are well known by those that answer incoming calls at the Big4 - the PAs and secretaries get several research calls every day and can spot a researcher, even an experienced one, at 1000 paces.
This will work better: Find out (it's not difficult) the format for the direct dial telephone extensions from an outside line for your target office. eg (sorry its a UK example, but you'll get the idea...) switchboard is 0207 936 3000, but external calls to individual extensions are of the format 0207 303 xxxx. Try several different extensions close to the partner's or partner's PA's extension. So if the partner is on 0207 303 1201 and his/her PA on 0207 303 1202, then try dialling 0207 303 1207. You have no idea who will pick up, but odds on it'll be someone in the target group who doesn't get incoming research calls that often. If your luck is in you'll get a new recruit or a temp - they sing like canaries! It may take a few attempts to get a talker, but don't be afraid of the "Sorry, wrong number" and re-dialling on another variation close to the number until you get someone very helpful.
I was a researcher before I was Big4 so I've seen what works and what doesn't. This is the most effective without lying (I never have and never will and get cross with researchers who give the search industry a bad name by using "ruses".)
Best of luck!
Andrew Guy PGC
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If you know the industry you will probably know one or two of the clients that the firm works with. Knowing that is key - you can leverage that info by asking who is on that team.
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Consulting firms are tough - are they the Final Four? Tougher still! There?s hope, though, you say you need people under names you have? The names you already have are your boost. Here?s something that might work; this works better at offices that are more likely to have smaller populations than offices in major population centers.
One ringy, two ringies...
Big Tough Frighteningly Off-putting Consulting Firm ? Marie speaking - what may I not help you with today?
Hello, Marie, this is Maureen Sharib, can you please transfer me to ?this name I have??
No, Maureen, he?s traveling today.
Darn, does he have an Administrative Assistant?
He does ? I?ll transfer you to her.
Marie, before you transfer me, can you tell me her name?
Alice. Alice Stranglehold.
Thank you, Marie.
Ring...ring...ring...Alice?s VoiceMail answers. ?Zero out? or call Marie back immediately if the system does not allow zeroing out, and some in this space do not.
Marie, I hit Alice?s voicemail, (here?s where it gets good - pay attention!) is there anyone who works with Name Ihave we might try? Does he have anyone else in his group?
Depending on how busy Marie is, or on how vigilant a Gatekeeper she is, chances are 50-50 at this point she?ll move you across the chessboard to someone else in the group. Chances are excellent you?re going to hit VoiceMails at those lines as well, so repeat this maneuver for as long as she will put up with you. When you hear her cut you off, move onto the next company and repeat. You can always come back to this office another day for another dollar, expanding on the information you have. Remember to ask, before she transfers you, what the responsibilities are of the person she?s transferring you to. Many times, if she?s in your groove, she?ll tell you!
It can work like this charm or it cannot. Chances are though, it will work like this at about 50 -75% of the offices you call through, and those aren?t bad odds on work like this. It?s all in how you ASK!
"Charm is a way of getting the answer yes without asking a clear question." ~ Albert Camus
Our goal is to save you time and help you succeed.
Steve Levy and I are blogging over on The Recruiting Edge: http://therecruitingedge.blogspot.com/
We hope you'll add us as one of your daily blog reads! The popular and dramatic Desperate Sourcers has changed networks and is now being presented over there ? for those of you who haven't yet heard of it, Desperate Sourcers is a primetime blog soap-series with a business take on career happiness, this new series takes a dark look at the recruiterazzi, where the secret lives of names sourcers and talent scouts aren't always what they seem.
Maureen Sharib Names Sourcer www.techtrak.com 513 899 9628 maureen@techtrak.com Invite me to your LinkedIn and ERE and Doostang networks!
Get the NEW and FREE Sourcing GLOSSARY by e-mailing me: maureen at techtrak.com
?fraid of the phone? Learn stance and attitude that gets you the names you need! Visit the NEW online telephone names sourcing course, "The Magic In The Method" or visit http://www.digitalfilms.com/play.php?id=687777 and watch the movie!
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