Send A Clear Message That You're A Good Listener When You Meet With A Temp Agency
Having a top-notch resume won't guarantee you that a temp agency will represent you and help you to find a job. In addition to a resume that is impressive, the agency will also assess your demeanor and personality during an in-person interview. One of the most important traits that you can show during this conversation is that you're a good listener. The agency's representative knows that good listeners are adept at following instructions, which can thus make them effective employees. It's therefore highly important to send the message that you're a skilled listener. Here are some tips for accomplishing this goal:
Don't Let Your Eyes Wander
Maintaining eye contact is one way to show that you're a good listener, but you don't need to stare at the person for long stretches, as this can be uncomfortable. Likewise, you don't want to let your eyes wander around the room. Looking at the surroundings might be tempting, but doing so can suggest that you're not actually listening. When you're not making eye contact with the agency's representative, you should still be looking in his or her direction or down at your resume or the notes that you're taking.
Make Appropriate Comments
Another way to demonstrate that your listening skills are highly developed is to make comments that reflect what the agency's representative has just said. Doing so is a simple way to illustrate that you've been following along — and can quickly eliminate any doubt in the rep's mind about your listening skills. For example, if the agency rep says that you need to realize that most initial contracts are only three months in length, you could say, "Three months is perfect for me. That amount of time will give me a chance to highlight my skills to the employer."
Ask For Clarification
It's a misconception that asking someone to repeat himself or herself is a sign that you're not listening. Rather, asking for clarification in the right manner can actually show that you're a good listener and that you want to be sure that you have the details straight. For example, if the temp agency's representative says that the pay rate for the position is $18.50 an hour, one way to ask for clarification is to say, "I know you said that the pay rate for this job is $18.50, but I'm wondering if that is negotiable. I'll be more comfortable in the neighborhood of $20 an hour."
Contact local temp agencies for more information and assistance.