When to phone?

[DanL99]

I'm looking for a job on a farm and I have plenty of numbers to phone(around 20) and I'm visiting around 5 local ones. I was wondering what do people think the best time to phone is?i know everyone's different and doing stuff at different times, but what time would be the best?morning, afternoon or evening?also when I phone up, I don't want to sound rude, so would something like this be acceptable 'hello,sorry to bother you, is this .........Farm? If yes, 'could I please speak to owner or manager please? Then explain my situation?when would you farmers want to be phoned and what would you like to hear?

 

[Brisel]

Office hours are best really but my mobile is on from 7am until I go to bed at 11pm.

Good luck

 

[Nearly]

Office hours initially but make a point of calling while it's raining.
It shows you understand there are better things to do on a sunny day.

 

[Clive]

I'm looking for a job on a farm and I have plenty of numbers to phone(around 20) and I'm visiting around 5 local ones. I was wondering what do people think the best time to phone is?i know everyone's different and doing stuff at different times, but what time would be the best?morning, afternoon or evening?also when I phone up, I don't want to sound rude, so would something like this be acceptable 'hello,sorry to bother you, is this .........Farm? If yes, 'could I please speak to owner or manager please? Then explain my situation?when would you farmers want to be phoned and what would you like to hear?

"sorry to bother you" first tip when calling someone you're trying to impress would be don't apologize for existing ! be positive not apologetic

don't ask to speak with "the owner or manager" - the recipient will assume you are a indian call center trying to sell something and probably hang up !


Just call, introduce yourself and explain what you are looking for and why you would be of benefit

as for timing - there is no right time of day, what works for some doesn't for others, I hate it when people call at meal times or evenings saying I know you are busy in the day so thought I would call you now ! point being is i'm busy working in the day and don't want to be working when i'm not at work. it's pot luck getting someone at a good moment but I would say generally farmers are less busy on wet days or away from milking times on a dairy farm

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Call in office hours,

 

[llamedos]

Agree with @Clive dont apologise for calling, and if you are apt to get tongue tied, write down what you are wanting to say, listen to what is asked, and reply simply to that.
Thank them for their time.
I would also follow up each with a letter, even if they dont have an opening for you now, simply a follow up to your call, a bit more detail & CV

 

[cattleman123]

Yes best to call in on them ...face to face contact...and stand up straight, look and be confident...no one want a dopey joe

 

[B&B Pig Man]

If you are going to meet people - please please please shake hands, and have a good firm handshake!!!!!
Nothing worse than a wimp that appears scared to shake your hand!!

 

[marcot]

Call Clive and tell him you are a truck driver looking for directions. ....He is always willing to help .....good ice breaker

 

[cattleman123]

If you are going to meet people - please please please shake hands, and have a good firm handshake!!!!!
Nothing worse than a wimp that appears scared to shake your hand!!

Yes so true forgot to mention the handshake...

 

[Campbell]

For livestock farmers usually breakfast time, between 9 & 10am. Arable farmers are all on pre harvest holidays now, but all back next week

 

[marcot]

For livestock farmers usually breakfast time, between 9 & 10am. Arable farmers are all on pre harvest holidays now, but all back next week

OI !! Bloody cheek
I still got wi-fi by the pool in my Tuscany Villa .....so watch wot ya sayin. ......

Fetch me another bottle of Chianti Luigi.....

 

[Campbell]

Oh, I nearly forgot they also winter in the Caribbean, so don't call till April.

 

[Blue.]

I never answer the phone when milking,best time to get me is breakfast time or dinner,I don't mind but there's usually kids running riot in the background.

 

[Drillman]

Maybe take a letter with you with your name, address, contact details and a paragraph or two explaining your interests and aspirations. That way if the farmer is busy when you call it's something that can be mulled over when he/she has a minute.

Just make sure spelling punctuation etc is spot on. Get someone to check it for you if nessecary. We had a young lad drop a letter off a couple of years back. I might have given him a bit of work it it wasn't so badly presented.

 

[DrWazzock]

Frankly, if it was me, I would only apply for advertised or known vacancies rather than make speculative calls. Or I would put a postcard up on the notice board in my local ag merchants or farming paper/forum advertising what I had to offer and when and where.

Saves a lot of wasted time my opinion.

If I was phoning up in response to an advertised or known vacancy I would phone later in the day. I don't like being phoned in the morning when I am trying to organise the jobs for the day, but by late afternoon or evening things have either been completed, or have settled down into routine work and my brain can cope with something else.

As for what to say, I would get straight to point and then play it by ear.

 

[polk_farmer]

If you are going to meet people - please please please shake hands, and have a good firm handshake!!!!!
Nothing worse than a wimp that appears scared to shake your hand!!

And don't forget to look them in the eye when shaking their hand

 

[DrWazzock]

And don't forget to look them in the eye when shaking their hand

But not too intensely.

Just relax and be your normal self. You'll be fine.

 

[DanL99]

Maybe take a letter with you with your name, address, contact details and a paragraph or two explaining your interests and aspirations. That way if the farmer is busy when you call it's something that can be mulled over when he/she has a minute.

Just make sure spelling punctuation etc is spot on. Get someone to check it for you if nessecary. We had a young lad drop a letter off a couple of years back. I might have given him a bit of work it it wasn't so badly presented.

Yeah, I've prepared a little letter saying about me, what I want to do in the future, my experience etc, I've had it all checked and everything spelt correctly etc and have contact details on

 

[muppet]

Drives me bloody mad when the phone goes at 1pm and I've just sat down for lunch!!