Q&A for How to Answer the Phone at Work

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How do I answer the phone at work with caller ID?

Tami Claytor
Etiquette Coach
Tami Claytor is an Etiquette Coach, Image Consultant, and the Owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting in New York, New York. With over 20 years of experience, Tami specializes in teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations. Tami has spent decades studying cultures through her extensive travels across five continents and has created cultural diversity workshops to promote social justice and cross-cultural awareness. She holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in International Relations from Clark University. Tami studied at the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her Image Consultant Certification.

Tami Claytor

Etiquette Coach

Expert Answer

You can address the caller by name as long as you remain professional. For example, you could say, "Hi, Mr. Smith, this is Candice! How are you today?"

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Question

How do I introduce myself is asked?

Community Answer

If you are answering the phone, you could say, "This is (your name)."

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Question

What should a receptionist say if a caller asks whether someone is at work?

Community Answer

That answer will probably depend on your company's individual policy. Check with your manager for the most appropriate way to handle this situation. You don't want to give out specific information, but saying something like "She's out sick" or "He's not in today" should be all the information your caller needs.

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Question

How do I respond when people call for a job?

Joseph_85

Top Answerer

Most companies have a personnel department, even if it's just one person such as a manager, which handles hiring; so it's usual practice to put such calls through to that department.

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How do I make a call on the telephone?

Community Answer

If you want to call someone who is not in your Contacts list, you can dial their phone number using the dial pad. If they are already in your contacts list, just find their name and select it.

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Question

What should I do if someone is looking for a specific member of staff, but the staff person is ignoring the call that is being transferred?

Sherri Bay

Community Answer

Tell the caller that the person is unavailable, but you can transfer the call to voicemail.

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