Die Arbeit in der Telefonzentrale ist für jedes Unternehmen und jede Institution von größter Bedeutung. Denn Sie sind die Schaltstelle, die für reibungslose Verbindungen sorgt – auch und gerade auf Englisch. Wie Ihnen das gelingt, verrät Ihnen Secretary Today – Professionelles Business English für Sekretärinnen und Assistentinnen. Jetzt 1 Ausgabe kostenlos testen! Klicken Sie hier ...

Are you a receptionist? Receptionists have one of the most important jobs in a company. It is your voice customers hear first when they call for the first time. It is your job to know where everybody in the company works, and to put people through to the right person, and it is your job to tell callers when that person is not available. Of course, you can do this in German, but in English it can be quite a challenge.

Here are some tips that will make your job much easier when you are dealing with international callers.

1 Always smile when you answer the phone. It really does work. Just try it.
2 Always answer the phone with an appropriate greeting.

• Good morning, XYZ Company. How may I help you?
• Good afternoon, XYZ Company. Jessica Klein speaking. How may I help you?
• Good afternoon, XYZ Company. With whom may I connect you?

3 Answer the phone after the second or third ring.
4 If your company policy requires you to ask for the caller’s name before you connect them, do it politely.

• May I tell her who’s calling?
• May I ask you for your name, please?

5 Never put someone on hold for longer than a few seconds without asking them. They may be calling long distance, or their cell phone battery may be running low. Or they just might hate being put on hold.

• May I put you on hold for a moment?
• Would you mind if I put you on hold for a couple of minutes?

6 Always thank a person for waiting.

• Thank you for holding.

7 Be helpful. If the person the caller wanted to talk to is not available, offer to take a message, or ask them if they want to leave a message on the person’s voicemail.

• Mr Brown is on a business trip until tomorrow afternoon. Would you like to leave a message?
• Can she call you back this afternoon?

In Ihrem Job setzt man perfekte britische und amerikanische Korrespondenz, Gespräche, Telefonate und sicheren Small Talk mit Geschäftsbesuchen voraus? Dann fordern Sie Secretary Today – das neue 20-Minuten-Englisch-Training – zum kostenlosen 30-Tage-Test an. Klicken Sie hier!