When searching for work, job seekers often come up against gatekeepers who are there to sift through phone calls, emails and letters targeted at decision makers.  These gatekeepers are usually told to give limited information to job seekers and to point them to the company website for any information on hiring. However, persistent job seekers willing to go the extra mile understand that gatekeepers aren’t really their adversaries; they can be well spring of information and even their advocates if they properly nurture the relationship. Let’s take a look at a few tips on how job seekers can make a gatekeeper their ally:

1. Change your perspective.  The gatekeeper is not inanimate obstacle which you must hurtle to get to the decision maker.  The gatekeeper is a human being who has inside information that could be valuable to your job search.
2. Take the time to establish a rapport with the gatekeeper; but don’t take too much time if they sound busy.  Using humor and warmth, job seekers can get gatekeepers to relax and view them as more than just a pesky caller looking for a job.  A simple, “How are you doing this morning?” can go a long way to distinguishing yourself from those who simply ask, “Is Mr. Blank in?”
3. Ask the gatekeeper a question about the decision maker you’re trying to reach. “What time is a good time to call?” “Does he prefer to be called, Mr. Blank or by his initials?”  “Will she attend the conference next week?”  Just make sure that you don’t inundate the gatekeeper with a laundry list of questions. You don’t want them to feel interrogated.
4. Ask the gatekeeper about the company.  “Have they staffed their Arizona office already?” “When are they opening up the new office in Washington?”  “I hear they are expanding their litigation practice, is that true?”