Chances are you have been waiting on the IT career that will change your life forever, so you want to be prepared when an IT recruiter calls you. It never hurts to talk to them, listen to what they have to say, and explore the opportunity that is being presented to you.

So when you receive that phone call, you want to make sure you follow the steps below:

1. Go to a quiet room. This means mute the television, shut off the music playing through your computer’s speakers, or simply go to another room if others are in the room with you. No one who wishes to talk business wants to hear loud background noise. Background noise can be a distraction for you and the recruiter. It can interrupt what would be a good conversation and go as far as disqualifying your candidacy. If you are at work, try to find an office or a conference room where you can talk.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask the recruiter who they are and about the staffing firm they work for. You want to make sure you get their full name and the name of the staffing firm that they work for. Check them out on Linkedin, review their experience, and make sure you are comfortable with who they are. Do they have training in information technology? What makes them so different from other IT recruiters? Do they have certifications? Check out the staffing company’s website as well and see if IT is their niche or if they do work for various industries.
3. Meet the recruiter’s expectations. Information technology careers are abundant, but the companies needing them want people with skills. Make sure you let the recruiter know how aggressively you have been searching for the right IT career. If your situation is urgent, go ahead and let them know so they can act accordingly.
4. State your salary requirements. Don’t low ball your salary requirements in hopes that will increase the chances you’ll land an information technology position. The reason is because you want a career and you want to be able to have financial security.
5. Ask questions about the IT opportunity. While most recruiters won’t give the client’s name during the initial call, that doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions. If the recruiter won’t provide the company name, you can ask about what the company does and their location. There should be no hidden motives other than for you to learn more about this potential future employer. This is how you will know whether or not you are making the right decision if you allow the recruiter to present your resume’ to that company’s hiring manager.
6. Speak clearly. While talking to the recruiter, make sure every word that comes out of your mouth is clear and articulate. This is your first call with the IT recruiter, so it is your chance to make a very good first impression. Because you’re not meeting face-to-face, your voice and your intelligence is what you have working for you.

By following these six steps, you will be able to increase your odds of establishing a long-term partnership. The relationship that an IT professional has with their IT recruiter is more of a business partnership, as both can work together and prosper over time. This means developing trust on both sides. If you do that, you will find the career that gives you what you want out of an IT position.