Recruitment Firm Warns: Is Phone Communication Becoming a Lost Art?

Victoria Bari, the new Head of Training at Berry Recruitment Group (BRG), is on a mission to revive phone skills among newer consultants. The recruitment firm, which operates across the UK and has a branch in Truro, is urging staff to prioritise phone conversations over emails and messaging to improve client relationships and candidate placements.

Victoria believes that reliance on digital communication is less effective than old-fashioned phone calls when it comes to sales. She said: “There is certainly a generational divide and for younger, more inexperienced consultants, emails and messaging are the first route of communication. But talking to people remains the most effective method of building relationships, which is a fundamental building-block of sales.”

Training New Recruits to Master Phone Skills

Victoria has been visiting BRG’s branches, including those in Cornwall and Devon, to emphasise the importance of mastering phone techniques. She noted that while the firm’s technology, such as its recruitment app, is vital, it should work alongside traditional methods of communication.

“All the technology is wonderful and necessary – and Berry Recruitment’s app proves it – but it should run alongside old-fashioned calls,” Victoria explained. “The more conversations, the better the relationship and the more chance of placing a candidate with a client.”

BRG’s newer consultants are being trained to confidently use phones to build relationships, backed by the expertise of experienced recruiters within the company. Victoria added: “When a new consultant begins making calls and realises how effective they are, their confidence grows and calling becomes second nature.”

Leadership Highlights the Importance of Balance

Lee Gamble, BRG’s managing director, echoed Victoria’s message, highlighting how different generations view phone usage. “For those of a certain generation the primary use of a phone is to speak to people. For younger people that is not necessarily the case, and messaging and emails are the first option. But they must run alongside calls.”

A Trusted Name in Recruitment

Berry Recruitment Group, headquartered in St Albans, operates across the private and public sectors in the UK, employing nearly 200 staff. Founded by industry leaders Tony Berry and Ian Langley, BRG spans seven specialist divisions, including office and professional, construction, and catering and hospitality.

To learn more about Berry Recruitment Group and its services, visit their website.