#12 Useful Phrases for Checking into a Hotel｜English for Travel Accommodation
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#44 Asking to Be Connected to the Person in Charge｜Business English Expressions
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When calling a company or service desk, being able to politely say “May I speak to the person in charge?” in English helps the conversation proceed smoothly and leaves a positive impression.
In business phone calls, three elements are especially important: “introducing yourself,” “confirming the person you want to speak to,” and “requesting to be connected.”
In this article, I explain useful expressions for asking to be connected to the appropriate person and key points to help your call go smoothly.
Contents
Dialogue
Good morning. This is Yuki Sato from ABC.
Good morning. How can I help you today?
Could you connect me to Mr. Johnson in the sales department?
Certainly. May I ask what this is regarding?
I’d like to discuss the details of the new proposal.
Thank you. Please hold for a moment while I transfer your call.
1. Introducing Yourself on the Phone
Since the other person cannot see your face, clearly stating who you are is essential when starting a phone call.
A common and professional way to introduce yourself is: “This is + name + from + company name.”
- This is Yuki Sato from ABC.
Adding “from + company name” allows the receiver to immediately understand your affiliation and guide you to the appropriate department.
Other examples include:
- This is Tanaka calling from ABC Marketing.
- This is David from the finance team.
“calling from + company name” is often used when making calls from outside the company.
2. Asking to Be Connected to the Appropriate Person
The following expression is commonly used when requesting the operator to connect you to a specific person:
- Could you connect me to Mr. Johnson in the sales department?
The phrase “connect me to 〜” means “to transfer my call to 〜.”
Including the department, such as “in the sales department,” helps avoid confusion, especially when there are multiple people with the same name.
3. Confirming and Stating the Purpose of Your Call
It is common for the operator to confirm your reason for calling before transferring you.
- May I ask what this is regarding?
→ A formal expression meaning “What is this about?”
Here, regarding is a formal preposition meaning “concerning” or “about.”
After being asked, briefly and clearly state your reason:
- I’d like to discuss the new proposal.
- I’m calling about the shipment schedule.
- I’d like to follow up on my previous email.
These expressions help the operator understand your request and connect you more efficiently.
4. Phrases Used When Putting Someone on Hold
“Please hold” is used when the operator needs time to locate the person in charge or switch the phone line.
- Please hold for a moment while I transfer your call.
This expression means “Please wait without hanging up.”
Other useful variations include:
- Please hold on for a second.
- One moment, please.
- I’ll transfer you now.
These are common fixed expressions used in business phone calls.
Summary
- This is ～ from …
→ Used when introducing yourself on the phone. Clearly states your name and company. - Could you connect me to ～?
→ A polite expression for requesting to be transferred to a specific person. Adding a department makes it more precise. - May I ask what this is regarding?
→ A formal phrase for confirming the purpose of the call. The word regarding is suitable for business contexts. - Please hold while I transfer your call.
→ A standard expression used when placing a caller on hold. Useful to recognize as typical phone terminology.
