Leaving the right message before the beep
While we're on the subject of how your choice of words affects potential employers' perception of you, we should also discuss voicemail messages. If you don't have a dedicated business line, recording a clean, clear, and concise voicemail message can save you a lot of grief. "Hi, you've reached (name) at (number). I can't come to the phone right now, so leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as possible" will do the trick in most cases -- there isn't any need to get creative unless you're involved in a creative industry, and even then, care should be taken to assure that a caller knows who they've reached. I've been greeted by vague, obnoxious, incomprehensible, and non-existent voicemail messages countless times. Not only can these make it difficult for whoever is calling to get back to you, but, depending on the message's content, it may reflect poorly on you in other ways. Just keep it simple, and you'll keep everyone happy.Feel free to leave responses after the beep.
Beeep.
Labels: professional decorum, voicemail
Posted by Brian on 6/20/2009 04:58:00 AM
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2 Comments:
I have always been confused as to why people in their voicemail say "you've reached John Doe at 555-8487". Practically everyone has caller ID and they know which number they have called. And if someone thinks they may have punched the number incorrectly, they usually dial twice just to check again. So I think that it is more efficient to say your name or your number, whichever you are more comfortable sharing. And of course, never give out personal information or additional contact information just in case the person has ulterior motives.
I think I am pretty much the poster child for the unprofessional messages you discussed. If you read my post about my e-mail address, then you will understand why my voicemail message has "creative flair" that is not necessarily appropriate for an employer to hear. My stubbornness once again won out, but I know that as I come closer to my graduation in December and look for my future career, the message will have to change. I will have to drop the references to Saturday Night Live [yeah, it's THAT bad] and make my outgoing message more mature. I dread when that day comes, but I also understand that it can hurt me just as much as my e-mail account has in the past.