cash jobs, side jobs, odd jobs | Is Your Voice Mail Stopping You From Getting Interviews?

Is Your Voice Mail Stopping You From Getting Interviews?

Posted on February 10, 2008
Filed Under Job Search Tips |

In a previous article I spoke about ”How Your Email Address Can Stop You From Getting an Interview.” But have you thought about the impression your voice mail or answering machine makes on the employer?

So you’ve found a job opening that seems perfect. The pay is right, the location is prime and the hours work well with your schedule. You’ve sent in your shining, clean resume and are awaiting that call for a phone screening and interview time. But you are busy and can’t always pick up your cell or home phone. This means that your perspective employer will probably need to leave you a voice mail message. Just what impression are you leaving him or her?

Friends, this is one of those times when you want to be plain and beige! (read this article to learn about “Job Search, When to be Beige, and When to be Bright“). Don’t get me wrong here: I think it’s cool that you can rap alongside Snoop Dogg and hit every word while giving a “shout out” to your “shorties” on your voice message, but your new boss may find it childish and sophomoric. He or she may decide on the spot that you are not right for the job.

I also think your tough-guy-smooth voice sounds really cool, but is this the impression you want to make on your new manager? What I’m trying to tell you is that while you are in a job hunt, make all of your voice mail and answering machine messages plain and professional… I’m sure your “shorties” will understand.

A very basic and unassuming message would be something like, “You have reached John Jones; Your call is important to me, so please leave a message with your name and number. I check my voice mail often and will return your call promptly, thank you.”

When you leave this greeting, be sure to speak clearly. It is best to use a traditional land line phone to record the message to avoid any flutter or word-dropping.

I also recommend you leave an actual voice greeting and NOT the generic computer generated voice message that merely reads back the phone number. I do not like this greeting during a job search because it could leave the employer wondering if he actually reached the correct person. Also, if your message is professional and clear using your own voice, you will be leaving a good impression on the manager! (When I hire sales reps, I can tell immediately if they will be good based on their voice recording!)

Finally, in the case that you are using a home phone as your contact number: Once you have a professional voice mail message, be sure to alert other members of the household as to the job search. Believe it or not, I’ve attempted to reach applicants via phone and their parents or relatives will lie and say they are not there because they automatically assume that I am a telemarketer trying to sell something!

In conclusion I will leave you with this: Over the past 10 years I have conducted thousands of phone screenings looking for new employees.As I look back, I wonder how many of them may have made excellent employees, but I never called them back because their voice mail message made them sound undesireable, or because their family members were rude to me and wouldn’t even let me speak to them?

Simple things are what make the difference in getting your dream job, and serving cold french fries and flipping burgers!

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