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Outgoing Answering Messages, the Phone and Your Job Hunt
Photo by The GC Four
It’s not rocket science – potential employers and everyone else will judge you based on anything you offer them.
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A typo on your resume? You’re careless.
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Unkempt appearance? You’re a slob.
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Unprofessional phone greeting? You’re unprofessional!
Since no one wants to hire someone who is unprofessional, take the time to make this very easy check of your outgoing phone greeting.
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Does it contain music?
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Are there childrens’ voices?
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Is there background noise?
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Does it make an effort at humor? Is it “cute?”
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Is it political? Religious?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, stop everything you are doing - change it now!
Record a basic, easy to hear greeting: “Hello, you have reached April Showers. Please leave a message and I will return your call. Thank you.”
Listen to the greeting. Is it garbled? Did you rush it, as if you were escaping a fire but wanted to record the message first? Re-do it! Ask your hard-of-hearing neighbor to call and listen. Does he understand what you said? If so, you are golden!
Now, don’t get me started on kids, family members or roomates who answer the phone and don’t relay messages. Or who tell the caller that you’re stuck under the car trying to rescue the cat. Or in the bathroom, and you won’t be out for a LONG time.
Try to give out a number on your resume that only you or a trusted adult will answer. Usually, that is a mobile number. Many of us answer our phones whenever they ring – even when we are driving or in the middle of a mob of screaming baseball fans. If you are job hunting, be aware that trying to scream, “I can’t HEAR you” or cursing the driver who just cut you off as you are picking up your phone does not offer the impression you want to give your prospective employer.
Once your resume is out there, be aware that any time the phone rings, it might be your dream job on the line. If you’re in a bad or loud spot – let it go to voice mail (to your nice, clear, professional greeting), listen to the message and call back as soon as possible. You (and the caller) will be glad you did.
Need help with your job hunt? Resume needs updating? Don’t know where to start? Keppie Careers will coach you every step of the way: www.keppiecareers.com.
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I completely agree…
great advice
[...] Keppie Careers – A Head Above the Rest wrote an interesting post today on Outgoing Answering Messages, the Phone and Your Job HuntHere’s a quick excerptPhoto by The GC Four It’s not rocket science – potential employers and everyone else will j [...]
Grant,
Thanks for your comment. I visited and bookmarked your site – great idea.
Your article is on target! Most people don’t stop to think about the details BEHIND their job search: their voice mail greeting, email address (such as nakedpics@strippers.com), and the like. Not to mention what they’re doing on Facebook & MySpace…!!
Lorraine’s last blog post..The 7 Most Difficult Interview Questions…And How to Answer Them
Lorraine – Thanks for your comment! It is true that the small details make a big difference! Making some minor adjustments can make a big difference!
I have been reading your blog posts daily and the reason I come on your blog frequently is its compelling content.