I spent this weekend speaking at the National Conference on Student Leadership in Atlanta, where I met some incredibly talented and interesting student leaders. In one workshop, we spent some time on the topic of voice mail greetings — what to do, and perhaps more importantly, what not to do.
In today’s super-busy world, callers are more likely to get your voice mail than you personally. So, if you’re in the middle of a job or internship search, make sure your greeting reflects the professionalism you will show on the job.
If you have a—ahem—less-than-appropriate voice mail greeting on a phone you plan to use for your job search (“Hey, leave a message” or the one I’m hearing a lot lately, “Don’t leave a message”), re-record a new one. “Hi, this is Laura Roberts. Please leave me a message and I’ll call you back as soon as possible.” That’s all you need.
Potential employers should feel as if they’re calling another desk in their office, because that’s exactly where you want your phone to be someday. This is a simple change to make, and it can make a world of difference.
