Expert job search advice.

Do you have a professional voicemail greeting? It may be time to listen.

It may be time to listen to your own voicemail greeting

Voicemail Greeting Examples and Scripts Below

Today’s job search tip is simple: Listen to your own outgoing voicemail greeting. It may be worth your time to make sure it is a positive reflection of yourself and your professional brand.

A crucial part of your job search strategy and professional brand development is effective communication. It is important that those you encounter be left with an honest impression of who you are. Many times, a recruiter or hiring manager forms their first impression when they listen to your outgoing voicemail message. Listen to your message and make sure it is leaving the caller with an accurate depiction of you.

“Regardless if it’s a job hunt or just in the professional world, every bit of communication is transparent and should be taken seriously.”

Matt Warzel, MJW Careers

To have a voicemail greeting that is both professional and informational, avoid these common mistakes.

  1. Sounding unprofessional – try to avoid background noise, silly phrases, or longwinded instructions for the caller.
  2. Impersonalized voicemail – be sure to let the caller know they have reached the correct person so they are comfortable leaving a message.
  3. Avoid automated voicemails – recruiters and hiring managers are unlikely to leave a message if they think they may have reached the wrong person. This could cause you to miss a job opportunity.

Best practices for professional voicemail greetings include:

  1. Greeting
  2. Your Name
  3. A rough estimate of when you’ll get back to the person
  4. Call to action with instructions for leaving a message (e.g. should they include a contact number or email)
  5. Sign off (e.g. “Goodbye”, “Have a great day”)

It’s important to leave them with trust in you even when you haven’t been able to speak to them.Let the caller know who they have called – don’t leave them in doubt that they could have the wrong number. We recommended reflecting a positive version of yourself. Let them know they can trust that you are grateful for their call and that you will return their call.

“The recording should be intentional – not rushed of with lots of background noise. Bring some energy into it too. It might be the first time someone is meeting you.”

Loren Grieff, Founder and President of Portfolio Rocket

Your voicemail should be a true reflection of the work you do and the image you want to present to the world.

Here is a simple, tried, and true message:

Hi there! You’ve reached the voicemail of Sarah Johnston. I am sorry I missed your call. Please leave your name and number, and I’ll call you back as soon as possible. Thanks, and have a wonderful day.”

Check out this video where I highlight the good and bad of voicemail greetings.

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