Putting Your Best Forward for the Potential Job PDF Print E-mail
Job & Career Posts
Thursday, 29 July 2010 15:00
cell-phoneToday you have to put your best foot forward and be the potential employee that employers will want to hire. The first view of you as an employee may come in the form of your voice message that you leave.

Beep! "My name is Car.shel.bit and I'm interested in hearing more about the position.  You can call me back at sjiinegfislkfjiunfnaijn tow adofin th, Thank you."

Everyone has struggled to understand a garbled phone message, so we are familiar with the challenge.  It's important to remember and avoid this pitfall, especially when you're trying to introduce yourself to a prospective employer.  When faced with the BEEP of voice mail, keep these things in mind:

SPEAK CLEARLY:
If you are leaving a voice mail, be sure to speak clearly and slowly enough to be understood.  Make sure you are in a quiet setting where you will not be distracted or pick up background noise that might make a message difficult to hear.

BE DETAILED, BUT KEEP IT CONCISE:
No one likes a 10-minute message on their machine, but messages without enough information can also be frustrating.  Include important details and if you have a lot of to say, ask them to "please call me back for details."

REPEAT IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Repeat your name and number at the end of the message so the called does not have to listen to the whole message again if they missed it.

USE PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE;
If you're writing an email or leaving a message, be sure to use a professional greeting and closing.  When writing an email, always use a spell checker before you send it.  Make sure you leave a good lasting impression.

BE PERSONABLE:
If you're leaving a voice mail, be sure to smile.  It will make you sound more confident, with a good attitude.

ALWAYS SAY "THANK YOU":
Be courteous and patient when awaiting action from another individual.  Always be conscious of others' time and resources.

PRACTICE YOUR PHONE SKILLS BEFORE YOU CALL:
Practice OUT LOUD before you call so that the message that you leave can seem comfortable.