If you are looking for employment, be certain ALL of your personal voicemails are professional, or at least informative and simple. The phone call you receive is often the FIRST time an employer is reaching out to you as a candidate. So, this is your chance to leave a very positive first impression with a short, clear recorded greeting.

As a former disc jockey, a lifetime ago, I would use the "special effects" library in the production studio to create backgrounds that featured everything from explosions to a chorus of singing "chipmunks." However, when I was looking for work, I took the creative message off the answering machine (it was the 80s and cell phones were still called "car phones!") and changed my message to something simple and to the point.

It's easy!

1. Get rid of jokes, long introductory music or any "creative" features such as comedy bits or sound effects. Employers ARE NOT impressed. In fact, they tend to get annoyed and sometimes just hang up before it is time to to leave a message.

2. Include key information:

* Whose phone it is.
* Suggest leaving a message.
* And that you will return it as soon as possible.

3. Record your greeting in a fairly quiet place. Background music or sounds from passing traffic tend to drown you out.

4. Speak NATURALLY at a steady rate. Remember that while you can SPEAK fast, no one can HEAR fast. If someone else in your family records the voicemail greetings, please make certain he/she is aware of that!

5.Show some energy! Years ago, I was taught that if I smiled when I spoke on the air, people could hear the difference! If your message is flat and sounds like you'd rather be at the dentist, how positively do you come across?

6. Play back your message. Ask someone to call you to listen. Can he/she CLEARLY understand what was said? If not, you need to record again.

7. Sample message: "This is Tonya. Please leave your message and I'll return the call as soon as possible. Thanks."
Have a family phone? Try "You've reached Tonya, Jeff and Leah. Please leave your message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible." OR "You have reached the Richardsons. Please leave your message at the tone and we'll return your call."

Simple, right?

8. Note that "Tonya" or a LAST NAME is in EVERY message. If you don't have YOUR name on the message, how do people know they've reached you? Cell phones don't always come in clearly, either. With no name to go by, an employer MAY NOT leave a message!

Once you get the job you want, feel free to change your message back to whatever works for you! However, while you are looking for that opportunity, focus on a message that will work for both you AND the employers who call.

Don't forget the "phone tuning!"


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