Voice Mail Messages You Leave

Before you leave a voice mail message for a person who could possibly hire you for a job or internship, make sure you know what you're going to say. As ridiculous as it may sound, rehearse saying the message out loud. Do it often enough so it doesn't sound like you're reading it. You'd be surprised how easy it is to start rambling like an idiot and continually repeat yourself. Something I heard recently that I thought was a good suggestion was to call your own cell phone (even if from your cell phone) and leave a message when you're driving or just have some down time. Once you listen to it, you'll be able to pick-up on any annoying ticks (um, you know, speak at lightning speed, etc.) that you have and correct them.

Another minor little detail to consider is what you'll say if the person actually answers. I've been in the office late at night and answered the phone to a startled person on the other end. Don't discount the possibility of someone being at his desk. Additionally, sometimes the best time to reach the person you're trying to speak with is in the morning or the evening, before or after traditional work hours (7:00a-9:00a or 5:30p-8:00p). I know that I am NOT a morning person and was often in the office late at night. During the day when I'm running between meetings, I might not have time to speak at length with someone, but later in the day, I usually do.

Something I forgot to put in the last post about the message you have on your voice mail intro--be sure to say your first and last name if you have a name that people often butcher. None of us want to intentionally butcher another's name. This will help make sure they at least get close to pronouncing your name correctly when they do speak with you.

The Voicemail Intro on Your Phone

"Hi, this is Michelle.  You've reached the right number at the wrong time.  You know the drill.  Leave me a message." 

As you begin to call professionals in the industry, you're invariably going to be leaving them a voicemail with your number so they can call you back.  I'll save the items about when to call and what to leave on their voicemail for the next post.   For this one, it's about the message that they're going to hear on your phone if they call you back.  Personally, I'm OK with funny or informal messages.  I think they show a little creativity, and I LOVE creative people.  I don't like companies that are old and stuffy.  But I can tell you with certainty that most business people don't care for those informal or funny messages.  They hear them and cringe, thinking they're very unprofessional.  They start thinking, "If she has that unprofessional of a message when she knows I may be calling and she's trying to get a job/internship with me, how unprofessionally is she going to behave with my customers?  Could I even trust her to know what a professional conversation with my customers should sound like?"

Unfortunately, there are times when you will have to conform to the accepted "business norms," especially when you're trying to break into the industry or are just starting an entry level job with a long-standing organization (e.g., professional leagues, major universities, etc.)  Personally, I hate the idea of conforming to "business norms" that are a throw-back to the 1950s and were created by WASPy old white men, but I'm also a pragmatist.  Don't shoot yourself in the foot before you even get a chance to begin your career and show them what you can do.  Unless you start your own company or find a really cool start-up or small company that embraces irreverence, you're going to have to get rid of your college student voicemail message.  Welcome to the adult world of business where fun sometimes gets swept under the carpet!