Professional Voicemail Greeting Guide for Job Seekers
In this day and age of instant messaging, phone calls have fallen out of fashion. Despite this, many recruiters still contact job candidates by phone. This is why you should include your phone number on your resume. However, simply listing a phone number is not enough.
When job searching, a potential employer can call at any time, including moments when you’re unable to pick up the phone. This is where a good old fashioned voicemail comes in. A proper voicemail greeting can leave a good first impression, while an unprofessional greeting can hurt your job search.
How to Record a Professional Voicemail Greeting
Craft the perfect voicemail greeting and leave a good first impression on potential recruiters with these simple steps.
Record in a quiet location
Find a quiet place to record your voicemail greeting. Make sure there is no background noise present. This ensures that your recording is clear and also helps you focus.
Have a script ready
Write out your greeting beforehand and have it in front of you while you record. This helps you speak smoothly and guarantees that you will not miss any important details.
In general, the following should be included in your voicemail greeting:
- Your first and last name
- A brief apology for not picking up
- Request the caller to leave their contact information and message
- Alternative ways of contacting you, if any
Speak with a smile
Monotone voicemails greetings are boring. Bring more energy into your greeting with a smile. This may seem silly, but you can truly hear someone’s smile through their voice. It brings positive energy. Record your voicemail greeting with a smile. You’ll sound more friendly and engaging.
Slow down during important details
When mentioning important details, remember to slow down and speak clearly. Voicemail audio quality is not always the best and details can be hard to make out from the other side. It’s also a good idea to spell out important details letter-by-letter.
Professional Voicemail Greeting Examples
Here are some recruiter-friendly voicemail greetings:
- “Hi, you’ve reached the voicemail of [name]. Sorry, I am unable to pick up the phone right now. Please leave your name and phone number and I will call back as soon as I can. You can also reach me via email at [email], spelt [E-M-A-I-L]. Thank you for calling.”
- “Hello, this is [name]. I apologize for not picking up at the moment, but I will get back to you at the earliest opportunity. Please leave your contact information and message.”
- “Thank you for calling, this is [name]. Sorry, I’m not available right now. Please leave your contact information. I will contact you as soon as possible.”
Next time you miss an important call, you can rest easy knowing that you left a good impression.