How to Handle Voicemail for a Resume Follow-Up

When you phone a potential employer to follow up on your resume, you may be diverted to the manager's voicemail. If leaving a voicemail message becomes your only option, you should make the message count. This will help ensure that you'll get a chance at actually speaking to the contact.

Tips for dealing with voicemail

When you can’t break through voicemail, leave a short message showing upbeat interest, not desperation — and a time when you will call back.

My name is Maureen Fisher, and I’m calling you because I'm very interested in your Clinical Manager position, I have the skill set and clinical expertise to get the job done. I think you have my resume. If you like what you see, can we talk? I’ll call you tomorrow morning at 11:30 to set a convenient time.

Pronounce your name clearly and say your telephone number at a moderate pace. Give the hiring manager a chance to write it down without replaying the message.

How often should you call? Some job search experts suggest calling every five to ten days. But busy employers insist that — unless you’re in sales or another field requiring a demonstration of persistence — after you’re certain your resume was received, call one to two weeks later, and then no more than once every three to four weeks.

Following up by phone is your most effective tool, but you should, from time to time, substitute contacts by sending notes or e-mail with additional facts about your qualifications, ideas to solve a problem you know the company is facing, a news clipping of mutual interest, or just an expression of our continuing interest in working for the company and the manager. I would also recommend that you attempt to connect with a potential employer on Linkedin

Avoid asking the employer to call you back

Avoid asking that employers call you back. Even if you leave your contact information, the chances of your getting a return call are slim to none. Instead, leave a very brief message indicating that you'll call again at a specific time. You may have to make a dozen calls before connecting, each time again giving a time frame for your next call. The trick is to

·  Set a specific time and keep your word, which makes you look like a reliable person.

·  Use phrases that prevent the target from feeling “guilty” for missing your call after call. (“Please don’t feel bad about missing my call. Afternoons may be better for you”)

Find a hook (an enticing bit of information about your accomplishments) for each time you call back. In the following examples, the hook is in italics:

• Monday ( week 1): Sorry I missed you; I'll try again Wednesday afternoon. I'm hoping to meet and go into detail about my sales channel strategy, which could work very well for you.
• Wednesday ( week 2): Too bad we missed connecting today. I'll get back to you tomorrow to explain how I worked the lost-customer database and reclaimed 38 percent of them as paying customers. Until tomorrow, then . . .
• Thursday (week 3): You undoubtedly have your plate full, which is why you need to meet with me — I’m persistent and I follow through. I'll get back with you next week. I want to help

Tips:

•  Make sure you customize your messages specifically using key words that are related to the job you are interested in.
• Write your script out prior to dialing the number.

Related article: Professional Email Address and Voicemail Message 

Professional Email Address and Voicemail Message

Does your email address and voicemail message give the right impression to potential employers?

When applying to jobs, it's important to have a professional and appropriate email address and voicemail message for business use. It seems basic, but too often does the following occur: a job seeker applies to a job with an email address like babyguurrrl3548@wxyz.com or flyking@wxyz.com. Definitely a turn-off for potential employers.

Same goes for your voicemail message. If an employer calls you up and hears the message, "Reynolds Pizza, what's your order? KIDDING! It's Brett, leave it after the beep," chances are they'll hang up without leaving a message. An employer will consider a voicemail message like this unprofessional.

Instead, follow these rules for professional email addresses and voicemail messages:

Email address

• Create a new email address specifically for your job search. This is a good step regardless, so you don't mix up your personal and job search emails.
• If possible, include your name in your email address like firstname.lastname@xyz.com so the employer can find email correspondence from you easily.
• It’s acceptable to create an email address that corresponds to your industry or profession, such as SallySalesManager@xyz.com.
• Avoid unnecessarily complicated email addresses, especially those with long strings of numbers. Mistakes could easily be made while entering your email address, making it difficult for potential employers to contact you.

Voicemail message

• Include your name or phone number in the message, mention you’re unavailable to answer the phone. Then ask them to leave their name, number and message, and say you will get back to them as soon as possible.

Example: "Hi, this is Rachel. I’m unable to take your call now, but please leave your name, number and message after the tone and I’ll return your call as soon as possible. Thank you.”

• Speak clearly, and sound professional and polite when recording your greeting.
• Avoid background noise, musical or other “cute” messages, religious messages, joke messages, and profanity.

I highly recommend using  Google Voice or Youmail to simplify the way you use phones, make using voicemail as easy as email, customize your callers' experience, and more. My favorite part is that you can have your voicemail transcribed to your email or text message.

When you begin your job search, make sure your email address and voicemail message are simple and professional, rather than off the wall, inappropriate or bizarre. By doing so, you can ensure they will not harm your chances of being contacted by an employer. Paying attention to these small details can greatly improve your prospects of being hired.

Are you a recruiter or hiring manager who has come across an unprofessional email address or voicemail message? Do you have other tips for job seekers? Share in the comments below!

Reference: http://blog.simplyhired.com/