Outgoing Answering Messages, the Phone and Your Job Hunt -

Outgoing Answering Messages, the Phone and Your Job Hunt - Photo by The GC Four Its not rocket science potential employers and everyone else will judge you based on anything you offer them.   A typo on your resume?   Youre careless.   Unkempt appearance?   Youre a slob.   Unprofessional phone greeting?   Youre unprofessional! Since no one wants to hire someone who is unprofessional, take the time to make this very easy check of your outgoing phone greeting. Does it contain music? Are there childrens voices? Is there background noise? Does it make an effort at humor?   Is it cute? Is it political? Religious? If you answered yes to any of these questions, stop everything you are doing   change it now! Record a basic, easy to hear greeting:   Hello, you have reached April Showers.   Please leave a message and I will return your call.   Thank you. Listen to the greeting.   Is it garbled?   Did you rush it, as if you were escaping a fire but wanted to record the message first?   Re-do it!   Ask your hard-of-hearing neighbor to call and listen.   Does he understand what you said?   If so, you are golden! Now, dont get me started on kids, family members  or roomates  who answer the phone and dont relay messages.   Or who tell the caller that youre stuck under the car trying to rescue the cat.   Or in the bathroom, and you wont be out for a LONG time.   Try to give out a number on your resume that only you or a trusted adult will answer. Usually, that is a mobile number. Many of us answer our phones whenever they ring even when we are driving or in the middle of a mob of screaming baseball fans.   If you are job hunting, be aware that trying to scream, I cant HEAR you or cursing the driver who just cut you off as you are picking up your phone does not offer the impression you want to give your prospective employer. Once your resume is out there, be aware that any time the phone rings, it might be your dream job on the line.   If youre in a bad or loud spot let it go to voice mail (to your nice, clear, professional greeting), listen to the message and call back as soon as possible.   You (and the caller) will be glad you did. Need help with your job hunt?   Resume needs updating?   Dont know where to start?   Keppie Careers will coach you every step of the way:   www.keppiecareers.com.