When you’re looking for a job, a good rule of thumb is to answer your phone as often as you can. You never know when a recruiter might be calling to set up an in-person meeting, or conduct a phone interview.
Your voicemail is important. This is probably one of the first things that will give your Placement Consultant and/or employer their first impression of you. As such, it is essential that you make sure your voicemail message is as professional as possible. When going through the application and interview process you should avoid these situations:
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Here are several tips to consider when setting up a professional voicemail greeting:
14. Hi, you’ve reached [business name]. We can’t take your call at the moment, but if you leave your name and number, the next available team member will return your call as soon as possible.
If you've really got six other numbers to list it's easier to just mention a website that people can go to, because I'm not going to be able to write them all down in one go anyway. And if I have to call back multiple times then it's really going to make me angry and less likely to want to do business with you or your company. umbra21 December 4, 2013
Voicemail is necessary when no one can answer the phone. However, a dedicated receptionist can reduce the need for this feature and help people reach a live person. Consider live chat as well if your customers like to reach out online.
Customers do not possess the expertise and knowledge you do. When creating your business voicemail greetings, make sure you don’t use such technical terms that the customer may not be able to understand.
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Voicemails need to maintain a professional consistency that’s aligned with the entity it’s representing. That said, the structure can vary depending on the situation. There’s no template set in stone. In fact, trite and generic should be off the table. The goal should be a balance of uniqueness and practicality.
22. Hello, this is [your name]. I’m currently away from my phone. I return calls on Tuesday and Friday at 10 a.m. Please leave a detailed message including your name and a callback number and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
A word of warning: These greetings will not do you any favors if you’re in the midst of a job hunt or work in a conservative industry. Always remember your target personas. If there’s a chance they won’t appreciate your sense of humor, opt for a straightforward greeting instead. “This is Bond. James Bond. Okay, it’s really [your last name]. [Your first name] [your last name]. I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m done helping M16 save the world — which will probably be tomorrow at the latest. Have a good day.” “Hmm. Gryffindor … No, Ravenclaw. Yes, you definitely belong in Ravenclaw. *Pause.* Okay, you haven’t reached the Sorting Hat — it’s the voicemail of [your name]. Please leave your name and number (and just for fun, the Harry Potter house you think you belong in) and I’ll return your call as soon as possible.” “Hello! You’ve gotten the voicemail of [your name]. Leave your name, contact info, and the answer to the eternal question ‘Which came first, the chicken or the egg?’ Anyone who gets it right will receive a call back.”
Your greeting should let the caller know who they have reached, what is the persons status ( out of the office, in the office but in meetings etc), when the caller can expect to receive a call back and instructions on what to do if the call is urgent. About Us Forms Tutorials and Reference GuidesSample Voicemail Greetings Changing Unity Voicemail Greeting Settings Telephone Products Ordering Information - Cabling Requests Data and Voice Construction and Design Guidelines Telecommunications Services: Questions & Answers WebEx - Online Collaboration for Faculty & Staff Related Websites Contact ACC Media Relations Annual Security Report Board of Trustees CIP Emergency Institutional Résumé Office of the Chancellor Public Information Act Student Success Rates CARES Act Reports Title IX Report an Incident Report a Problem With This Page Accreditation Mission, Vision & Values ACC Bookstore Catalog Course Schedule FERPA Gainful Employment Mental Health Resources Property Taxes - Notice to Taxpayers Syllabus & Curriculum Vitae Request Transcripts Home About ACC Academic & Career Programs Admissions Paying for College Student Support Campuses Austin Community College District
Of course, yours may need more details. But, even if you’re changing your outgoing message every day, it should only be a slight variation from a standard greeting.
The phrase ‘Your call is important to us’ is very overused and can sometimes come off as insincere. Instead your professional voicemail greeting should say something like ‘We appreciate your call and look forward to speaking with you soon.’
Microsoft Skype for Business enables users to communicate securely anywhere they have network connectivity.. Skype for Business unifies voice and video calls, Skype for Business Meetings, presence, and instant messaging (IM) in one easy-to-use client, making it simple to choose and switch between different forms of communication. Clients are available for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.
From the Skype for Business desktop app (if you are running Click-2-Run build C2R 8201.1002 or later), select Set Up Voice Mail. Change your Call Answering Rules You can change what options your callers have when they reach the voicemail service; get disconnected, hear your greeting, record a message, choose to be transferred to the number or user you select. Change your prompt language This is the prompt language that is played to callers. For list of supported languages, see Languages for voicemail greetings and messages from Skype for Business. Configure your Out of Office greeting This is the customized greeting message that is played to callers when your status is Out of Office. This option can be activated "Always," when you have an active "Auto Reply" in Outlook, or whenever you have an out-of-office calendar appointment. Where you can get your voicemail messages from
Whether it’s an out-of-stock product, a canceled event, or social media snafu, there are times when your business may see an influx of frustrated callers. While it is important to address their concerns head-on, you may not be able to answer each call as it’s received. Make sure you use best practices for dealing with angry customers, and that your voicemail greeting sets the appropriate tone. Avoid defensive language, validate their concerns, and keep them informed as to how you are handling the situation.