2. Hi, you’ve reached [your name]’s voicemail box. I can’t come to the phone right now, but if you leave your contact information I’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
40. Hi, I’m not in right now, but if you leave a detailed message I’ll call you back promptly.

I have a confession to make: I haven’t recorded a new voicemail greeting since 2014. In the past four years, I (hopefully) have become more articulate, poised, and self-assured. But hear my voicemail recording, and you’d think I was still new to the work world, a little unsure of myself — and probably not an authority. Obviously I need toupdate it. And if you haven’t changed your voicemail greeting in over a year, you’re likely in the same boat. After all, a professional voicemail recording boosts your credibility, makes you seem more competent, and encourages whoever’s listening to it to continue the relationship. A relatively unprofessional one — like mine, for instance — does the opposite: It encourages prospects, recruiters, and potential connections to run in the other direction. With that in mind, I’ve written 18 unique voicemail greetings for every situation. Pick your favorite, practice a few times, then record your new voicemail.
Thank you for calling {insert company name}. Please choose from the following options: If you’d like to speak with the operator, press 0. For customer service, press 1. For the sales department, press 2. For accounts payable, press 3. To listen to our staff directory, press 4. To leave us a voicemail message, press 5. Press 6 if you’d like us to repeat this menu. 4. When they call outside of business hours.