February 22, 2006 8:29 AM

Voice-mail manners
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 8:29 AM

Here's some helpful advice about voice-mail etiquette in the business world:

[Corporate communications consultant Margo Carmichael] Lester and other business owners say the answer is to know before you pick up the phone what you're going to say if you end up leaving a message. Lester also said a good message has the most critical information at the very start, including name and phone number -- that way, if the recipient replays the message, they won't have to listen to the end for a contact number.

Job seekers can take some cues from this as they frequently run into voice-mail when on the job hunt trail:

> If you get voice-mail, be prepared. Identify yourself, state the reason for your call - "I'm following up on the resume I forwarded to you last week" - and keep it brief, light, and leave your contact information.

> Often it's wise to offer that you will call back again anyway (the onus is on you, not the swamped recruiter, to advance your candidacy).

> Save the substantive stuff for the real-time conversation, whether on the phone or face-to-face.