Leaving Voice Mail messages is always an interesting subject and one I often get asked about.
People are surprised when I tell them you have to leave FIVE voice mail messages before someone will call you back and there’s a good reason for that – people are busy and are mostly reluctant to listen to their voice mail messages in the first place and or just don’t have the time to return yours right then and there.
There are a couple things you can do to change that – one is to leave a message warning – I mean telling them you’ll call them back again tomorrow so they throw in the towel and call you back right then and there (this does up your return call rate, believe it or not!) and another is to examine the words you’re using when you do leave a message.
Many of the messages left on the voice mail recorders of candidates sound ineffectual.
There are 6 words you might be saying that are killing your chances of a call back.
They are:
- just
- might
- hopefully
- actually
- kind of
- sorry
You’re probably saying them unconsciously; we use them to self-soothe our jangled nerves because we’re so nervous making these calls to begin with!
I call them WUSS words.
WUSS Message: I’m just calling to see if you might be interested in an opportunity with…
BETTER: I’m calling about an opportunity with…
WUSS Message: Hopefully you can call me back at…
BETTER: You can call me back at…
WUSS Message: …but actually this position just opened up…
Better: This position just opened and you’re the first (or one of) person(s)…
WUSS Message: …and it’s kind of a senior position reporting to…
Better: It’s a senior position reporting to…
WUSS Message: I’m sorry if I’ve disturbed you…
Better: What in the world are you sorry for, WussieBaby? Just stop it. Leave all your sorrys in the confessional on Saturdays!
We’ve all heard that words are powerful. I believe they are. They’re one thing we all use every day and I’ve learned, acutely, many times the hard way as a phone sourcer, that certain words start, and stop, conversation.
What words seem to make things happen for you?
Do you have any voice mail tips or techniques in that are getting the job done you’d like to share?