I have been with Cadre for six years, working on both our personnel and client sides of the business.  I have no idea how many voicemails I have left candidates and companies throughout the years, but I have had to learn (and am still learning) how to leave an effective voicemail to get a callback.  There are many different things to keep in mind when leaving a voicemail. 

Leaving an effective voicemail starts before you even pick up the phone.  Before you dial, think about your tone and the length of the message you want to leave. Try to be personable, positive, yet straightforward.  Use the person’s name and try to keep your message brief.  If you leave a message that is minutes long, there is a chance the person may not listen fully and may miss what you have to say.  They may even be less inclined to return your call.  Remember to speak slowly and clearly and to repeat your name and number at the end of the message, even if you already said it at the beginning of the message.

An effective voicemail will be relevant and offer the listener a reason to return your call.  Do some research prior to picking up the phone to make your message stand out from the others.  Find something that will make you credible so the listener will want to give you a call back.  Try to find something about their experience or their connections to build rapport.  Plant the seed. What is the benefit of them giving you a call back?  Let them know what can be gained by returning your call. And always, SMILE when leaving a voicemail. The listener can hear the smile in your voice. When you receive a voicemail, do you prefer a smiling voice over a monotone voice? Your listener prefers to hear what you want to hear – a smile, and a brief yet succinct and relevant voicemail.