I Hate HR

When we think about appearance, we often think of our body, clothes, maybe our car or house but rarely do we think about our phones. While your resume is often the first interaction you have with a professional employer, your phone is second. It’s important to manage your “phone appearance” and ensure that if reflects your professional appearance.

1. Get rid of the ringtone replacement songs. There’s nothing more annoying that dialing someone and hearing “Please enjoy the music while your party is being reached.” This is just asking for someone to hang up. This thrill does nothing to impress other professionals and your friends are probably annoyed as well. Your phone is not your Myspace. We do not want to listen to your favorite music.
2. Avoid unique voice mail greetings. Stick with the standard “Hi, you’ve reached Jane. Please your name and number and a brief message.” In fact, just stick with what is programed in and just add your name. Don’t use slang. Don’t try to make your greeting funny. Don’t have your children record the greeting. Just don’t. I personally witnessed a candidate lose a job due to a unique voice mail greeting that I’m sure the candidate thought was funny.
3. Keep religion out of it. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve phone screened have religious statements at the end of their voice mail greetings. If you wouldn’t say it at the interview, don’t say it on the phone. I don’t want to know your religion, that puts companies in an uncomfortable situation as they do not want to give the appearance of discrimination.

Your phone should be just as conservative as you would be at an interview. If it is not, you risk the chance of never getting to an interview.