Comments on: After The Beep

By: Karie S

Karie S — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:15:20 +0000

Many voice mails today have the option of hitting the number one to skip to the beep. Though, you dont always know that the first time you call, and most don’t bother to mention it in their message. I “stayed on the line” once and learned one of the options is coding your message as urgent. The urgent status places your voice mail ahead of all others and keeps it there until it has been listened to. Quite a convenient really. Although you do have to wait until the very end to go to the front of the line.

By: Bill Petro

Bill Petro — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:42:19 +0000

There is a movement afoot to get the large telcos to stop adding all their OWN commentary around your voicemail greeting. Have you seen it. I think David Pogue is driving it.

By: Lynn M

Lynn M — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:10:16 +0000

I agree Chuck. Short and sweet (or relevant!) is probably a good rule for many things that are important but already understood in our society. It can even be the difference between employment and unemployment! Just like voice mail messages which we hear everyday, a hiring manager will read resume upon resume. Resumes all serve the same purpose and need to contain expected information. However, if you don’t have it organized in a simplistic fashion so the reader can get to what he/she wants to see, it’ll likely get tossed aside. Concise, relevant information gets attention!

The best voicemail of all time? “Jerry, it’s Frank Costanza! Mr Steinbrenner’s here, George is dead, call me back.” – Seinfeld (definitely got Jerry’s attention).

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:07:11 +0000

Of course I would NEVER disagree with you, since I am still grateful that you created the IMDB but IMO it’s not that easy or clear cut.

Plenty of times you can save time, and skip a whole conversation later if you leave detail, or track down an answer to a question the caller asks before you get back to them.

Just my two cents in defense of being a blabbermouth.