Are you required to have a "professional" voice mail?

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 01:03:46 -0500

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2017 1:09 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 01:09:32 -0500

Well ask yourself this question, "Would I want my superiors, subordinates, or peers to hear Darth Vader on your voicemail?" No matter how cool it may be, you just never know who is going to call. Professional, no...adult, yes

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jan 9 at 2017 1:31 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 01:31:12 -0500

Your voice mail greeting is a reflection of you as a person - how do you choose to present yourself to the world?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 9 at 2017 1:44 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 01:44:14 -0500

Good Idea! Makes Sense! Young Folks I Highly Recommend this Sage Advice. Me? Leave a Message. 2008 Officer of the US Central US! 21 years a Navy Spook. How can I put this Politely, I can't "Frankly Charlotte I don't Give a Damn".

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jan 9 at 2017 2:15 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 02:15:46 -0500

While working as a concierge at a 5-star hotel, I was required to have a "professional" voice when pronouncing certain things, and answering the phone.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2017 2:24 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 02:24:05 -0500

At work yes. At home, would you not want to put your best foot forward since you never knoe who will be calling?

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Jan 9 at 2017 5:05 AM

TSgt Joe C. — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 05:05:25 -0500

I suppose so, but I have no phone currently.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2017 5:09 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 05:09:49 -0500

ENS Private RallyPoint Member for work or for personal? I have had some say name, rank, and position on their personal phone. That is not my cup of tea as not everyone who calls me needs to know what I do for a living. I keep it brief and short. While it is not the standard line for the military if they are calling me on my personal phone then they already know who I am.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Jan 9 at 2017 9:00 AM

Maj Marty Hogan — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 09:00:02 -0500

I do a lot of community service and serve on many boards- in that respect I am brief and professional on my personal cell voice mail- is it a requirement, probably not- but I am getting messages from city managers, sponsors, and many more professional people. If you want to portray your self as a professional and be taken seriously would behoove you to do just that. Great question ENS Private RallyPoint Member

Response by PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM made Jan 9 at 2017 11:48 AM

PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 11:48:38 -0500

"Professional" messages can be a pain in the posterior! because no matter what you do, Somebody is going to be offended. I currently work for my State, and our Governor (who will soon be our UN Ambassador) tells us we all must answer our phones "It's a Great Day in South Carolina" and then go into whatever your spiel is. Even the away messages must say that. BUT when The Floods hit two years ago and Hurricane Matthew hit last year and the shootings in Charleston, we were told to NOT say it because it was NOT a great day in South Carolina at the time... Being the renegade that I am, I answer my phone, Office of Fire and Life Safety, This is Fred. Short and Quick and yes it is professional enough for me. If someone else has a problem, they can give me a Secretary!

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Jan 9 at 2017 12:06 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 12:06:09 -0500

Mine is automated..."You have reached the voice mail box of <phone number>, please leave a message after the tone." Home voicemail is basically the same.
About as professional, boring and inoffensive as you can get...lol

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 9 at 2017 1:50 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 13:50:30 -0500

ENS Private RallyPoint Member, in the financial services industry, the VM greeting is most important, and many companies have required comments that must be in the greeting to meet with the compliance requirements of regulatory organizations. Our company requires that there be some language indicating that trade requests (buying and/or selling of stocks, bond, mutual funds, etc.) cannot be honored via VM. Our company also requires this on an individual's cell phone if the cell number is listed on one's business card.

Response by SSG Stephan Pendarvis made Jan 9 at 2017 2:49 PM

SSG Stephan Pendarvis — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 14:49:22 -0500

At work ...yes. But at home you can do what you want...but remember... image is everything.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2017 2:50 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 14:50:18 -0500

For a government phone yes

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2017 12:56 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 12:56:37 -0500

Why would you not want to? My voice mail message on my home phone is repeated in every language I expect people who call me to be speaking, but it's a professional message. Same with my cell phone voice mail.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2017 2:20 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 14:20:18 -0500

If you phone and phone service are paid by you, you are not required to have a 'professional' voice mail. However, your voicemail might have a negative impact on you.