Communication Hygiene Pays

Just a quick note: A sure way NOT to get a job is poor communication hygiene. What is communication hygiene? Simply put, it is making yourself easy and pleasant to contact.

Here’s how to build a communication hygiene strategy that pays:

• If you are job hunting, make it a job. You wouldn’t go ten days at work without checking your e-mail. Check your job search e-mail account at least daily.
• Don’t complain to your recruiter because you didn’t check your job search e-mail.
• Make sure your mailbox will accept mail. If your mailbox is full, my message to you will bounce.
• Check your voice mail. As a recruiter, I have been known to leave detailed phone messages with specific instructions. Imagine what you look like when you call back two hours later, but haven’t listened to my message. Saying, “I saw a number with your organization, so I called…” isn’t enough.
• It doesn’t matter if you have ten different phone numbers. I don’t need ten different phone numbers. One working phone number with one working voice mailbox works for me.
• We live in the 21st Century. Not having a working voice mailbox is so 20th century. Yes, it makes you look dumb.
• If you leave a voice message for me, make it useful. If nothing else, make sure I have your name, the position, and a way to reach you.
• A few tips additional voice mail tips are here:
  Tip: How to Leave a Voice Mail Message
• Make sure you sound like someone I’d want to work with. Profanity and hostility have no place in a conversation with a recruiter.