Make it simple and easy for the contact to return your call. State your name and say your phone number slowly at the beginning of your message and then repeat at the end. If they miss it, all they have to do is replay the very beginning of your voice mail to find out your contact information. And don’t forget to be polite, patient and courteous and thank the contact for their help and calling back or leaving a message on how they want to be contacted in the future. Persistence does get results. Call regularly to demonstrate that yuou are genuinely and sincerely interested in a conversation. This is not a one-shot transaction but an effort to establish a connection and promote a relationship. If you don’t get a callback within 10 days, allowing for travel, vacation, assignments, etc, then call and leave a second message. If you are trying to catch someone by calling frequently, block caller ID and don’t leave a message each time. I agree with the method of calling outside of usual business hours when you are less likely to be screened by a gatekeeper and more likely to reach the contact directly.

I find the best time to reach out to an executive is before or after working hours. They tend to come in early and work late. I have reached c-level execs as early as 6 am and as late as 7 pm.

Depending on the size of the organization, the “dial by name directory” generally rolls straight to their extension. If you are unable to reach them on a particular try, you may be given their direct number through the phone system – which can be useful later.

Another approach that works when calling for an executive and dealing with an admin is using the “it’s personal” line. Let’s face it – your job search is personal. I recently said to an admin “so and so recommended I call” and when she pressed further about the nature of the call I told her “it is personal beyond that”. I told her “Kindly let Mr.CAO know I am on the line and that I have been referred by “so and so” and he can choose to take the call”. Mr. CAO did take the call.

Good luck with your search !

I use a program called Spoof Card to get through. Basically, it makes any phone number you’d like to show up on their caller ID.

You can find the program on the web at http://www.spoofcard.com. As I recall it’s about $10 for 60 minutes.

I try to find out where the hiring authority worked before and use that number. Seems to work pretty well. Nobody has ever commented on how I am calling from that number but you can tell they’re a little puzzled.

A lawyer friend of mine put me onto this progam. He says he and his associates use it a lot to get through to deadbeats.

Why is a call from a job hunter who has done his homework a “hoodwinking?”

I accept the lashes for suggesting a voicemail where you don’t say exactly what you want. I still find it works, because the mention of a mutual contact and the reference to a relevant news article creates a context. Of course, when you get a call back (okay, IF), you must have something to say that will be interesting to the manager.

But I’m not suggesting that “something” must necessarily relate to a job. How about this:

Ask an intelligent question about what you read about the manager… then try this, bending it to suit the topic you read about: http://www.asktheheadhunter.com/crocs4beamindreader.htm

If I’m looking for pointers toward the next link in my chain of contacts, I’d say that in the voice mail. If the person doesn’t want to help me, that’s OK, and he won’t call me back. Better that that him calling back, finding out what I want, and feeling hoodwinked.