How many voice mail messages is too many?

re: How many voice mail messages is too many?

HeatherLeigh — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 23:42:12 GMT

Ben - no problem, usurp away : ) 30 is the new 9 anyway

re: How many voice mail messages is too many?

BenB — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 23:12:39 GMT

8, now 9, messages is too much. I hate to usurp yours, but I received one message every day to every other day for over a month straight. There was a slight pause, and then it switched to every other day.

I was not interested, spoke with the recruiter, and still received calls. I stopped counting at 30 and have to admit, I was almost disappointed when they finally stopped.

Ben

re: How many voice mail messages is too many?

HeatherLeigh — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 23:42:55 GMT

OK, I just checked my voicemail and there's another one! Do you think she forgets who she leaves messages for and doesn't realize that she left so many for me?

I don't suppose that it would be funny if I called her back after hours and left 9 return voicemails? No? I probably shouldn't joke. I am sure she is just trying to do her job.

Hmm, I may call her back today just to find out what the deal is.

re: How many voice mail messages is too many?

HeatherLeigh — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 23:39:30 GMT

Cute, Doug. Way to work the giraffe in...and the ex. Hee! I would agree with your approach. At some point, you aren't providing any MORE information, so there's not really a point in leaving so many messages.

re: How many voice mail messages is too many?

Doug Burris — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 22:44:51 GMT

The headhunters's take. 8 is way more than enough. Our policy is leave 2 voicemals at the most, spread over a couple of days and perhaps 1 email.

Our thought here is that we are presenting an opportunity, we want to make you aware of it and will ensure we have done everything we can to reach you. After a max of 3 messages (email and voicemail total) we leave you alone. We may follow up with you later, if another opportunity matches your background, but we will not stalk you. There is a fine line between being aggressive and being a stalker, so my ex tells me (just kidding...).

Headhunters get a bad rap. However, in many instances we earn it by harassing potential candidates.

What I love are the people who post a resume on monster, cbuilder, etc. then get annoyed when they get contacted by a dozen firms in the 24 hours after they put their resume online...I equate this to getting upset when your giraffe eats the avacado souffle you left on the coffee table, or something like that.

re: How many voice mail messages is too many?

HeatherLeigh — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 22:07:31 GMT

tod- it's part of networking, I guess.

re: How many voice mail messages is too many?

tod hilton — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 21:48:00 GMT

"Eight is Enough" or in this case, eight is too much. It just cries out desperation, which isn't the most attractive of qualities. I think you're nice to even return their call, I probably wouldn't.

re: How many voice mail messages is too many?

HeatherLeigh — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 20:50:29 GMT

Brett- yeah, that is kind of how I feel. I should make clear that it is an agency recruiter calling me.

patblue-you are all about the feedback! Hah!

re: How many voice mail messages is too many?

patblue — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 20:36:04 GMT

I would tell them on your call back that 8 voicemails makes you view them as desperate or of the stalker mentality and give solid feedback that one or two is usually enough to get your point across :-).

re: How many voice mail messages is too many?

Brett Nordquist — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 11:00:11 GMT

Eight calls does seem like a lot. I'd worry about working for a person that called that much. I can imagine him/her calling my cell phone eight times on my day off. Then again, maybe this person is just aggressive in landing you. I guess I'd be flattered in a sense but skeptical at the same time.