To not answer an unknown number

[Patentreegml]

I am a supply teacher, furloughed, and looking for jobs around the Chester area.

I have just had an unknown number call me which said it was from Birmingham. I didn't answer as usually I wait for unknown numbers to finish and then google the number.
Google did not have any info on the number.
No voicemail was left.

I'm just worried incase it was important.
But I can't think who would ring me from Birmingham.
But surely any job application callbacks would leave a voicemail?

If it was important they will call back or would have left a message.

I never answer unknown or withheld numbers. As said, if its important they'd leave a message

Why not answer?
If it turns out to be a cold call or whatever, just hang up?

I don't answer unknown calls after an ex last year was repeatidly trying to contact me and was following me

I don’t get why you wouldn’t answer. If it’s nonsense hang up.
It could be important. Some recruiters are national and have a base in one part of the country but recruit for the whole of the UK.

YABU for not answering when you are looking for jobs and then posting about it on the internet.

I never answer unknown numbers, if it's important then they can leave a message.

Only if I'm expecting a call from hospital/ bank/ insurer/ etc.
If it's out of the blue I let it go to voicemail.

It was probably a contact tracer. Hide under the bed.

If it was a number that said underneath 'Chester' 'Liverpool" 'Wrexham' then I would answer. But I have applied for no schools in Birmingham so I can't imagine a school having a head office in Birmingham

I really don't understand the mentality of not answering the phone to unknown numbers, it only seems to exist on MN.
If I were actively looking for a job and sending out applications I'd answer all calls.
They may have so many CV's on their desk they aren't going to arse about, you've potentially missed out.
Phones have a disconnect button, you can just hang up you know.

A job agency could be a non-local number.

I can understand why you might not want to answer after your experience with your ex.

It’s a bit pointless to not answer though and then get all panicky about who it was and post on Mumsnet about it. Nobody here will know who it was, and if you needed/wanted to know then you should have answered the phone.

@Puddlejuice but once again, I haven't applied for teaching jobs in Birmingham and I can't imagine schools in my area ringing from Birmingham

Seems foolish when applying for jobs.

If it was a job agency, I would have thought when I googled the number it would come up?
I have my agency phone number in my phone contacts

If you're looking for a job it might be a good move to answer all calls just in case it's a recruitment agency with your next dream job.

Unless you think a call is likely to be abusive, surely it's simpler to just answer a call and hang up if it's a cold caller, than to wait for it to stop ringing and then google it to find out who it was.

Sounds like a lot of faff just to avoid a cold caller.

Ah just seen your update. That does make a difference but a caller that might be important to you won't always leave a message.

Answer the phone! Don’t be so dramatic. If it’s a cold call or your ex just hang up.

[quote Patentreegml]@Puddlejuice but once again, I haven't applied for teaching jobs in Birmingham and I can't imagine schools in my area ringing from Birmingham[/quote]
I'm in the North of England and the agency I do a lot of my work for is based in Wales.

If you're looking for work it's ridiculous not to respond to calls. If the caller is busy they won't necessarily faff around leaving you voice messages.

I have been with my agency for a year and have no applied for any other agencies as I am happy with mine so i can't imagine a random recruitment agency ringing me when I havent provided my details

Well basically, nobody on here will know who it was. The only person who could have found out is you, by answering the phone.

For your own happiness, you are going to have to decide on one of two options for unknown phone calls:

1. Decide that if you don’t know who it is you are not going to answer and don’t bother yourself about who it is - if it’s important they’ll leave a message.

1. Decide that it will bother you too much if you don’t know, and answer it.

What you’re doing now is the worst of both worlds.

I would answer but I've had a spate of amazon prime scam calls. People who call me tend to be either my parents, the in.laws, husbands bf or scam calls. The scam calls all seem to have a spoof geographic number displayed.

@ilovesooty i have my agency number in my contact books and I have been with them for a year;
I have not joined any other agencids

I dont answer them - they’re screened and don’t even ring through on my phone. If it’s important, I know they’ll leave a voicemail.

I never answer unknown numbers AND I have answerphone turned off. If someone wants to get in touch they'll email or text.