# Contacting a stranger on a work related issue via cel on weekend? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 27, 2014, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contacting-a-stranger-on-a-work-related-issue-via-cel-on-weekend/699708 "2014-09-27T08:11:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contacting-a-stranger-on-a-work-related-issue-via-cel-on-weekend/699708/1 "2014-09-27T08:11:44Z")
So I was contacted by a recruiter hoping, apparently, to submit my name for a job. The call came in at 3 on Friday, and I was out of my home until past midnight. In both an e-mail and a phone message, the recruiter included a cell phone number. What’s the etiquette, if any, on calling this number tomorrow/today, a Saturday? I assume that it wouldn’t have been included if I couldn’t call anytime, but I wanted to be sure. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![StrangeBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@StrangeBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangeBird)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contacting-a-stranger-on-a-work-related-issue-via-cel-on-weekend/699708/2 "2014-09-27T11:13:15Z")
I think in this situation it is fine, but at the start of the conversation I would ask the person whether this was a convenient time for them to talk. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contacting-a-stranger-on-a-work-related-issue-via-cel-on-weekend/699708/3 "2014-09-27T11:20:29Z")
I’d email if they left an email address, but otherwise I think it’s fine to call. If they really didn’t want to be contacted, they’d have left a desk phone number. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contacting-a-stranger-on-a-work-related-issue-via-cel-on-weekend/699708/4 "2014-09-27T12:15:09Z")
I did send an email, but I did mention that I’d try to call. Maybe I’ll wait to see if I get a reply to that. Not sure. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contacting-a-stranger-on-a-work-related-issue-via-cel-on-weekend/699708/5 "2014-09-27T12:36:19Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I did send an email, but I did mention that I’d try to call. Maybe I’ll wait to see if I get a reply to that. Not sure. I’d call. Just start by apologizing for interrupting the weekend and ask if it’s a good time to talk. They left you contact info at Friday at 3- not a stretch to think you might use it over the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contacting-a-stranger-on-a-work-related-issue-via-cel-on-weekend/699708/6 "2014-09-27T12:38:13Z")
If he left a cell number, then use it. If he’s not taking work calls on the weekend, he doesn’t have to pick up, and then you can leave a message to show your interest and initiative. At minimum, it will show your number as a missed call. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contacting-a-stranger-on-a-work-related-issue-via-cel-on-weekend/699708/7 "2014-09-27T13:49:54Z")
Maybe send a text message (during the day!) saying you will call on Monday, but that they may call you during the weekend if needed. Don’t forget to include your name, they may not be able to associate the applicant with the phone number. (That was a singular “they”; I managed to avoid using “hir”. Next time, tell us if the recruiter is male or female, it’ll simplify the pronouns.) ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contacting-a-stranger-on-a-work-related-issue-via-cel-on-weekend/699708/8 "2014-09-27T13:55:29Z")
Don’t recruiters commonly make a commission of 20% of whatever your starting salary is? That doesn’t mean you’re entitled to bug them at any hour. But I would think that to potentially make that kind of money, a recruiter wouldn’t mind an interruption of a few minutes on a Saturday. You’re obligated to give a non-abject apology to demonstrate you’re not socially incompetent and the recruiter will in all likelihood quickly reply that it’s not a problem. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contacting-a-stranger-on-a-work-related-issue-via-cel-on-weekend/699708/9 "2014-09-27T16:30:20Z")
Don’t call until Monday morning. There’s nothing pressing about the issue, and nothing will happen before Monday anyway.