Making Cold-Calling Successful

There are various methods of job-hunting but online job hunting is the current most popular one. However, there is a traditional method of job-hunting that can be quite effective for you if you simply follow the steps outlined in this article. This method is called cold-calling the potential employers.

First of all, let’s identify what cold-calling really is. Cold-calling is mostly defined as a telephone call or visit made to someone who is not known or not expecting contact, often in order to sell something. We can safely assume that cold-calling is a proven method of finding employment. Jobs do not come easy and the market is not constantly open, thus you won’t be able to find out about available job openings unless you dig for them. There are some steps or processes which are important when “digging”.

There are 4Cs in the cold-calling process...

1st C: Compiling
First of all, you need to compile a list of companies that you might be interested in working for. It is good to have a longer list compared to a shorter one because your opportunities increase when you list is longer. You may search for the job opening of the companies in their official websites. You could gather this list of companies by focusing on a specific geographic area, a specific industry, a ranking of the best companies to work for, or any other factors that you think may apply. The most important point in this step is to clarify which company you can approach to maximize your chances of employment.

2nd C: Collecting
After listing the potential companies, you need to gather the names of the people who have the authority to offer you a job. How do you do this? You need to call each company’s main number and ask the receptionist or department assistant for the name and title of the recruitment manager in your field of expertise. Ensure that the person you are trying to approach is the right person who really has the power to make decisions. Try to avoid getting the names of the Human Resources manager unless that is the department that you are aiming for because applying through HR will make you “ordinary” like all other candidates. Your first point of contact should be with the hiring manager in your field and it is essential to get a name and title spelled correctly. Many hiring managers are known to throw away letters that are not addressed to them by name.

3rd C: Cover letter
With the contacts on hand, you may start writing a dynamic cover letter to the employers in order to create a good first impression. There is always a concern over the cover letter. Always make sure that each letter is individualized by addressing each to a named individual, saying something about the company to indicate that you have done some research or preparation about the company and stating different qualifications for different positions. Always bear in mind that the cover letter is extremely important since it serves as the first contact with the employer. Your cover letter will mirror your personality, attitude and characteristics to the employers. Therefore, writing a good cover letter is crucial. At the end of the cover letter, don’t forget to enclose a clean and complete copy of your resume with each letter you mail.

4th C: Contact
The last step in the process is contacting the people you wrote to. Unfortunately, this step is the hardest task. You need to get on the phone and contact these busy people to convince them to grant you a job interview. Before you start to call, make sure you are prepared for the interviews because the employers might conduct a short telephone interview as a “test”. Always be persistent even if the potential employer says there are no current vacancies available. Do not be rude or too pushy if the person is unwilling to grant you an interview. Your ultimate goal of cold calling is to get as many interviews with potential employers as possible. Thus, even if the majority of them tell you that there are no current job openings, the person you have contacted can be the intermediary for you to ask for referrals, if other employers have job openings.

Success in cold-calling for employment can be a challenge for those who are weak in their telephone skills as well as negotiation abilities. But, by adhering to the guidelines and advice of the 4Cs, you could very well succeed. However, cold-calling can be accomplished if it is done at the right time (when job openings are available or if employers really need to hire urgently), to the right person (get a direct contact to the person who are in charge of hiring), and at the right place (getting the companies that you are really interested to work in).