Cold calling is a crucial tool in job search, as more than 80% of job openings aren’t advertised or made public. Mastering this technique involves researching the company, identifying the right contact person, preparing a script, and gracefully send a follow up email.
Cold calling helps you stand out from the crowd and it is a good substitute to cold emailing. Cold call is a strategy that a lot of job seekers/hunters have not considered instead of going from company to company or from one organization to the other.
This involves researching companies and applying for open positions. This article gives useful tips on how to cold call for a job or to seek job opening and opportunity that is not made public.
What Is A Cold Call?
A cold call is an uninvited phone call made by job seekers/individual to potential employers or organization, aiming to make a positive impression or inquire about job openings, gather necessary information, and establish a connection. It requires a lot of preparation, a positive mindset, and effective communication skills.
Carrying out in-depth research on the company will help in crafting a great cold call script. A cold call is a bold way to go ahead of other to seek for hidden opening and possibly get an opportunity to pitch and sell yourself to your potential employers.
What Is A Cold Call Script?
A cold call script is a structured outline for job seekers to use during unsolicited phone calls, guiding the conversation, ensuring focus, confidence, and professionalism, including an introduction, background, purpose, and closing statement.
Having this script handy while on a cold call will help you stay on point and not derail or give out information not necessary to achieve your purpose.
Although this script is to serve as as a help to organize your call if not properly handled it can also cause chaos. Reading directly from the script can make you anxious and this can be heard from the tone of your voice while on the call so the keyword when using a cold call script is ‘guide’.
Tips On How To Cold Call For A Job
Research The Organization
Before making a cold call, carry out a thorough research on your potential employers or organization , including the job requirements and why your skills make you the right fit. Ask for the person you should be talking to, such as the manager, business owner, or human resources department.
Understanding what a company stands for, their goal in business , and current projects is crucial for tailoring your conversation and making a stronger connection. Visit the company’s website, read its mission statement, and understand its products and services.
Follow the company’s page, read employee profiles, join relevant industry groups, search for recent news on the organization, read up reviews, and also interview insights. Engage in the company’s social media accounts, like, share, and comment on relevant posts.
Network with professionals and request informational interviews to gain deeper insights into the company. By doing these steps, you’ll be better prepared to make a strong and informed first impression during the call.
Get In Contact With The Right Person
To be able to place the cold call to the right person means you need to find the right person to talk to who can give you the information you need. To find the right person for a role or department, research the company, reach out to the hiring manager or department head.
Discover their contact information, start a search on social media, ask about the company’s culture, create a list of contacts, and consider local employers and potential companies.
Draft A Script For Your Cold Call
A well-prepared cold call script is crucial for effective communication. It should include a polite introduction, self-introduction, purpose of the call, value proposition, engagement, closing statement, follow-up plan, practice your call ahead of time.
Regular practice ensures clarity and confidence during the call. To remember important details, write bullet points and keep a calendar.
Know your purpose and ask specific questions, such as work experience or vacant positions. Having a script helps remember what to say and speaks more clearly and confidently.
The script which should include introduction about yourself, explanation of the purpose of the call, and highlight your strengths and qualifications should not be solely relied on, it should only serve as a guide so as to avoid unnecessary anxiety.
Keep Practicing
Rehearsing your script is essential for a confident cold call and to get conversant with all the points you want to discuss with your potential employer. practicing on scripting also helps in reducing nervousness and ensuring smooth delivery.
Practice involves role-playing, recording, mirroring, and flexibility. Timed rehearsals ensure conciseness, and steady pace helps avoid nerves. Continuous feedback from others and real-world practice helps build confidence for cold calls to top-choice companies.
Know The Right Time To Call
To ensure productive conversations, choose the right time for cold calls, avoiding busy periods like rush hours. Adjust call times for different time zones and research company schedules.
Track success by keeping a log of call times and response rates. Avoid calling before closing time or outside lunch hours for better chances of reaching the right person.
Prepare Yourself For A Great Pitched
To leave a lasting effect in your audience’s mind during a cold call, spell out your skills and experiences effectively. Identify and mention your unique selling points, and what will be their benefits.
Properly customize your script, and maintain a positive tone throughout the call. Practice active listening and do not talk when you need to listen.
Place The Call Confidently
To make a successful cold call, start with a clear introduction of yourself and why you are calling, maintain a positive tone, and actively listen. Acknowledge and respond thoughtfully, handling objections gracefully. Be clear, concise, and grateful.
Confidence is crucial, setting the tone for the conversation and increasing the likelihood of success. Prepare thoroughly, visualize success, use positive self-talk, and control breathing. Project confidence when contacting hiring managers or department heads as your lack of confidence can be felt through the tone of your voice.
Send A Follow Up Email
Sending a follow-up email after a cold call is crucial for reinforcing interest and professionalism. It should be well-crafted, sent at least 48 hours after the cold call, and include a clear subject line, polite greeting, gratitude, recapping key points, reiterating interest, providing additional information, mentioning next steps, and a courteous closing.
Proofreading, personalization, and conciseness are essential for maintaining a positive impression.
To cold call a company, research its values and projects, find the right person, prepare a script, and choose the right time. Prepare to sell yourself, actively listen, ask insightful questions, and follow up with a follow-up email.
The same strategies and procedures may not work for everybody or all organization, so tailor your cold call to suit your current recipients. Remember persistence is key in job searching.
