Work Contacts

Work Contacts

With your network in place you can call on selected industry contacts that may have leads to job openings. Inquire of any job leads they may have, and share any industry news that they might be interested in. Networking is a sharing process. This is the ‘personal’ approach to obtaining job opportunities.

If all goes extremely well you will obtain an inside contact at a company you would consider working for. If not, there are ways to research your way into the company.

See the material at the right to exercise your network contacts in your job search.

Making Contact

Informational Networking

Informational Interview

Strategies to Land an Interview

Networking Events

Finding a Compatible Mentor

Effective use of a Mentor

Find the Job Hiring Manager

LinkedIn to the Hiring Manager

Ways to Find the Name of a Hiring Manager

Consider a Cold Call for a Job

The Cold Call Outline

Back

Making Contact

Career Services – Princeton University

https://careerservices.princeton.edu/undergraduate-students/making-connections/networking-techniques

There are proven ways to effectively make professional connections, both online and in person. The good thing about the in-person part? It gets you comfortable with one-on-one communication, which comes in handy when it comes time to interview. To help you connect, the following information is helpful.

Initial Outreach to Contacts

When approaching new contacts, it is important to be respectful of their time.

Start with email.

Since most professionals are quite busy, email is the preferred mode for initial contact in most cases.

Be clear. Always indicate how you obtained the individual’s information. Mention your interest in learning about their profession or organization. In your subject, include how you were referred. In the body, ask if they have time to speak to you by email, phone or in person.

Lend context. Provide a brief overview of your background so that a new contact can best tailor their advice. Do not attach your resume unless you are asked for it.

Manage phone contact. If phone contact is used, be prepared to leave a short voicemail. If you are seeking a job or internship, emphasize a desire for advice.

Arrange an in-person meeting. See if you can meet at the contact's place of employment, so you can do on-the-ground research.

Diversify your outreach approach.

From one-on-one informational interviews to large events, there are many ways to grow your network. Using these techniques can power you with insight.

Grow Your Network Socially

Just about every individual and organization has a social presence. This is a powerful resource for career and network development. While your previous use of social media may have been more social, that is only the beginning of these platforms potential.

Join LinkedIn.

From alumni search tools to networking among professionals, LinkedIn provides numerous tools for young professionals.

Build your network as you go.

Fellow students, professors, family, can be valuable connections down the road.

Find organizations you are interested in.

With minimal effort, you can learn a great deal about an organization's products, services, news and culture.

Identify thought leaders.

Analyze the topics and trends. Follow them and make an effort to connect. Be sure you are clear on why you are reaching out.

Share content of your own.

Your interactions with organizations can be passive (following status updates and tweets) and active (replying, re-tweeting or starting or joining conversations). Wise engagement can help you get noticed. Just be sure natural enthusiasm doesn't border into the realm of spam.

Informational Networking

More people get jobs through networking than by any other method. This is a proven truth. So, why do so many use less productive job hunting approaches? Perhaps they do not know what else to do? They feel they’ve all they can do?

Christopher Galbraith, a Wall Street financial expert believes there are two approaches to networking:

Farming — Leveraging personal and business contacts to create a steady stream of job opportunities

Hunting — Using informational interviews to gain knowledge and identify opportunities

Farming works for people with extensive contacts lists of associates they can call for help. Hunting is more proactive and hands-on. Hunters use leads to arrange informational interviews—in most cases with people they have never met.

Informational Interviews

An informational interview is typically a meeting or call to ask in-depth industry and personnel questions within the company. It can also be a time to obtain additional contacts and identify opportunities and ways to pursue them. Some informational interview questions to consider are:

Why did you select your industry?

How did you get your position?

What is your company’s most critical need?

What companies in your industry are on the leading edge?

What do you like best about your company?

What is the selection process for your company?

Would you review my resume & tell me what you see as my most marketable asset?

If you were in my position, what would you do next?

Do you know of any openings in my field?

Can you recommend other people to contact?

May I use your name as a reference?

Can I keep in touch with you periodically?

Opportunity

Thomas Edison said :“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work,”.

Networking is hard work, but it is more productive than responding to job sites, walk-ins, headhunters and job fairs combined.

Often, finding a job is less a matter of what you know or who you know than who knows you. Networking is an opportunity to get in front of decision makers who are in positions to make hiring recommendations.

The objective of networking is ultimately the job interview. Failure to adequately prepare for the job interview negates hours of hard work. Preparing for a successful interview is just as important as nurturing a professional network.

View an online video of Christopher Galbraith’s master presentation as a powerful testimonial to good persistent networking skills.

https://video.byui.edu/media/P2B+Chris+Galbraith/0_0xs8de4i

Informational Interview

CareerOneStop

https://www.careeronestop.org/jobsearch/network/informational-interviews.aspx

Do informational interviews to learn about a career or about a company. An informational interview is a meeting to learn about the real-life experience of someone working in a field or company that interests you. It's not a job interview, so it's important to keep focused on getting information, not a job offer.

Set up an informational interview

Find contacts.

Ask people in your network for contacts in a field, company or job that interests you. The Business Finder can also help you find contacts in an industry.

Make contact.

Either call or e-mail to make contact. The introduction could be: "Mrs. Smith, Brad Johnson suggested I speak with you. My name is Steven Olson and I am interested in the ________ field. I could use advice from someone who is in this field. Do you have time in the next two weeks to meet for about 20 minutes? I would really like to learn more about your company and the ________ field from someone like you."

Hold the meeting.

After introductions, give a brief summary of your career goal, or what you want to learn from them. Prepare plenty of questions to make good use of the time. Respect their time.

Sample questions include:

· What is a typical day like in your job?

· What do you like most / least about this career?

· Is your job typical of others in this field?

· Are there related fields I might want to look into?

· What makes a resume impressive in your field?

· Is my resume appropriate for this occupation?

· What's the best way to find out about jobs in this field?

· What is the career ladder for this position?

· What would you recommend I do at this point to get into this field?

· What are the future trends for this field?

· Is there anyone else you would recommend I talk to in this field?

To learn more about a specific company, ask questions like these:

· What's the corporate culture like here?

· How do you normally hire for this occupation?

· What is the average turnover in this type of job?

· What skills do hiring managers desire most from someone seeking this position?

· What industry knowledge does this company value in its employees??

· How can a new hire make a strong first impression?

· What personal attributes will ensure a worker's continued growth potential?

· Which firms are your competitors, and how do they differ from your company?

What else do I need to know?

· Make a good impression. This person may provide additional referrals leading to a job.

· Keep it short. Limit your initial interview to 10 to 20 minutes based on how the conversation is going.

· End the interview by stating actions you will take based on their recommendations.

· Thank them for their time, information, and send a thank-you note after your interview.

Strategies to Land an Interview

Brazen Life

Adapted from: http://www.businessinsider.com/7-stand-out-tricks-that-will-help-you-land-an-interview-2013-6

You need to have something unique, something that makes you stand out. Here are seven of the easiest and most effective strategies to do that.

Before you start, note not one of these, in isolation, will do the trick. The secret is to implement as many as possible, because not only are they synergistic, but the more of these steps you take, the less likely other candidates will have.

Get introduced

This is absolutely the best way to stand out in a sea of strangers. Being introduced to a hiring manager by a friend of his is like a having a red carpet rolled out for you.

How can you get introduced? Reverse engineer the hiring manager’s connections on LinkedIn to see how the two of you are connected, and then network your way into his circles. You’ll be surprised how closely related the two of you are, especially if you’ve been in the industry for a couple of years.

Conduct deep research

Yes, you always need to prepare before an interview. But you also need to go a step further than other candidates would.

Do this by asking a few people from the company out to coffee for an informational interview. Say you’re interested in working for the company and would like to know more about its culture (or anything else). Most will be happy to do it, you can talk about where the company is going, what are its most pressing problems. Name-drop the person you talked to in your actual interview to gain extra points.

Invest in awesome resume design

After you get your “in,” remember to make your resume look professional. You need to go further than the Word document most people use. Some people create infographics for their resume, though that might not be the right option for everyone.

Keep your resume concise

Less is more in your resume. If you’re applying to be a teacher, don’t include your experience waiting tables

Read every word, and ask yourself: can I still sell myself if I leave this out? The goal is to have a resume no longer than one page. You have no idea how appreciative hiring managers are when applicants get to the point.

Create a website where hiring managers can find out more

Create a website with more information about your career. Your resume is your hook, and your website is where you have the opportunity to really sell yourself. There’s a lot less friction to click on a link or type in a URL than to call someone or go through the trouble of scheduling an interview.

Create a video resume for your personality to shine

If you really want to take it to another level, create a video resume. A video shows off some things that written resumes can’t—like your personality, which is arguably more important than your qualifications in certain circumstances. If a hiring manager has two candidates who are equally matched on paper, but one has a great personality and the other has no personality to speak of, who do you think will get the job?

Plus, watching a video is more compelling than reading a boring old resume!

Write a case study

What if, during your deep research, you found out your prospective employer faces a huge problem similar to one you solved in a previous job? A plain old resume won’t do the trick. Talking about it in an interview might, but that is if you get an interview.

Instead, write a case study about your experience. Include numbers, your approaches and what was the exact outcome.

Networking Events

Mike Aoki

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140604142847-2036481-5-techniques-for-effective-networking

Ever heard of the old adage, "It's not what you know, it's who you know?" How do you meet people in your profession? Well, one method is to meet people at industry seminars and conferences.

Imagine being in a conference ballroom filled with people. How do you start a conversation with a total stranger?

Before you even begin, think of what you can offer. That's what networking is all about. Give first and goodness will come back to you.

Techniques to make it easier and more comfortable to network

Whom do I approach first?

At one of my recent presentations skills seminars, I watched attendees attempt to network during the lunch break. But, they hesitated because they did not know whom to approach first. Here is the secret: approach groups containing three people. While two of them are chatting to each other, the third person will usually start talking to you (and probably feel relieved since they were the "odd person out" in the group of three.)

How to respond when people ask, "What do you do?"

When someone asks you this question, use this simple formula: "Have you ever_____? Well, I ______?"

For example, when people ask me what I do, I respond, "Have you ever sat through a boring business presentation? Well, I specialize in training business people on how to give more dynamic presentations that motivate people to action."

Stating the problem first i.e. "boring business presentations" shows you understand the problem. Stating a solution shows how you can fix the problem.

How to handle business cards

Here is a tip: use two suit pockets or two compartments in your purse. Have your own cards in one pocket and use the other pocket to store cards you have received from other people. The benefit is you will never get confused and accidentally give out someone else's card by mistake.

How to keep track of all the people you meet

Bring a pen. After meeting someone, make a note about any key points they have made or any way you can be of assistance to them. If you have committed to help someone with information, write it down so you can follow up later.

Offer to help

Ask them about their biggest need or challenge. Then think of a resource to help them. It may not be something you do. But you may know someone who can help them with their challenge.

Networking is about creating mutually beneficial relationships. The more people you help, the more people will want to help you. So, use these five techniques to meet more people at your next business mixer, seminar or conference.

Finding a Compatible Mentor

Lisa Rabasca Roepe

https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-find-a-mentor

Understand What a Mentor Is—and Isn’t

A mentor is someone who can act as your cheerleader and guide, encourage you to apply for new opportunities, and help you to navigate challenging situations. Often your mentor will be in the same industry as you and/or in a similar role who can help you figure out how to advance your career.

Most people end up having a long-term, one-on-one relationship with their mentor, done in bite-sized chunks. Traditional one-on-one mentoring is personal, with intimate and in-depth conversations,

Be Clear About Your Goals

Before considering someone to be a mentor, you need to reflect on what you hope to learn and get out of the relationship. The goal of mentoring relationships is to help you overcome a transition or to become better in an area of work you need more support or guidance in. Your purpose in seeking a mentor is to determine the gaps in your work performance and what you need to better understand about your industry

Find the Right People to Mentor You

Once you pinpoint what skills you’re seeking help with or what questions have about your industry, look at the community around you, including coworkers, family friends, and your college alumni network, to find a potential mentor, says Emily Merrell, founder of Six Degrees Society, a Manhattan-based membership organization that helps women to build their professional networks.

Your mentor doesn’t need to be an executive. They can be just a few levels above you. In fact, someone three to five years ahead of you might have more practical and relevant advice than someone 20 or 30 years your senior, who may be less in touch with the day-to-day realities of someone at your level.

Make Sure to Look for Different Perspectives

Find mentors who work in different departments, get a different perspective and find new skills. Learn from someone who doesn’t do the same thing as you. A mentor with a different perspective has helped her understand how to work with different people, adjust communication styles, and think more creatively.

If you are really going to push yourself and grow, you need a mentor who is different from you, who can give you a different point of view.

Reach Out and Establish a Relationship

There is no one way to establish a mentoring relationship. Most people are more comfortable starting a conversation with a potential mentor and allowing that relationship to develop organically

Invite a potential mentor to coffee or lunch and have a casual conversation with them about work and some of the challenges you’re facing.

If you’re looking to ask someone you don’t know to be your mentor, it’s best to ask a mutual contact to make an introduction for you. It’s important to establish common ground when you reach out, such as mentioning that you graduated from the same university, work in the same industry, or belong to the same professional organization. Tell them about yourself, your work and why you’re reaching out to them

It’s important that you feel comfortable enough with your mentor to reveal doubts about yourself and your work. You have to be willing to be open, vulnerable and honest with your mentor about your challenges and weaknesses. Testing the waters with an initial conversation can help you decide whether or not it feels right to keep moving forward.

Effective use of a Mentor

Lisa Rabasca Roepe

https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-find-a-mentor

Be Specific About What You Want

Starting with your initial outreach, be sure to help your potential mentor understand what you’re working toward or where you need support. Explain why you’re turning to them rather than someone else. Be clear with what you’re looking for and why this person is the right one will help them to say yes.

You don't have to send a formal written plan to your mentor as Jackson did (and that may feel like too much depending on your situation). But you should define what problem or questions you want help with each time you meet and be mindful of their time, Merrell says. For instance, you could say, “I would love 20 minutes of your time to talk about managing a new hire. Can I get your perspective on some issues I’m struggling with?”

Make It Easy for Your Mentor

Respect your mentor’s time, take care of logistics - find a meeting place or set up the Zoom call—so they can just show up and offer advice. By sending an agenda or your questions the day before your meeting, your mentor has time to think about how best to help you. Be on time for your meeting, if your mentor sets a 30-minute time limit, you should be the one watching the clock. If meeting in person, pay for their coffee.

Listen - Show Them You Value Their Feedback

If your mentor recommends you try an action or suggests you read a book, demonstrate that you’re incorporating their feedback by telling them, either by email or at your next meeting, what happened when you followed their advice. Find ways to reflect back to your mentor what you’re learning from your meetings.

If you’re meeting over Zoom, ask for permission to record the session, allowing you to

focus on what they’re saying, rather than taking notes. Replay it later to really take in their advice and think more deeply about their suggestions.

Mentors Will Likely Change with Your Career

It’s unlikely that the same mentor will shepherd you from your entry-level position to CEO. Over time, the people you choose as mentors will likely change according to where you are on your path and what you need most in that moment. If you get promoted to a director-level position, you might need help deciding which meetings you need to attend in person and which meetings your staff can attend. For decisions about what and how to delegate, turn to a director in another department who has more experience.

As you move up and change jobs (or even careers) and navigate different questions, challenges, and opportunities, you can repeat this process of figuring out your goals, finding the right potential mentors, reaching out, and establishing relationships.

Show Gratitude

Your mentor has a personal life, job, and responsibilities, so show your respect by not being too demanding of their time. But don’t stop there. Find small ways to demonstrate gratitude and kindness. It could be a handwritten note or an offer to make a professional introduction for them that would be beneficial to their career.

Reach out just to see how they’re doing, even if you’ve found new mentors to help you with new facets of your career. Personally keep in touch with your mentors, or communicate by email and text. If LinkedIn shows an update, check in with them personally. Show you appreciation by asking about the things happening in their life.

At the end of the day, you want to make sure your mentors know you care about them as much as you expect them to care about you.

Find the Hiring Manager

Debra Wheatman & Jenna Arcand

https://www.workitdaily.com/how-to-find-hiring-manager

Job listings posted may simply read "no phone calls" or "direct resume to BD," or some internal post office box or no-reply email address. Getting a name is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Finding a hiring manager's name is tough, but it can be done. It takes work and a bit of sleuthing. So, here are seven effective ways to find a hiring manager's name.

Call the Receptionist

Try calling the receptionist at the company where you are applying. You can ask them for the name of a person in human resources. If you are nice and engage the person on the phone, you will likely come away with a name. It sounds easy, and sometimes it is as easy as making a phone call and asking for what you're looking for.

Ask to Be Directed to the HR Department

When calling a company, ask to be directed to the human resources department. You will likely get the voicemail of a person within the department. Even if he or she is not the right person, when your resume shows up, they will pass it along to the appropriate counterpart in the department.

Use Social Media

Use LinkedIn and Facebook to find people. If you are on LinkedIn, you will need to looking to identify people that are associated with the target company. Join affiliated groups so that you can write to those people directly without an introduction.

Is that sneaky? LinkedIn is a tool like any other. You need to know how to use it.

From there, you can introduce yourself to a person at your targeted company, network with them, and obtain a name. Facebook takes a little more work, because you need to introduce yourself and be added as a friend

Find A Listing of Senior Management

Traditional research also works. When doing research on a company, oftentimes the company will have a listing of senior management. You can start there.

Send a letter or email to one of those people. You never know, you might get a response asking you to send your resume to them directly, or they might even give you the name of someone to reach out to within the company.

Your best bet at receiving a response is by writing your disruptive cover letter in the body of the email. That is, tell a compelling story about why you're passionate about the company and the problem you think you can help them solve.

Never underestimate the power of storytelling!

Network with Everyone You Know

Six degrees: everyone is six or fewer connections away from each other. Therefore, you should step up your networking efforts. You can find the name of a hiring manager from friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, and many others.

Use Hunter.io

Hunter.io is a site that can help track down emails of people at a specific company. This is a useful tool to have in your job search. Use it to find the name of a hiring manager.

Get A Trade Publication

The trades publish newsworthy information about what is going on in a specific industry and continuously publish the names of people and companies. It is a great way to maintain abreast of industry happenings, too.

When people are promoted or move to a different company, a name is often published. This can help you find the name of a hiring manager in a direct or indirect way.

LinkedIn to the Hiring Manager

Liz Ryan

Adapted from: forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2014/08/20/how-to-find-your-hiring-manager-using-linkedin

Your Dilemma

The job listing posted may simply read "no phone calls" or "direct resume to BD," or some other impersonal destination such as ‘The Hiring Manager’. This is the person,

a live one, you need to reach.

Experience demonstrates the ability to find the hiring manager's name about ninety percent of the time. It's difficult to do when the hiring organization is IBM or some other enormous corporate behemoth where hundreds of people share the same titles. When the organization is even a little bit smaller, it's fairly easy to find your hiring manager. If you try for a while and can't find the exact person's name, go up the organization chart.

Don't write to the CEO, they have a fearsome administrator ready to throw your carefully-written Cover Letter straight back into the same Black Hole you were trying to avoid. If you can't find your own hiring manager, write to the head of your function inside your target employer -- the CMO, CFO or CTO, for instance.

Call on LinkedIn

Here's how to use LinkedIn to find your hiring manager's name. Navigate to the Advanced People Search page on LinkedIn. You'll see a Search bar at the top of most LinkedIn pages. Next to that bar is the word Advanced. Click on that word and it will take you to the Advanced People Search function of LinkedIn.

On the left side of the Advanced People Search page on LinkedIn you'll see search options including Keyword, First Name, Last Name, and so on. You don't know your hiring manager's first name or last name. That's what we're trying to find out. You know the company name, so put that into your search, and now start trying job titles.

Management Titles

What will your hiring manager's title most likely be? If you're a Purchasing Agent, your hiring manager will be called Materials Manager, Purchasing Manager, Procurement Manager, Supply Chain Manager or Operations Manager. Try all those titles in subsequent searches, and then try the same titles with Director in the place of Manager, and try VP as well if you want to.

Within a half-dozen searches using the employer name and trying out the most likely titles you will find your hiring manager's name more often than not. If your hiring manager is not a LinkedIn user, don't fear! We have two more tricks up our sleeve.

Company Website

Go to the company's own website and check out their About Us section, looking for Management Bios. If the organization is large enough that your hiring manager isn't listed on the Management Bios page, his or her manager or boss's boss will be. That's the function head we spoke about earlier -- the CIO or CHRO, for instance.

Google?

You can also search for your hiring manager's name using Google. Just conduct a Google search using the company name and each of the titles you imagine that your hiring manager might have. Easy ! Anything you can do to get a conversational ‘Human-Voiced Resume’ and cover letter to your hiring manager is worth the time and trouble it takes to do it. The worst thing you can do to your resume is to toss it into the Portal of Doom to sit and dissolve into electrons while somebody else gets the job you're more than qualified for.

Ways to Find the Name of a Hiring Manager

Adapted from: indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-find-hiring-manager

Follow these steps for the name of the hiring manager, include it in your job application:

Search social media

Start your search by entering the company name and relevant keywords like ‘hiring manager’ or ‘recruiter’. With the hiring manager's profile, consider sending them a personalized message before or after sending your application

Reach out to the company's employees

You may choose to connect with someone in the company who works in the same department. Find a personalized connection before sending a message. Ensure that your message is friendly and directly references the job position.

Contact the company directly

Look at the company's website to see if there is information that provides the hiring manager's contact information. Contacting the company directly can be a simple solution. Call the main office to inquire about the job position and get the hiring manager's name.

Find a trade publication

One option that people often overlook is trade publications. You don't necessarily need a subscription to access this valuable information. Search through industry-specific publications online to not only read about the latest trends associated with your profession, but also learn the names of important employees within a company.

Revisit the job listing

When you're limited on time, important details like contact information are easy to look over.

Make time to carefully read the job listing more than once. Doing so can help you feel more confident reaching out for more information. Have a friend read it for a fresh perspective.

Use the email address

Job listings commonly contain an email address as a resource for job-related questions and application submissions. To ensure that you address your cover letter and email message properly, consider sending a friendly email inquiry beforehand asking for the hiring manager's name.

Review the recruiting agency website

Recruiting agencies often create job postings for companies. If this applies to the job you're applying for, go to the agency's website and search individual web pages to see if you can find the names of the recruiters and their biographies. Sometimes their descriptions list the names of specific companies they work with, which can tell you exactly who to contact.

Peruse other job sites

Job listings typically appear on multiple job sites, which is why you should copy and paste the text of the job posting into your preferred search engine to see what results appear. Put quotation marks around the text before you hit the search button to target your specific content. You'll likely find the original job posting this way, which should include the hiring manager's name and email address.

Reach out to senior management

Consider the executives of a company can be fantastic networkers and often welcome communication from people outside of the company. You may get an enthusiastic response from the chief information officer (CIO) or the head of the department related to the job position, as they're typically involved in seeking top talent.

Consider a Cold Call for a Job

Adapted from: indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-cold-call-for-a-job

In searching for a new job, it helps to stand out from the competition. Consider performing cold calls to contacts at organizations who are in charge of hiring for a position you want. Cold calls show your initiative and interest in the role.

What is a cold call ?

A cold call is an unsolicited call to an employer to show your interest in an open position or one that's upcoming. Starting with a cold call might even help you secure an interview or additional meeting. During a cold call, you'll be able to showcase your personality as you explain the skills you have that make you a valuable part of the organization.

Should you cold call for a job?

Sometimes, cold calling an employer is one of the only ways to get your resume in front of a hiring manager before you submit it along with all the other prospective candidates. Although the thought of cold calling an employer may not come naturally to you, you could experience some success as long as you have confidence and are able to appeal to your contact's workplace needs.

Use your network for cold calling

People find success in getting a job because they come with a recommendation from someone the hiring manager or someone else has worked with before. Reach out to your contacts in your field and see if they know of open or upcoming positions you may qualify for. If so, it may benefit you if they give a heads-up to their contact before you contact them yourself.

Tips when cold calling for a job

With the right approach and some patience, you may find success in cold calling an employer. On the right are some tips for calling a potential employer:

Send your application to the employer before you call

Send documents like resume and cover letter to the hiring manager before you plan on calling them. Allow time between sending and calling to ensure your mail has arrived. Include a letter letting the hiring manager know that you will call to discuss opportunities. Contacting in multiple ways can help you stand out. Leave a message that you will call.

Have an opening line ready

Since you are calling a contact without any prior warning, you're likely catching them when they are in the middle of something and not ready for your call. Be mindful of their time, have an opening statement prepared that immediately lets them know why you're calling and why they may want to stay on the call to hear what you have to say.

Show your personality

To capture an audience in your contact, show some of your personality. Be friendly and warm They may be in the middle of a project when you call, so consider ways you can engage them in conversation and make them happy that they answered your call.

Practice your voicemail message

Practice what you'll say in a voicemail message, you'll likely each voicemail first. A well-constructed voicemail increases your chances of a call back. Tell them who you are, why you're calling, your contact information and when they can expect you to call back.

Create a follow-up plan

In getting a manager's voicemail, have a follow-up plan as when you'll attempt another phone call and what you'll say. Decide if you'll attempt to email them if you haven't heard back by a certain day. Have a follow-up plan if they do speak to you, but advise you to call back when they have more time to discuss your skills and their needs.

The Cold Call Outline

Adapted from: indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-cold-call-for-a-job

Find the right contact

You may need to do some research into the company to contact the right person for the role or department at the company. You could speak to a human resource professional at the organization, but it may be harder to getting hired because human resources may not be as familiar with the role or be able to make any decisions without the manager.

Call at the right time

Carefully consider when you call to make sure you aren't calling during a time that's historically busy. For example, you may want to avoid calling right before closing time on a Friday or early Monday morning when people are just settling in to work. Consider calling outside of lunch hours for the best chance of someone pick up the phone.

Prepare notes

On the phone, it may be difficult to recall specific skills or instances where you made an impact. Don’t rely on your memory, write some bullet points so you are sure not to miss important details during your phone call. Keep your calendar front of you in case you need to schedule a follow-up call or your contact wants to set up an in-person interview.

Use your contact's name

Take the time to find the contact person for the job you want, use their name in your greeting and throughout the conversation. This personalization that will go a long way to impress your contact and help them feel more comfortable and open speaking with you.

Call with confidence

Project confidence when contacting the hiring manager or department head. Without seeing you in person, they'll be able to pick up a lot about you from your tone of voice and how you carry yourself through the phone call.

Introduce yourself

Even if you feel nervous about cold calling, don't forget to introduce yourself. Speak your name clearly, mention the name of the person who referred you, if you have one, and provide an opening statement that lets your contact know why you're calling.

Share your qualifications

When you share your qualifications, give real examples that you've actually experienced in prior roles. Tell the hiring manager what skills you have and then go one step further by letting them know how your skills have helped a team of yours succeed. With this information, a hiring manager can come to understand what direct impact you can have in the workplace if they were to hire you.

Schedule a time to discuss further

It's possible that your contact is too busy to speak to you at the time you call, so remain courteous and understanding. Ask if you can make an appointment with them to continue the discussion. If you're able to get on their calendar, you probably made a good impression in the short time you were on the phone together and can have the confidence you need to finish the conversation at a later time.

Follow up with an email

Just as you'd send a thank you correspondence after an in-person interview, ask for your contact's email, if you don't already have it, and send them a thank you note after your phone conversation. Make sure you personalize it by mentioning something specific about your conversation, thank them for their time and express again how interested you are in the role.