Cold Calling
While it may seem to be a daunting task to pick up the phone and call someone about a position that they may or may not have, a lot of good can come from that first call. The worst that can happen is they say no and you have only invested a few minutes, but think of the better outcomes!
- Employers may not have time to post jobs, sort resumes, then interview and hire. By making the call you are exhibiting a lot of the qualities an employer may be looking for:
- Initiative
- Can do attitude
- Determination
- No fear of rejection (very applicable for a sales position)
- If you wait for a position to be posted at your favourite company, how many other people will be waiting for the same job posting?
- Getting your resume in before positions are posted can result in less competition for the job if one exists.
Be prepared with questions you may have about the company, as you are interviewing them as well. Do some research and don’t ask obvious questions that you can get the answers to from their website. Keep track of who you are speaking with in case they ask you to send them a resume. This way you can address the cover letter to your new contact. If they are not hiring at the present time, ask for names of others in the industry that might be.
