Editorial Team | On July 11, 2023

By Emi Leon

Searching for a job often feels like navigating through a maze and an overwhelming majority of Americans, 93%, have experienced anxiety about their job interviews. One underutilized strategy to reach your destination is cold calling. Cold calling involves making unsolicited calls to potential employers to inquire about job opportunities. This direct approach can give you a competitive edge by showcasing your initiative and creating personal connections. In this article, we’ll guide you through nine key steps to successful cold calling for jobs, accompanied by examples and tips. We’ve also added two additional preliminary sections to help you understand the “why” behind cold calling and how to develop the right mindset for it.

Understanding the Power of Cold Calling

Before we delve into the steps, it’s important to understand the potential benefits of cold calling. Cold calling can give you direct access to decision-makers, help you discover unadvertised job opportunities, and allow you to express your interest and enthusiasm directly to the hiring team. Moreover, it shows potential employers your initiative and determination, traits highly valued in any industry.

Developing the Right Mindset for Cold Calling

Approaching cold calling with the right mindset is half the battle. Remember, you aren’t intruding or begging for a job; you are proactively seeking opportunities and offering value to potential employers. Be prepared for rejection, but view each ‘no’ as progress towards a ‘yes.’ Confidence, positivity, and persistence are your best allies in this journey.

9 Steps for Cold Calling for Jobs (with Examples, Tips and Scripts)

1. Research for Cold Calling: Identifying Potential Employers

Knowledge is power in cold calling. Do your homework to find companies that align with your career goals and interests. Dig into their recent achievements, values, and ongoing projects. The more informed you are, the more confidently you can converse, impressing the individual on the other end of the line.

Examples:

• Use LinkedIn to find companies that align with your values and have a culture you’d be comfortable in.
• Glassdoor can provide you with reviews from employees about the company, which can help you understand if the company is a good fit for you.
• Industry-specific job boards can provide you with a wealth of options tailored to your interests and expertise.

Tips:

• Make a list of all potential employers you’re interested in.
• Note down key details about each company, like recent achievements, values, and ongoing projects.
• Keep updating your list as you find more potential employers.

2. Cold Calling Success: Finding the Right Contact Person

After pinpointing potential employers, identify the right contact within the organization. It could be a hiring manager, department head, or someone in HR. LinkedIn and company websites are excellent tools for this task.

Examples:

• LinkedIn can help you find key individuals within an organization, such as a hiring manager or department head.
• If you’re seeking a job in marketing, the Marketing Manager or Director of Marketing would be an appropriate contact.
• Company websites often list key people and their roles, which can help you identify the right contact person.

Tips:

• Reach out to the person who would likely be your superior if you got the job.
• If you can’t find the right contact person, try reaching out to someone from HR.
• If you’re unsure who to contact, reaching out to someone within the company for guidance can be helpful.

3. The Cold Call Script: Preparation is Key

Draft a script to guide your cold call. Include a polite introduction, the reason for your call, a brief highlight of your qualifications, and your interest in relevant job opportunities. Practice until you’re comfortable but not robotic.

Examples:

• “Hello, I’m [Your Name]. I’m a [Your Area of Expertise] professional with [X years] of experience. I’m impressed by [specific detail about the company] and interested in exploring opportunities within your team.”
• “Good afternoon, my name is [Your Name]. I’m a recent graduate with a degree in [Your Degree], and I’ve developed a strong interest in [Industry/Company]. I was wondering if there might be any opportunities where my skills would be a good fit.”
• “Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I’m an experienced [Your Job Title]. I recently came across [a specific project or initiative] at your company and felt inspired to reach out. I’d love to know more about how my background could contribute to such efforts.”

Tips:

• Be concise. The other person may not have much time, and you want to respect that.
• Practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the more natural the script will feel.
• Add a personalized touch for each company, like referencing a specific project or accomplishment. It shows you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested.

4. Navigating Gatekeepers during Cold Calls

Administrative assistants or receptionists often act as gatekeepers. Approach them with respect and straightforwardness, expressing your request to speak to your identified contact.

Examples:

• “Good morning, I’m [Your Name]. Could I please speak to [Contact’s Name]?”
• “Hi, I’m hoping to speak with [Contact’s Name]. Is he/she available?”
• “Hello, my name is [Your Name]. I was hoping to have a quick chat with [Contact’s Name] if he/she is free.”

Tips:

• Be polite and professional when dealing with gatekeepers.
• Express a clear request to speak to your identified contact.
• If the gatekeeper can’t connect you, kindly ask when would be a better time to call.

5. Dial and Deliver: Making the Cold Call

Ensure a quiet, interruption-free environment for your call. Speak clearly, maintain a positive tone, and let your interest and enthusiasm shine through. If your contact isn’t available, inquire politely about a good time to call back.

Examples:

• “Hello, I’m [Your Name]. I’m a [Your Area of Expertise] professional with [X years] of experience. I’m impressed by [specific detail about the company] and interested in exploring opportunities within your team.”
• “Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I’m an experienced [Your Job Title]. I recently came across [a specific project or initiative] at your company and felt inspired to reach out. I’d love to know more about how my background could contribute to such efforts.”
• “Good afternoon, my name is [Your Name]. I’m a recent graduate with a degree in [Your Degree], and I’ve developed a strong interest in [Industry/Company]. I was wondering if there might be any opportunities where my skills would be a good fit.”

Tips:

• Be respectful of the person’s time and keep the call concise.
• Clearly state the purpose of your call and express your interest in the company.
• If your contact isn’t available, inquire politely about a good time to call back.

6. Objection Handling in Cold Calls

Anticipate potential objections or questions and prepare to address them gracefully. Stay positive, reaffirm your interest, and clarify any misunderstandings.

Examples:

• If asked, “Why didn’t you apply through our website?” You could respond, “I have visited your website, but I thought reaching out directly would better allow me to express my interest and learn more about potential opportunities that might align with my expertise.”
• If they say, “We’re not hiring right now,” you could respond, “I understand. Could I send you my resume for consideration when an opportunity does arise? I’m very interested in your company and would love to contribute.”
• If they question, “Why should we consider you?” You might reply, “I believe I can bring [specific skills and experiences] to your team. Plus, I’m particularly inspired by [mention a detail about the company] and would love to be a part of such initiatives.”

Tips:

• Always be respectful and positive. This will help maintain a good impression regardless of their response.
• Practice possible responses to common objections. This way, you’ll feel more prepared and less thrown off if they arise.
• Listen actively. Make sure you understand their objection before you respond.

7. Post Cold Call Strategy: The Importance of Follow-Up

If you reach a voicemail, leave a concise, professional message. If you’ve had a conversation, send a follow-up email thanking the person for their time, restating your interest, and attaching your resume.

Examples:

• “Dear [Contact’s Name], thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I’m very interested in exploring opportunities within [Company Name]. Please find my resume attached.”
• “Hi [Contact’s Name], it was great speaking with you earlier today. As discussed, I’m attaching my resume for your reference. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to [Company Name].”
• “Hello [Contact’s Name], I appreciate the time you took today to talk with me. I’m very excited about the potential opportunities within [Company Name]. I’m attaching my resume for your convenience.”

Tips:

• Follow-up emails should be sent shortly after the call.
• Restate your interest and summarize the key points of your conversation.
• Always attach your resume in your follow-up emails.

8. The Art of Persistence: Mastering Follow-ups in Cold Calling

Balancing persistence and respect for the other person’s time is critical. Give them a reasonable amount of time to respond before following up. If you don’t hear back after several attempts, it’s best to move on to other prospects.

Examples:

• If you haven’t heard back within a week, you might say, “Hi [Contact’s Name], I’m just following up on our conversation last week. I’m still very interested in any potential opportunities at [Company Name].”
• After two weeks, a possible message could be, “Hello [Contact’s Name], I trust this message finds you well. I wanted to follow up on our previous conversation regarding job opportunities at [Company Name]. I’m still very keen and hope to hear from you soon.”
• If a significant amount of time has passed with no response, you could say, “Dear [Contact’s Name], I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to touch base once more regarding potential job opportunities at [Company Name]. I understand that you’re busy, and I appreciate any time you can spare to provide an update.”

Tips:

• Be patient. Remember, hiring processes can take time.
• Keep your follow-up messages concise, polite, and professional.
• If the person asked you to follow up after a specific time, make sure to do so as instructed.

9. Reflect and Refine: Improving Your Cold Calling Strategy

Finally, always assess your cold calls. Reflect on what worked and what didn’t, and use these insights to refine your approach for future calls. Keep a log of your calls, noting conversation points, responses, and any follow-up actions. This will help you track your progress and stay organized.

Examples:

• If you get positive responses when you mention a specific project or accomplishment of the company, keep doing that in future calls.
• If you notice that calling at a certain time of day yields better results, adjust your calling schedule accordingly.
• If certain objections keep coming up, work on refining your responses to those points.

Tips:

• Don’t get discouraged by negative responses. View them as learning experiences and opportunities to improve.
• Stay organized. Keeping track of who you’ve called, when, and what was discussed can help you manage follow-ups and avoid redundancy.
• Continually refine your strategy. The job market is dynamic, and what works well in one scenario may not in another. Be flexible and willing to adapt.

Remember the Power of Persistence

Cold calling is a numbers game. With each call, you’re one step closer to landing your dream job. It may seem intimidating initially, but with practice and perseverance, you’ll find that cold calling is an invaluable tool in your job-hunting arsenal. Best of luck on your journey!

About the Author:

Emi Leon is a well-established bilingual recruiter with over a decade of experience. As the Co-Founder and Talent Solutions Director at Palermo Advisors, Emi leverages his unique attributes of flexibility, creativity, and curiosity in every endeavour.

Previous roles as Head of Talent Acquisition at Alto and Senior Technical Recruiter at DistantJob have added to his vast industrial knowledge.

Emi is an ardent advocate of remote work, driven by the power it has to connect global talent with companies worldwide. A proud alumnus of Universidad Central de Venezuela, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Psychology, graduating Magna Cum Laude. His sustained commitment to innovation in recruitment strategies continues to empower businesses around the world.

Check out other articles by best-selling authors:

Dawn Rasmussen – Top Five Questions About Resumes Answered

Sunny Lurie – Eight Proven Strategies to Open the Door to a Vibrant New Career

Stacia Pierce – How to Search for a Job During the Holidays

Dawn Quesnel- Helpful Hints for Job Seekers

Stacia Pierce – Conceit vs. Confidence