“You Don’t Know Me, but . . .”: How to Turn a Cold Call into a Hot Job

We’ve all been on the receiving end of cold calls – those annoying interruptions by people trying to sell stuff we don’t want, or ask questions we don’t care to answer. But sometimes, the cold approach is the only way to connect with a company. Before you “smile and dial”, consider these six helpful tips for turning a cold call into a hot job:

1) Solve Their Problem: The best way to pique interest and get a cold call recipient talking is to pitch an idea, not yourself. Do some research to determine where the company’s needs and your skills intersect, and then offer a solution. For example, if you read an article about the company encouraging a mobile workforce, you could leverage your IT skills in MDM (mobile device management) to suggest a better way of supporting multiple operating platforms on their enterprise network.

2) Know Your Target: Again, this is where you must do your homework. Your chances of a cold call going through increase exponentially when you can ask for the proper person in the proper department by name, so browse the organization’s website, Facebook page, LinkedIn and other social media hubs to uncover identifying information.

3) Pre-heat the Contact: If at all possible, try to make yourself known to your target contact prior to reaching out directly. Become a follower of theirs on Twitter, join their groups on LinkedIn, or become active on the company’s Facebook page if appropriate. The key word here is “appropriate” – for both the type of content you post, and the level of interaction you have. Go overboard on either, and you’ll be seen as a stalker, not a professional.

4) “Cold Call” Doesn’t Always Mean the Phone: If possible, aim for your first direct contact to be via email instead of by phone. It’s far less disruptive, and gives the recipient time to truly evaluate your pitch while minimizing the chances of catching them at a bad time and getting hustled off the line without really being heard.

5) Disarm the Defenders: If email isn’t possible or hasn’t worked, then it’s time to pick up the phone. As always, it pays to acknowledge the power held by gatekeepers such as receptionists or assistants. Instead of viewing them as obstacles, try to enlist them as allies by treating them as equals, with plenty of respect.

6) Persistence Can Pay Off: Don’t give up if your first attempt at contact fails. Perhaps you had a bad email address, so try LinkedIn, or even snail mail. While you don’t want to cross the line and become an annoyance, you shouldn’t quit after only one try.

For more helpful strategies for landing the IT job you want, turn to the specialized employment experts at Triumph Services. With our experienced recruiters on your side, there are no cold calls – just hot job prospects. Contact us today!