| As much as those of us not in sales and marketing | | | | - Be prepared to sell yourself, what you do, what |
| hate to admit it, finding a new gig involves a great | | | | results you have achieved, and how you can make |
| deal of sales and marketing - of ourselves. You've | | | | an immediate contribution (e.g.: "value add"). |
| probably seen the blogs and articles about "Me, Inc." | | | | - Ask GREAT, well-thought out questions of your |
| and "Branding Yourself" and things along those lines. | | | | target. The more talking they do, the more you |
| It's true. And, it's necessary - even in good times. | | | | learn, and the less you're on the spot. With your |
| This is the new reality of the employment | | | | newfound knowledge, you can even refocus the |
| arrangement and I don't foresee it changing much | | | | conversation to highlight how your background fits |
| over the longer term. So, as a job seeker, what | | | | nicely with this new knowledge of their needs. |
| does this mean for you? As part of branding | | | | - You can use a script to rehearse, but don't read |
| yourself, consider the following: | | | | from it. Be prepared, but go with the flow. |
| - Cold Calling. Cold calling, as any good salesperson | | | | - Understand that your target may not welcome |
| knows, it integral to any successful salesperson, | | | | your call; if not, ask if you can follow-up in email or |
| unless they have a very, very solid base of repeat | | | | regular mail (if you sense that you can follow-up and |
| and referral business. This isn't likely to be the case | | | | that the target is open to that). |
| in most job search scenarios. As such, cold calling will | | | | - If you can be referred by someone in your |
| come into play. | | | | network to your target, that will often open the |
| - Cold calling can be very uncomfortable if you're not | | | | door to your cold call - it would in fact make it a |
| used to doing it. | | | | warmer call. |
| - Cold calling can be very uncomfortable if you're not | | | | - Remember that if you're cold calling to network, |
| an assertive or extroverted type person. | | | | you should never ask for a job. Your role here is to |
| - Enough with the excuses!! Get comfortable doing it | | | | get inside information and insight on the organization, |
| and get assertive (not aggressive). | | | | other potential contacts who may actually have an |
| - Determine the use of your cold calling campaign: | | | | opening, and to reciprocate with knowledge and |
| - Is it to network and gain insights and possibly other | | | | contacts. Asking for a job (even having a resume |
| contacts who may have an opening? | | | | with you) kills the overall value of the networking |
| - Is it to obtain a position in the targeted | | | | contact. |
| organization? | | | | This is one of many strategies that you can employ |
| Cold Calling Tips | | | | in your job search. It's probably one of the most |
| - Identify your intended target. | | | | difficult, and can also be one of the most effective. |
| - Research your intended target. | | | | As they say "no risk, no return". |
| - Research the organization - fully. | | | | Copyright 2010, Trustworthy CoachingSM. All |
| - Understand how what you do fits in with the | | | | Worldwide Rights Reserved. |
| organization. | | | | |