100 conversations for career success Archives - Keppie Careers https://www.keppiecareers.com/tag/100-conversations-for-career-success/ Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:49:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 How to cold call when you’re job hunting https://www.keppiecareers.com/how-to-cold-call-when-youre-job-hunting/ https://www.keppiecareers.com/how-to-cold-call-when-youre-job-hunting/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:30:45 +0000 http://www.keppiecareers.com/?p=9111 Job seekers have a lot of networking resources at their disposal. Theoretically, it should be possible to either a) find connections that will introduce you to people to help with your job search or b) introduce yourself to those contacts via social media. Despite this access, sometimes a cold call is the only way to […]

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]]> 100 Conversations for Career SuccessJob seekers have a lot of networking resources at their disposal. Theoretically, it should be possible to either a) find connections that will introduce you to people to help with your job search or b) introduce yourself to those contacts via social media. Despite this access, sometimes a cold call is the only way to speak to important job search resources. Most people hate the thought of calling someone they don’t know, but there are ways to prepare so you will be successful.

Here are seven tips to warm up your cold calls inspired via 100 Conversations for Career Success, the book I co-authored with Laura Labovich. (Learn more about how 100 Conversations for Career Success can help your job search.)

1. Always get the name of the person. It’s tough to try to get in touch with someone whose name you don’t know. Trying to reach a company to speak to the “hiring manager” for XYZ job probably won’t get you very far. Similarly, asking to speak to “the person in charge of sales” won’t inspire anyone to put you directly through.

2. Think about the best time to phone. Don’t we all have friends (or maybe colleagues) who always call to ask for something at 4:45 on a Friday afternoon or first thing on Monday morning? No one really wants to hear from you at those times, especially someone who does not know you. Think about the best times to try to contact people you want to reach.

3. Know what you offer. Why should this person want to talk to you? Can you help him solve a problem? It’s a good idea to uncover company pain points in advance and to make a list of what you know that might be useful to your contact.

4. Ditch the pleasantries. Do you really care about the weather? Neither does your cold call target. Be cheerful, but get to the point and make sure you don’t lose your contact’s attention before you have a chance to get started.

5. Become allies with the phone gatekeepers. Most executive assistants consider it part of their jobs to prevent unwanted calls from reaching their bosses. Some will go to great lengths to screen calls.

6. Prepare a toolkit. Isn’t it always easier to do things when you have a cheat sheet? Since you’ll be trying to connect on the phone, you have the opportunity to write notes and have them handy.

7. Follow up. It’s your job to follow up with your contact. In fact, it’s always best to keep the follow up in your “court.”

When you prepare for cold calls and take control of the situation, you’ll feel better about your job search and have more opportunities to succeed with your networking.

Read the entire post on my U.S. News & World Report column.

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]]> https://www.keppiecareers.com/how-to-cold-call-when-youre-job-hunting/feed/ 1 Learn how to network for your job hunt with our new book https://www.keppiecareers.com/learn-how-to-network-for-your-job-hunt/ https://www.keppiecareers.com/learn-how-to-network-for-your-job-hunt/#respond Fri, 14 Sep 2012 06:00:26 +0000 http://www.keppiecareers.com/?p=8780 It’s nearing the official “birthday” of the new book I wrote with Laura Labovich –  100 Conversations for Career Success: Learn to Network, Cold Call, and Tweet Your Way to Your Dream Job is now available in bookstores and online. We have a special offer!This practical job search communication book is for smart, savvy job […]

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]]> It’s nearing the official “birthday” of the new book I wrote with Laura Labovich –  100 Conversations for Career Success: Learn to Network, Cold Call, and Tweet Your Way to Your Dream Job is now available in bookstores and online. We have a special offer!This practical job search communication book is for smart, savvy job seekers who know they need to mine the hidden job market and go “off-road” with their networking contacts, but are stuck when it comes to what to say.

Laura and I know many confident professionals who cringe at the idea of making cold calls or reaching out to someone they don’t know. In fact, one job seeker actually said, “I wish I had some sort of script to use.”

Enter 100 Conversations for Career Success. This handy resource helps address the question on every job seeker’s mind, “When I reach out, what do I say?” It showcases more than 100 sample job search scripts, tips, and templates to take the guesswork out of networking communication. The book includes examples of job-search interactions in person, via telephone, by email, and on social networks.

Having examples to use at various stages of a job search helps build a jobseeker’s confidence to communicate effectively and productively. The result? Better networking contacts, improved relationships, and more job offers.

In essence, this book is a job seeker’s communication lifeline. Liz Lynch, author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online, calls it the “ultimate resource for reaching out to contacts and potential new connections.” Lynch asserts, “With detailed examples and scripts, this invaluable guide will help jumpstart a new job search or revitalize an ongoing one.”

The book is winning rave reviews and is endorsed as a “fantastic formula for the job search.” Anita Bruzzese, USA Today columnist and author of 45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy, says, “If you want to have a successful job search, begin with this book.”

Purchase 100 Conversations for Career Success anywhere books are sold and online at amazon.com.

When you purchase it between now and Sunday, September 16th (its “official” publication date), you can earn a special, free teleseminar. Visit the book’s site to learn more about your free offer.

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