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#1 ANSWER to a “Question” regarding cold calling as a strategy during jobsearch…

One of the ways we can add ‘relevancy’ to our LinkedIn presence is to ask and answer questions in the ANSWERS area (Top navigation bar in the “More” drop down menu)… its especially worthy when your answer is selected as the #1 answer to any given question… here’s my ANSWER to the person that asked where ‘cold calling’ stacks up as a job search strategy…

<< “Cold calling” is, no doubt, the least popular, but most effective job search TACTIC for most job seekers, including sales oriented folks…

The challenge for the job seeker is to wrap the appropriate STRATEGIES around their cold-calling efforts. Sure, you’ll have an expedient job search if you ‘show up on the doorstep’ of an organization that needs your skill sets and likes you… but that’s needle-in-a-haystack odds!

Improve your odds by making networking a CAREER strategy instead of a job search drudgery. All by itself, this would accelerate your next job search by taking the randomness out of your ‘next steps.’ Use a coordinated, systematic approach to any career transition…

Have you fully embraced the OTHER job market? Not the one that the Department of Labor measures, but the one where the hiring authorities are seeking the most talented individuals… and are you PREPARED to address it?

Have you analyzed your skill sets and experience and determined clear objectives? Have you developed collateral materials that reflect CLEAR POSITIONING of your talent, and do you let them evolve through practice (constant) and marketplace feedback? Are your references in synch with your message? As a job seeker, have you researched the market to determine appropriate target organizations… the ones that actually use your talents? Can you identify trends that are attractive to you, uniquely YOU?

Most importantly, have you assembled your whole personal CONTACT LIST, leaving no stones unturned… and organized your priorities in networking to A) Folks you already know, but need to reconnect with… B) Folks that can bridge you to actual opportunity leads and, specifically, hiring authorities… C) Folks that can directly impact your hire, the actual hiring authorities. LinkedIn can provide you with a digital roadmap to your networking efforts… devote regular time to your LinkedIn network.

Reserve most of your cold calling strategy to the tactics of target organization networking around those organizations that are attractive to you and that need your talent.

Your most important job search strategy, and the skill most job seekers need to constantly develop, is that of converting leads into interviews! Effective tactics, here, include constantly working on your telephone skills… effectively researching your targeted industry and companies (Googled your interviewer lately?)… practicing your verbal collateral to the point of making them spontaneous and conversational…

ALL of which can improve a job seeker’s odds when employing cold-calling tactics, taking advantage of that huge percentage of actual placements that were initiated by a cold call! >>

The bold keywords were added for YOUR benefit… what strikes me is how similar this answer is to some of the things we discussed in today’s session!  I will be adding in a new handout I’m working on… Networking 101 !

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BE PREPARED TO SUCCEED in Interviews

Most interviews follow a predictable format, with logical steps that both the interviewer and applicant follow to decide if both will benefit from working together.  The best interviews are ones in which both participants are equal and have a mutually beneficial, interactive conversation regarding the opportunity at hand.

Think of an interview as the natural extension, the successful result of your effective networking.  In fact, many networking conversations actually become screening interviews, where influential contacts are assessing your qualifications, skill sets and experience relative to an opportunity at hand. 

“Perfect practice” of the basics builds the confidence necessary to perform well in formal job interviews.  Let’s break down the basics into four areas…

  1. pre-contact preparation/ research,
  2. greeting and rapport,
  3. questions/answers, and …
  4. meeting closure. 

All four stages are equally important and deserve your consideration and preparation.

Research the company/position

Second level research will help you to identify attractive companies.  But, this is third level (in-depth) research.  Learn as much as possible about the company, the position and the individual who will be conducting the interview.  Your research goals ought to include developing information about the company’s products, people, organizational structure, successes (and failures), profits (and losses), capital spending, strategic plans, philosophy and labor climate.  Showing your knowledge of some of this information can give you added credibility over other candidates interviewing for the job.

Go into each interview with working knowledge of its good CareerFIT!

>> More in RESOURCES: Closing The Deal 

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THIS WEEK’s Webinar & Workshop: Wednesday, March 7th @ 4:30 PM and Thursday Morning @ The Egg and I

Please SHARE this Post with a friend or two that you think may benefit from the information and interaction…

This week DFWCareerpilot will again be offering the sequence of a Wednesday afternoon WEBINAR regarding ‘practice models’ that deal with interviewing and pre-offer negotiation success–FOLLOWED BY our Thursday, March 8th workshop at 9 AM at The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison.

While there IS A COST associated with the webinar… the Thursday morning workshop, as always, will be FREE and includes a live practice session building on the material from Wednesday.  

Your monthly upgrade fee must be paid by the final Thursday’s workshop before (or at) the end of the month prior.  So, you must be paid up for your March Package by Thursday, February 23rd…LATE? Call or email Bob now.

**NOTE: Online payment is a convenience for Members and is posted at the lowest common fee basis…additional payment will be included in your monthly invoice.

Schedule of future webinars

Our Thursday morning, March 8th workshop builds on Wednesday’s Webinar and will focus on a critical Core Topic, “Closing the Deal…”

Map to The Egg and I

Come prepared to work on interview situations, questions and answers that have challenged you in the past… Actual examples are the best learning approaches!  The most asked question during active job search is “Tell me about yourself…” but we’ll get to as many as we have time for. 

YOUR “follow-up HOMEWORK” from last week’s session on developing your network using LinkedIn is to increase your first level contact list by TEN NEW individuals… and add ONE NEW GROUP to those you have already chosen.

 Who should attend Thursday’s workshop?

  1. Those who might ask… HOW do I get more benefit from the webinar I just attended on Wednesday, March 7th?
  2. Those seeking a systematic, focused, more predictable way to perform well in phone calls and interviews;
  3. “Regulars” who need a ‘booster shot.’… and bring a guest;
  4. New Comers and tire kickers… this is a great session to supplement your job search effectiveness with!