Cold Call Canvasing

I have decided to address Cold Canvasing an integral method of job searching, in fact 80% of employment positions are not advertised and rely on internal contacts and jobseekers who are proactive in deciphering the application process effectively.

Cold Canvassing is defined by the BusinessDictionary.com website as the following "(1) Visiting a prospect (who may not know the visitor) without a prior appointment. (2) Calling a prospect (who does not know the caller) for a sales appointment. Called also cold canvassing. (3) Making unsolicited phone calls to strangers, usually to generate a sale or seek a donation. Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/cold-calling.html#ixzz3u7X8EKZV"

When cold calling companies, this is a great opportunity to build professional networks, make sure you take note of the managers name and the phone number, to call back in a month or so if you have still not found employment.

The method you use is vital to obtaining successful outcomes, given you don't just speak to the receptionist and hang up. However in cold calling, research is often the key element in landing a position why and how you ask? Well let's face it if someone calls with the correct qualification and skills. As the manager you are aware someone has given notice but not told anyone as yet, this allows the manager to consider the future needs of the business, if there are deadlines or a lot of work, employing yourself is highly feasible as this would reduce down time, can start inductions immediately, minimal cost outlay and no advertising or recruitment fees as an example.

The method I find most effective, is to search the yellow pages for businesses of interest, then link to the employers website. This is the time I take notice of some key words which i can relate to in the correspondance, this is also useful to use during the communication to gain the employers interest, this is all depending on the employer and industry I am appoarching. I do also network with current projects and obtain employers who have won the contracts to cold canvas.

I then print of and have a copy of the resume in front of me this is a HUGE MUST!! If you don’t do this you will stuff up and your communication will not flow correctly providing you the best opportunity of employment. However in saying this, don't stress if you do make a mistake, just wait a week and call back, they will not remember who you are, there are more important issues to remember in business then some random person calling. However I cannot stress this enough!!!

My general spiel I find most effective sounds like this "Hi John, Its Patricia Gorman here, I hope I haven’t interrupted you, however I am calling to find out if you might be able to help me please, at present I’m currently seeking work within the civil construction industry as a Roof Plumber and noticed you have just won the contract with Blue Bay Langoon, I was wondering if you are seeking any Roof Plumbers at present or in the near future?"

The overall reasoning of constructing the spiel this way...

Basically, employers don’t like to be answering calls to everyone asking for work, however if your serious about getting a job, psychology comes into play. I don’t give them the opportunity to speak until I have my requests, in the mind frame the employer they won’t see a pesky jobseeker, they will see a human being proactive and pursuing his hopes and dreams. As an employer with the power to make your dream come true they will go out of their way to ensure it happens, after all nothing like an ego boost in knowing you have just helped someone achieve their goals, and obtained a proactive passionate hardworking individual for the next 40 years ok, well maybe not 40 but you get my drift.

"I am calling to find out if you might be able to help me please" - This way you are asking for help, as an Australian it is in our nature to help each other out, so the employer would be thinking "I wonder how I can help" then comes

"I’m currently seeking work within the civil construction industry as a Roof Plumber” - This displays to the manager that you have a trade, passion, career and by doing reverse marketing, you must be worthy and take effective initiatives when required. Also be as accurate as possible, don't be vague - employers can take a perception that if you don’t know what you want then chances are they will employ you spend $1000's on inductions, to have you quit a week later because its something you don’t like. Otherwise there’s always a job babysitting the CEO Granddaughter. Personally when the guys would come and see me and state "oh I’ll do anything I just need a job" awesome I thought, therefore I advised them I have sent their resume of for an aged care position. They did say anything, their faces were priceless. Moral of the story, try to make your application easy for the HR department, manager, owner, employer I know it’s a pain having to rewrite your qualifications, experience and name 29 times across a variety of forms, however for the stake of a job and a love of a tree - use wisely.

"Quality Skilled" - was written as a requirement of all employees on the career page of the website.

"Just Won the Contract" - shows that you take interest in the company and will be passionate, using the term Won is a strong key, you could have said "you got the contract" or "you’re starting the contract" or "heard that you’re chasing workers"

"Blue Bay Langoon" - This displays that you know where the location is and what the project entails, FIFO/DIDO Full-time, Part-time, Casual or Contract basis.

Depending on the response I normally go on to list the skills and experience dtraight from the resume which I have printed out in front of me. As the manager may not have been paying full attention, once they hear the keywords, I worked as a ... at ... and have a degree in structural engineering, suddenly they are interested.

If the manager does seems interested take this opportunity to make contact with him/her either by obtaining their email address and sending a resume, or by arranging an appointment to meet and discuss any potential opportunities.

Leave the conversation on a positive note and ask if they mind if you call again in a couple of weeks to see if anything has become available.

In terms of the types of rejections you may receive from employers, I will do another blog later addressing how to handle responses effectively.

#callingemployers #coldcanvas #coldcalling