Contacting a potential employer on the fly has its perils, rewards.

Although cold calling is an acceptable and occasionally effective way to land a new job, it can be one of the most daunting tasks of a job search. Cold calling, or contacting people you've never met, puts the pressure on you to make a good--and quick--first impression. Cold calling may not sound promising, it can be effective with a little timing and lot of preparation. The key to cold calling is being prepared--for anything. Because you're making an unannounced inquiry, you should expect almost anything in response from the target of your call, from flat rejection to open arms, as well as everything in between. Remember, you may or may not have the opportunity to speak with someone in charge of hiring, so you'll need to be ready to sell yourself, perhaps to several different people. You may be asked to call back, or you may find yourself in the middle of a full interview. In short, be ready to roll with the punches if you want to reap any rewards from the call.

Although cold calling is an acceptable and occasionally effective way to land a new job, it can be one of the most daunting tasks of a job search. Cold calling, or contacting people you've never met, puts the pressure on you to make a good--and quick--first impression. Cold calling may not sound promising, it can be effective with a little timing and lot of preparation.

The key to cold calling is being prepared--for anything. Because you're making an unannounced inquiry, you should expect almost anything in response from the target of your call, from flat rejection to open arms, as well as everything in between. Remember, you may or may not have the opportunity to speak with someone in charge of hiring, so you'll need to be ready to sell yourself, perhaps to several different people. You may be asked to call back, or you may find yourself in the middle of a full interview. In short, be ready to roll with the punches if you want to reap any rewards from the call.



Prepare a Phone Checklist To ensure you're not left speechless on the phone, take time to prepare a checklist of steps to go through when calling a potential employer. The checklist should include a verbal introduction and a brief summary of your skills and abilities. Here's a five-step checklist to set up before you call a potential employer:

Keep in mind that you will get better at cold calling with practice. You may want to start by calling the bottom of your list and save your top choices for the end.

Targeting your Calls The most promising source for cold calls is your established personal network. Your own contacts are the best way to find out about a job opening before it's widely advertised. Your contacts can also clue you in to consulting opportunities or the most opportune time to approach a potential employer. Industry directories and listings on the Internet are also good sources. (They'll be able to provide specific listings in your field.)

Cold Calling is Not for the MeekContacting a potential employer on the fly is a tedious and often unsatisfying process. It can take a toll on your self-confidence when the rejection is blatant or harsh. But don't let that discourage you. Cold calling is an effective method if you are not under time pressure--you should plan to allow yourself at least six months to soften up your cold calling contacts--and you feel you can sell yourself well over the phone. If you don't deal well when put on the spot, cold calling probably isn't the job searching technique for you.