Baby it’s cold outside, but your email doesn’t have to be
➔ Ask any sales professional and they’ll tell you that cold-call prospecting can be difficult – very difficult. So if you buy into the proposition that job seeking is another form of sales, it would stand to reason that job search by cold-call email would be just as difficult – if not more so. And you would be right.
No matter what, employing cold-call emails in your job search is tough. But there was ways to minimize the downside. And when you look at it from 30,000 feet, it’s pretty consistent with other aspects of your job search.
Some things to consider
As with most things in your job search: do your research: If you’re going to cold-call email, make certain that you’re going to send it to the right person. Rather than email any Joe Blow at the company, you want the hiring manager, the recruiter, or at least someone in the department where you would like to work or where you have some experience. LinkedIn, the company’s website, or some social media platforms can point you in the right direction.
Now that you’ve found the right person, personalize your message. Send your email to that person and what that person is all about. Maybe you attended the same school. Maybe you live in the same part of town. Maybe, in the past, you even worked at the same company. Any connection can cause your target to ready your full email and respond.
You’ve heard the phrase, you only get one chance to make a first impression. When you’re sending a cold-call email, your email’s subject line is that first impression. So make it a good one. Craft a compelling subject line: Your subject line is your first impression, so make it count. Work at it so that your subject is concise, attention-grabbing and relevant to the recipient.
Cold-call emailing is a rough row to hoe but, when done right, it can be the opening that you’re looking for.