The purpose of the telephone cold call is to enable you to find out who the contact people at the school or district are, and when the best time would be to drop off a resume. Telephone contacts are an effective way to gather information and expand your network.
Before making your cold call, make sure that you have everything you need for your conversation, such as a pen and paper, calendar, your resume, and your personal introduction. You don’t want to be frantically looking for a pen during the conversation. The key to everything in the job search is being prepared.
You should approach the telephone cold call the same way you would a face-to-face meeting. Because you lack the physical contact of a face-to-face meeting, you will need to put in some extra effort. For instance, it helps to smile while you speak. Smiling makes your voice sound friendlier, and it also guarantees that your requests will not sound like demands. Along the same lines, pay attention to your voice. Speak loud and clearly. Also don’t talk too fast, too slow or with your mouth full. Be friendly and precise.
Remember that you’ve called for a purpose, so speak with authority, and get down to business quickly. Once you’ve stated what your purpose is, be sure to listen to what the person says, and then ask for a follow-up as either another telephone call, or a face-to-face meeting.
Join over 47,000 subscribers that receive job search, resume writing and interview tips delivered to their inbox every week. Plus, immediately download 20 education specific job interview questions and answers now!
