Cold calling potential employers.........

[Experienced1]

So i met with a head hunter a few weeks ago. And he strongly suggested cold calling companies for any unadvertised positions.

i find that out of every 10 companies you call you may get one person on the phone that will give you the time or direct you to the right person or department.

Most of the time calls are screened " may i ask whos calling " or they just put you right to voice mail where you leave multiple messages and no one gets back to you.

i think i may go back to the old fashioned way of approaching companies with resume in hand while being in business attire where they can put a face and image to the resume.

Although companies will never admit that they hire based on a certain image they would like the company and employees to portray. 2 potential people can have the same experience and education but one looks different from the other ,

they will go with the desired image for the company. its a numbers game.

Tapping in to the hidden job market is key.

 

[IM469]

i think i may go back to the old fashioned way of approaching companies with resume in hand while being in business attire where they can put a face and image to the resume.

For an interview - yes. Anyone walking in here off the street can leave a resume but no one will see your attire.

 

[nobody123]

So i met with a head hunter a few weeks ago. And he strongly suggested cold calling companies for any unadvertised positions.

If you know a headhunter that says such a fucking idiotic thing, you should apply for their job. They're quite shit at it, and should get fired pretty soon.

 

[NHFL]

If you know a headhunter that says such a fucking idiotic thing, you should apply for their job. They're quite shit at it, and should get fired pretty soon.

I wouldn't put it in as strong and absolute terms, but headhunters work on commission... what does his/her advice either say about him/her and/or you?

 

[nobody123]

I wouldn't put it in as strong and absolute terms, but headhunters work on commission... what does his/her advice either say about him/her and/or you?

Setting aside the fact that his suggestion completely undermines his own job for a second, don't forget that no one likes cold calls. NO ONE. "Gee, I sure am glad that complete stranger interrupted my life to phone me just to offer me their product/services/scam/labour-for-hire!" ...said no one, ever. That was some truly crap advice from a clueless idiot.

So, yeah. I would put it in such strong and absolute terms. Basically, it's telemarketing, with your shitty self as the product. And if there actually are internal jobs open when you call, you can damned well bet your life that they will go to someone already in the company. Or to the CEO's nephew. Or a random hobo off the street before it goes to the moron who cold calls. The cold caller gets an automatic bump to the absolute bottom of the list. Forever. No one wants that crap.

 

[basketcase]

It absolutely could work - if the phone happens to be answered by a person aware of hiring needs, that person is in a good mood, and they don't know how to otherwise fill that position. Same thing with walking in to an office. Probably better odds with a smaller company.

If you spend enough time doing it you should get something and I know a few people who've lucked out doing it but that might mean hundreds of phone calls and weeks of walking door to door. Probably would save you time and money just to hire a good headhunter.

 

[red]

It absolutely could work - if the phone happens to be answered by a person aware of hiring needs, that person is in a good mood, and they don't know how to otherwise fill that position. Same thing with walking in to an office. Probably better odds with a smaller company.

If you spend enough time doing it you should get something and I know a few people who've lucked out doing it but that might mean hundreds of phone calls and weeks of walking door to door. Probably would save you time and money just to hire a good headhunter.

True enough - its rare but it can happen. I did hire someone like this (once) but he also had a good story and a strong resume

 

[desert monk]

Many big companies only accept resumes online, and they'll go to some head HR department in Chicago or something and sent back to your city. They'll be happy to say"... And keep an eye on our website, if we are hiring it will be posted there and you can submit your resume online. Be sure to check it regularly!" And then more often than not they will hire a friend/family member of a current employee. Cold calling or talking to HR has yielded me f-all when I was looking for a job.

This is for big global corporations though, if we are talking small businesses it would probably be different but I've got no experience in applying to them.