A telephone cold call is when you contact an organisation to ask if they have any jobs available. Asking about job vacancies over the phone, before they are advertised, can unearth potential opportunities and get you ahead of your competition in the application process.
It can be a nerve-wracking task, but cold calling potential employers is a powerful strategy that gets easier with practice. In this guide there are some tips and a range of sample job search telephone call scripts for contacting human resources departments and hiring managers about possible roles.
Tips on cold calling when you’re looking for a job
Develop a list of contacts to cold call
To start, you should identify the right people to phone to ask about a new job. Your network is a valuable resource and may know of someone or an available opportunity, so reach out to:
- Family – they might know of openings or contacts in their own professional circles.
- Friends who can provide leads or introductions to key decision-makers.
- Former colleagues – they might have insights into openings within their current organisations.
- Members of teams, clubs or social organisations you belong to, who could have useful connections.
Reach out and tell them you’re looking for work. Ask them for contact details of people they know who may know about job vacancies, or businesses you can phone about roles.
Also, compile a list of organisations you’re interested in and research their contact details. Use LinkedIn, company websites and professional directories to identify key personnel, such as hiring managers, business owners or HR managers. By finding out the name of the person you need to talk to about a position, you can ask for them by name when you call.
If you can’t find specific names, aim to speak with someone who handles recruitment or HR matters. Otherwise you could ask instead to talk to someone about working for the organisation.
Prepare before making a cold call
Before you make a cold call about a vacancy, research what the company does and the challenges / issues its industry faces. Try to find out what’s involved in the type of role you’re enquiring about.
When you call, you want to demonstrate how much you know about the organisation and why you will add value to their business.
Write – and practise – a job enquiry phone cold call script
Writing a telephone call script can help you remember what you want to say. It can also help you speak clearly. Write a script for every stage of the telephone call, including talking to a receptionist, introducing yourself and explaining the reason for your call. Write down how you plan to talk about your experience and why you’re looking for a new role.
It’s a good idea to practise applying for a job over the phone with someone you trust, such as a friend or family member.
- Pretend they’re the person you’re calling about a job.
- Run through your job enquiry phone script and get their feedback.
- Keep having practise runs until you’re ready to call the employer and ask for a job over the phone for real.
When’s the best time to cold call about a job?
Depending on the organisation you’re contacting, there may be better times than others to make a cold call. Try to work out when the business has busy times and avoid them, to ensure the person you want to talk to has enough time for a proper conversation.
This will depend on the industry. For many industries it’s best to contact someone during office hours, avoiding the start or end of the working day and lunchtime. If you wanted to call about an office job, for example, the ideal time may be:
- from Monday to Friday.
- between 10am and 11am or 2pm and 3pm.
Check to make sure you’re calling at a good time for the person you’re wanting to speak to. Ask if they have time to talk to you, and if they say they don’t, offer to call them back at a more convenient time for them.
Get ready to make a cold call
Make sure your phone has enough charge (and credit if applicable) before you dial!
Besides your phone, have the following nearby:
- Pen and paper to take notes.
- Your resume so you can refer to it during the conversation.
- Your cold call script.
You may also find it helpful to dress as though you’re going to a in-person job interview. Also, sitting or standing at a table or desk can put you in a more professional frame of mind and sound more confident and professional.
Find somewhere quiet to call, away from interruptions or distractions. Let family and friends know you don’t want to be disturbed. And once you’ve begun, don’t put the person on hold to answer another call.
What to say to the receptionist
“Good morning. My name is [your name].
“I’m calling to inquire about job opportunities within your organisation. Can you please tell me the name of your company’s [HR manager / manager in area you specialise in]?
“Would I be able to speak to [their name] please?”
If they’re not available:
“Can you let me know the best time to reach them, or if there’s someone else I could speak with?”
What to say to the human resources (HR) manager
“Good morning [use their name if you know it]. My name is [your name].
“I’m calling to ask you about [your profession] work that might be available at [the organisation you are contacting].
“I have a lot of experience in [your industry] as a [your profession] and I’m very interested in contributing to your organisation.
“Are there any openings at your company at the moment?”
If there are no suitable openings at present:
“Can I send you my resume for when a suitable job comes up in the future?”
Example cold call phone scripts for job enquiries
These scripts are designed for a range of different job seekers for when they cold call a manager who is in charge of hiring people.
1. Experienced professional
“Good morning [their name]. My name is [your name].
“I’m calling about [role] opportunities at [their company].
“I have [number of] years’ experience working in [your role] for [company names].
“I am looking for a new position to [broaden my experience / take on greater responsibility / build on my management skills].
“I’m keen to bring my skills to your team.”
2. Experienced professional seeking career change
“Good morning [their name]. My name is [your name].
“I have [number of] years of experience in [your current field/role] and am looking to transition into [desired field/role]. I’m very impressed with [company name] and am interested in learning more about any opportunities that might align with my background and skills.”
3. Returning to workforce after a career break
“Good morning [their name]. My name is [your name].
“After taking a career break to [reason for break if you feel comfortable sharing it, e.g. raise a family, travel etc.], I’m excited to return to the workforce.
“I have previous experience in [your field/role] and am particularly interested in opportunities at [company name].”
4. Graduate with little experience
“Good morning [use their name if you know it]. My name is [your name].
“I’m a recent graduate with a degree / diploma / certificate in [your subject] at [your education institution].
“I have a lot of experience in [student job / part-time role / volunteering].
“I’m looking for an entry-level position and would love to know if there are any openings or potential opportunities at your company.”
5. Graduate inquiring about recruitment programs
“Good morning [use their name if you know it]. My name is [your name].
“I’m a recent graduate from [your education institution] with a [your qualification] in [your subject].
“I’m very interested in your graduate recruitment program and would like to learn more and how I can apply.”
6. Student seeking work experience / internship opportunities
“Good morning [use their name if you know it]. My name is [your name].
“I’m currently studying [your course] at [your education institution].
“I’m interested in exploring work experience or internship opportunities with [company name]. Could you advise on the process for applying?”
7. Intern seeking full-time role
“Good morning [use their name if you know it]. My name is [your name].
“I am currently interning at [current company] in [current role]. I’ve gained valuable experience in [specific area] and am interested in exploring full-time opportunities at [company name].
“I admire your work in [aspect of company] and believe my skills would be a great fit.”
8. Remote work job seeker
“Good morning [use their name if you know it]. My name is [your name].
“I specialise in [your field/role] and am looking for remote work opportunities. I’m particularly interested in [company name] due to its reputation for supporting remote workers.
“I’d love to discuss if there are any remote positions available or if there’s potential for remote work in your existing roles.”
9. Freelance professional seeking employment
“Good morning [use their name if you know it]. My name is [your name].
“I have been working as a freelance [your role] for the past [number of] years and am now looking to transition into a full-time role.
“I’m impressed with [company name] and would like to explore any potential opportunities that might be a good fit for my skills and experience.”
10. Veteran transitioning to civilian workforce
“Good morning [use their name if you know it]. My name is [your name].
“I’m a veteran with [number of] years of service in [your military role/specialty], and I’m transitioning into the civilian workforce.
“I’m particularly interested in opportunities within [company name] due to its [reason specific to company], and I’d like to learn more about how my skills might align with your needs.”
If there are no suitable openings at present
If the HR manager or hiring manager says there are currently no opportunities, here are a couple of options for what to say next:
“Can I send you my resume for consideration when a suitable job comes up in the future? What is the best email address for submitting it?”
“Do you know any other companies looking for someone with my skills and experience?”
“If there are any other contacts you could recommend who might be hiring for similar roles, I’d greatly appreciate the referral.”
If they are too busy to talk to you
Suggest a time for them to call you back or for you to call them back – here are some options for what to say:
“Would it be possible to schedule a follow-up call? I’m flexible and can adjust to a time that suits you.”
“Can I call you tomorrow at 10am if that’s more convenient?”
If the person isn’t available
If the person you’re trying to reach is unavailable, you may be transferred to someone else or need to leave a voicemail. Here’s how to handle it.
Talking to another person:
“Hi, I’m [your name]. I was hoping to speak with [intended contact] regarding job opportunities / your graduate program / an internship or work experience. Could you please help me with reaching them or let me know if there’s someone else I should speak with?”
Leaving a voicemail:
If you get to voicemail, leave a short message. Use part of your script to let they know why you called.
“Hello, this is [your name]. I’m calling to inquire about job openings at [company name]. I have experience in [your field] and would love the opportunity to discuss how I might fit within your team. Please call me back at [your phone number]. Thank you!”
Finishing the cold call
Regardless of the outcome, always end your call on a positive note. Before hanging up, thank the person for their time:
“Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with me today. I appreciate your assistance.”
Final tips for making a cold call
Be confident: Approach each call with confidence and professionalism.
Stay flexible: Be ready to adapt your script based on the flow of the conversation.
Follow up: If your contact asked you to send your resume or call back, make sure to follow through promptly.
Making cold calls can be a powerful way to uncover job opportunities and demonstrate your enthusiasm. With these scripts and tips, you’ll be better prepared to handle any situation and increase your chances of success in your job search. Happy calling!