jobs

“I know how your products work and I have a big book of business I could bring with me,” said Fonseca. This got the manager’s attention -- who wouldn’t want to hire someone who brings his own customers?

“That’s pretty much where the conversation ended,” said Fonseca, who got the names of other hiring managers and was told to call them.

No interviews resulted, so Fonseca pursued other leads. But two weeks later he got a call. “The hiring manager said that things had changed and I was asked to come in. I interviewed on Tuesday and had the job on Wednesday,” he says.

Here are four things to keep in mind as you “cold call” for interviews:

• This can work in any field. Just tell employers -- specifically -- what good things you’ve done before and can do again. Example: “I’ve saved/made more than $110,000 a year the last three years and can do the same for you.” Do your homework and assign a dollar value to the time you’ve saved or money you’ve earned.
• Follow a script. Although Fonseca didn’t, it can ease your nerves to read from a piece of paper. Be sure to practice until the words flow smoothly.
• The worst that can happen when you call employers is … they say no. Nobody dies or goes to jail. But you may land a job interview. All you have to do is ask.
• When in doubt, test it out. Pick five companies you have no desire to work for, call, and practice your script on them. (If you get offered an interview, call back later to cancel.) Then, when you’re confident, phone the employers on your “A” list.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

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Kevin Donlin is Creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com. Since 1996, he has provided job-search help to more than 20,000 people. Author of 3 books, Kevin has been interviewed by The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio and others. His free report, The Simple Job Search Manifesto, is found at www.TheSimpleJobSearch.com

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