When Kirsten Morell was planning to relocate with her family to Minnesota over a year ago, she did an online scan of Twin Cities employers who might be receptive to her background in government relations.

Then she picked up the phone.

"I made a lot of calls, and always tried to make sure I ended a contact by getting at least one new name. One person led to another, which eventually led me to this position," says Morell, who now serves as communications director for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

In the Web 2.0 era, the old-tech phone call may be one of the most overlooked tools in an effective job search. Here are a few examples of how cold calling can aid a job hunt.

Prospecting. While positions are frequently posted on company sites and Internet job boards, many openings never get published. To improve the odds of learning about such positions, Morell says job seekers should call a targeted list of companies with the goal of learning the names of key decision-makers in their chosen field. "You want to be persistent without being bothersome," she says. "Typically, you have about 30 seconds to distinguish yourself, so take the time to script what you want to say and how you want to say it."

Networking. When people follow-up on referrals in a job search, they often become discouraged by human gatekeepers. When that happens, it can be a good time to drop names. "If your call is based on a referral, make sure to use that person's name in the conversation with the gatekeeper," she says. "If those people are friends, they'll take notice of the connection."

Post-interview contact. After interviewing for a job, savvy job seekers can use the phone to help close the sale. That's because it allows candidates to reiterate their interest in a position, as well as gauge the employer's progress in making a decision. "This is another opportunity to market yourself, and a time when confidence and motivation needs to come through over the phone," says Morell.

Brett Pyrtle is principal of Turning Point Communications LLC, a communications consulting firm based in St. Paul