The following advice is from the notes I took from a lecture at the ldsjob service department. Until you have a firm job offer keep doing 10 calls a day and 10 face to face meetings a week.

The only time you call people you don’t know is when you have a name that referred you to them.

Example: hello, xxx.

Mention the name of the person who referred you. Prior to the call you will want to find out how the two know each other and why the referral feels this person is a good contact. Be reader to give context of how the two know each other.

Referral said you might know about such and such.

Ask open ended questions

Have questions prepared in advance

Have a script prepared in advance.

In the beginning of the call ask if now is a good time to talk for about 10 min.?

Ask for referrals at end of conversation.

At end of conversation thank them for their time.

Ask if its ok to touch base later?

 

Type of questions:

Before making the call you will want to ask your referral how they know the contact.

What does the contact do?

Ask them how the contact will be able to help.

Your referral may be a good person to practice some of your questions with for feedback.

Concentrate the interview on the company, not you.

Information interviews:

Be prepared with questions and knowledge gleaned from the one paragraph job description.

What type of skills are you looking for as an employee.

What do you know about xx jobs.

What does the company value in employees?

What does your organization reward?

How long have your work at your job?

Why is the job open>?

What challenges does your company face?

What areas are profitable?

What do you see as your competitors

How did you get your job here?

What kind of projects are you working on?

Who do you know that works at xxx <other target co. you’re interested in.

At the end of the interviewer you may ask Who do you know that xxx…

 

If you have some items to add to the list, please share them in the comment section of this blog