As any career advice website will tell you, a majority of the best jobs out there are not advertised. So what’s a job seeker to do? Of course, most of these below-the-radar jobs are clinched by knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone (i.e. networking). So are cold contacts, in which you send out your info to a company you would love to work for, despite having no indication that the company has a vacancy in the first place, a complete waste of time? Many argue that yes, a positive response to a cold contact email is long shot, especially in an economic climate in which hiring is low. Still, although cold contacting should never be a primary job-seeking strategy, there are still things you can do to make sure that your long shot is a little closer than it would normally be. Here are a few tips.
1. Researching the company thoroughly is way more important for cold contact cover letters than it is for advertised jobs.
In order for cold contact emails to be effective, they need to demonstrate that they are worth being read. That being said, you need to show that you know the company and industry well. Do as much research as you can, and don’t limit your information to the company website. Pour over news articles mentioning the company as well as industry journals to get an in-depth insight into the company. If you know anyone who works for the company or for the general industry, talk to them first before sending your resume and cover letter.
2. Avoid cold contact stock phrases and make yourself stand out.
Employers, as a rule, generally delete cold contact emails. Why? Since they don’t need to fill any position immediately, they have no incentive to click on your email when they are probably busy going through hundreds of work-related emails that they do need to read. In this sense, standing out is absolutely critical. Don’t allow your cover letter to sound like the rest, so be sure to avoid stock phrases like “I am detail-oriented” or “I have a proven track record of”, etc., etc.
3. Be specific about what you want to do or can do for the company.
As mentioned in a previous CareerCopilot article, crafting a cover letter responding to a job ad requires you to address the specifics of the ad. But since you are writing a cold call cover letter, you don’t have a job ad to start with, so you’ll have identify the company’s needs that you think you can fulfill on your own. Even though you may not have a specific position in mind, it’s very important that you be extremely specific at the very beginning of your email, about what skills you have from which the company can benefit.
4. If you are sending an email, pay special attention to subject lines and opening sentences.
Since you are writing an email that isn’t in response to a job ad, employers don’t know to look out for cover letters in their inboxes. As such, your email can easily be overlooked if it sounds spammy in the subject line. So when deciding on a subject line, avoid generalities, don’t make it sound like car salesman pitch, and use specifics like [Your name], professional [current position] seeking opportunity with [target company name]. If it is true that you only have 20-30 seconds to impress a recruiting or hiring manager when applying for an advertised job, you have even less time than that to impress with a cold contact email. Address all relevant information about your skills and how they match the company as soon as you possibly can, in the first few lines of your email.
5. Offer to do something for the company on a contract basis that can prove your worth, getting your foot in the door toward long-term employment.
Since it is highly unlikely that an employer will open up a position just for someone whom they hardly know, you may want to set your sights a little lower than full-time employment to get your foot in the door. For example, you can mention that even if they don’t foresee a full-time opening, you would be more than glad to offer your services on a contract or freelance basis. Employers who aren’t currently hiring will be more open to taking on something that requires less commitment, essentially opening up a space for you to prove yourself and be the first person they consider when a position does open up.
Cold contacting is certainly no walk in the park, but if you are prepared for few responses and lots of research on your part, it could net you the gig you’ve been looking for. Above all, remember to be detailed, professional but friendly, and you may have more luck with these letters than you think. Good luck!
This post was written by :
Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.
Cover letters can feel like a unnecessary evil in the job search, but they definitely are important as has been outlined above. Even if your cover letter does not get read by all hiring managers or recruiters, they should still be written as an advertisement of yourself and what makes you special. Think of yourself as a product that needs to be showed off — highlight what you do well and how you can help make other people’s life better with you around.
Very interesting post,
- Corey Witt