How to Network for a Job: 7 Tips about Cold Calling

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The first rule of the job search is one that recent graduates and new job seekers hear over and over again, usually until they either internalize the message or tune it out: Rely on your network. No website, industry meet-and-greet, or professional recruiter can put you on the fast track to success as quickly as your social network can. Your friends and contacts are your greatest asset. And so on. And so on.

But as it happens, there’s almost always a huge gap between knowing what needs to be done and knowing how to do it. So with that in mind, here’s a quick six-step tutorial on reaching out to the remote—but potentially helpful—corners of your social network.

1. First, be strategic. Target the contacts that can help you the most, not just the contacts spain phone number library who are the closest to you socially. While it’s easier to reach out to a close friend than it is to reach out to a frosty ex-boss or a relative you haven’t spoken to in years, you should go straight to the source if you know that they can help you get a foot in the door.

2. Next, be brave. Don’t worry about rejection, and don’t worry that the person you’re contacting might misinterpret your gesture. Just move past all these (purely psychological) obstacles and do what needs to be done. Find the person’s contact information on LinkedIn, Facebook, or through a mutual connection.

3. Be direct. If you need an immediate connection, feel free to use the phone. But if your call isn’t scheduled beforehand, know exactly what you’re going to say in a voicemail. 99 percent of the time, email is a better option. As you start drafting your email, get to the point as quickly as possible.