Cold Calling - Neccessary or Annoying?
It's me again - the resident library student - must be time to ask for more advice!
Recently, a professor at our library school 'recommended' we start cold calling libraries as part of our job search. Actually, it was more like "What?! Why haven't you started cold calling? You need to do that now!". Regardless of how the message was delivered, it certainly has instigated a lot of discussion among all of the soon-to-be-graduating students.
And when I say discussion, I really mean fear.
Here are a few exclamations I've heard around the student lounge after the cold calling announcement:
- We're supposed to show up unannounced at random libraries and handout resumes?
- Doesn't this make us seem needy and overly keen?
- Do we visit or call or email resumes?
- Do we have to do this? Or is it just a recommendation?
- Isn't applying to a job ad enough?
- But I'm shy!
Another professor mentioned libraries tend to keep cold call resumes on file for three to six months before discarding them. They then encouraged us to submit our resumes over and over again. However, even after being told to cold call by two professors, some of us are still dubious about how effective it is, or even how to do it properly.
Christina's recent post on Job Search Strategies yielded some fantastic resources, but none that really mentioned cold calling. The Toronto Public Library has a page about cold calling, but it is not tailored to library jobs.
So I'm just wondering:
- Is cold calling necessary, or annoying?
- Does your library have a policy for dealing with cold calls?
- Would your library prefer an in-person visit or an email or a phone call?
Labels: advice, job search
posted by Lisa @ 9:00 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Hi Lisa,
One thing I started doing in my last semester of lie-berry school was requesting information interviews with librarians. What, you ask, is an information interview?
It goes like this: You've got a network of people in the professional world who you like, respect, and who have good jobs (like the job you want!). Send them an e-mail (so much less painful than actually picking up the phone), asking to meet with them to discuss the job world, what they do and why they like it, and how they think you should best go about getting a job. Ask them for a contact of theirs that they think might be a good person for you to contact -- for another information interview. It's several notches lower on the Scary Scale than straight-up cold calling, but eventually word gets out that this keen library student is meeting up with everyone and chatting with them (and she's so smart and energetic!), and could lead to a familiar face when you go into an interview, or a tip on someone that might be hiring down the road.
Hope that helps!
Meg
I took a similar approach when I was looking for my first position. I knew I needed a job in a particular city, so I sought out organizations that would possibly hire a librarian, even if they didn't have postings open. Like Meg, I approached it as a request for information about the organization rather than as a cold call for a job. After my initial message, I sometimes got requests to send my c.v. for them to keep on file. Ok, it didn't lead to a job, but I think that it potentially could have.
I think cold calling (however you do it) is a strategy to consider when you're looking for jobs in a specific city. It can help with getting to know people and finding out how things work in various institutions as well as putting your name out there for future opportunities.
I'm not sure how cold calls are received in my library, but since we sometimes hire students and frequently have postings open, I would imagine they're kept on file...
I think the psychology of it would be helpful, too - it can build your confidence and help you get set for the types of environments and experience you'd eventually find at an interview stage (which remains incredibly different, I know, but still has a potential organization/employee relationship).
Thanks for the great advice!
Cold calling is a super scary idea, but I've already been meeting with librarians informally, like an 'information interview'. I think that's the route I'll take, as it's far less intimidating, and very helpful (and fun!).
One would have to target the organisations and the person within the organisation carefully, otherwise it might be worse than a waste of time. In my organisation (govt library) I CANNOT hire or even interview from a cold call. All I could do is advise to go to HR and I could get myself into a conflict of interest situation should that person ever end up on one of my shortlists. All jobs are posted, with a strict application process. Only contracts or sick leave replacements of less than 90 days can be handled directly. Is that the kind of job you want?
Things may be very different in small organisations, but there may be less jobs open at any one time.
The information interview route will be more likely to result in someone taking a bit of time to talk to you about your interests and any openings coming up. Networking,rather than hard sell.
Pat
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