There are only two ways to generate new business and I'm not talking about placing an ad on a website or doing some other kind of marketing. To drive business development and in recruiting talk that means getting new signed fee agreements or job orders, you either have to reach a hiring manager by phone or get out into the field and meet with them face to face.
The worst thing that can happen to an account manager is to not be out meeting with prospects and for a recruiter to not be speaking with new candidates. The best thing we can do to fill our desks with opportunity is to be on the phone cold calling. This means we have to smile when we dial and call people who don't know us.
Most recruiters who hammer on the phone make things happen. You should think about cold calling like a game. You can't take rejection personally. Don't be afraid to cold call. We like things we are good at and if you practice you will improve.
Recruiters and staffing sales professional should take a lesson from Babe Ruth. He was the home run leader for a long time but most people don;t know that he struck out way more than he hit home runs. The numbers for him show 1330 strike outs and 714 home runs. You can't break the records without taking a lot of swings.
To find a top candidate or to break into a new account it will take a ton of calls, so have some fun with it! Calling people allows you to interact with them directly. Try making 20 cold calls each day for the next week. Working smart is good but make sure you are working hard, especially in this economy. Don't kill yourself but give it your best every day.
The key to being a great cold caller is to have a positive attitude. Believe in yourself and ask a ton of questions. Create a list of people to call so you can get to the right people and then make sure you are calling them at the right times. Sure you may have to get around some gatekeepers so be friendly, make a strong first impression and they may just become your helper in getting through.
Remember that cold calls are not a time to sell. What is the purpose of your call? Usually it is to set an appointment or to get some much needed information.
Be good news. Smile. Relax. Be positive.
Craig
You need to be a member of RecruitingBlogs to add comments!
Join RecruitingBlogs