How do you contact the companies?
There are many different strategies and methods to contact companies unsolicited. Before reaching out you need to consider how you feel more comfortable reaching out, and what you think will work better in the field you are applying in.
Below you find three methods based on LinkedIn, e-mail campaigns or calls. If calling a company is not your cup of tea, you can look at the two other methods. However, if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile at all, then don’t use that method.
Method 1: Contact on LinkedIn
| Materials: | Computer, a LinkedIn-profile, and a company list |
|---|
LinkedIn is a great tool to establish a quick connection in a professional way. The method described here is based on first establishing a connection to a relevant person and then in a professional manner inviting them to a coffee meeting or phone call.
Step 1. Connect
When you have found a profile on LinkedIn you want to reach out to, there is a chance that you are not able to write them directly unless you have a ‘premium profile’.
Sometimes you can still get in contact with the person by connecting with them and adding a note to the invitation. You can write a personal message and explain why you would like to connect with this person.
Keep in mind that it must be a short message, as you only have 300 characters.
Examples of what you can write when you connect with someone
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If you have similar professional interests
Hi [name]
I found your profile and I can see that you are working with some of my primary focus areas: sustainable work environment and leadership.
I hope you will join my professional network.
If someone recommended reaching out to this person
Hi [name]
I have been recommended reaching out to you based on your LinkedIn expertise.
I work with recruitment myself and I am always looking for new inspiration – and following you work here on LinkedIn seems to be a great source of inspiration.
I would therefore like to connect with you if you are interested.
If you are interested in someone’s company
Dear [name]
I have look at [company where the person is working], as you are leading actors within compliance. The reason I am contacting you is that your department specifically works with VAT which I have knowledge and interest in.
I hope that you will be a part of my network on LinkedIn?
If you have found the person through e.g., an article
Hi [name]
I have found you through […] where I read a very interesting interview with you. I am considering a career in the IT field, and I like your approach to the role as a consultant focusing on the ability to talk to people.
Therefore, I hope you will connect with me?
If the person is sharing many interesting posts on LinkedIn
Dear [name]
I have stumbled upon your posts here on LinkedIn – and I really appreciate your points about the use of PowerPoint.
I would really like to read more of your things in the future, which is why I hope that you would like to connect?
Step 2. Invite yourself to coffee meetings or a phone call
Once the connection has been established you can continue the dialogue and ask if the person would be interested in having a coffee meeting or phone call with you. Most people are happy to help if you ask for something they can easily provide.
This is also the reason why you should avoid talking about a potential job in the beginning of the conversation. It is quite unlikely that they will be able to give you a job straight away.
You also don’t have to start the conversation by mentioning the possibility to do an internship at their company. After your meeting or phone call they will know more about your qualities and interests, and they could potentially have an open position that suits your capabilities. In this way you can see the coffee meeting or phone call as a way to start the dialogue and then you can be ready to cease any opportunity that might occur.
Examples of how you can invite someone to a coffee meeting
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The short and detailed version
Hi [name]
Thank you for linking up with me.
I am very interested in your work as an HR employee. I would really like to hear more about what challenges you are currently working on, as well as what you have done to get to where you are.
Would you be open to meet for an informal chat? It could be on Friday at 10 am?
I will not take longer than 30 minutes.
I look forward to hearing from you.
The short and brief version
Dear [name]
Thank you for linking up!
I find your career path very interesting. If I buy you a cup of coffee, would you then be open to sharing experiences in change processes and team building?
The curious version
Hi again!
Thank you so much for accepting the invitation.
I'm very interested in your entire career journey and how you experienced your career switch to consulting. Would you be open to answering a few questions and ell more about your experience as a consultant?
I am happy to do it over the phone or meet up for a cup of coffee – depending on what suits you better.
The one where you reach out to the manager
Dear [name]
Thank you for letting me be a part of your network here on LinkedIn.
I am curious about your experiences with working in a structured way with the green transition of your company. I am aware that you are not currently looking for new employees, but I would like to qualify myself before your next job opening is posted.
Therefore, I will call you on [x]day next week before noon. I look forward to talking to you.
In some of the examples, a specific time for the meeting is suggested. The idea is that the specific time invites the recipient to look at their calendar and consider when the coffee meeting can take place.
Download the templates for reaching out the companies on LinkedIn
Method 1.1: Posting on LinkedIn
There are many advantages in posting on LinkedIn. By posting on LinkedIn, you can reach out to everyone in your network and let them know what you are looking for.
Here are a few things to consider before posting:
- What is your desired outcome of the post (new knowledge, change of industry, insight into a new industry)?
- Who are you targeting? Make sure that the post fits the industry you are aiming at and wish to increase your visibility in. A creative industry requires a creative approach, whereas a more traditional industry needs a factual approach.
- Remember that a picture (be it a literal foot in the door or something else) increases the reach and attention in your network’s feed.
If you want to increase your experience and knowledge within a particular field of interest:
- A post on LinkedIn is effective in reaching a vast part of your network. People in your network can help you connect to relevant contacts in their own network for you to book coffee meetings with. In this way, you can broaden your insight into an industry or a job function. In most cases, a large part of your network is active on LinkedIn.
- If you are a recent graduate or know that you need more experience in a specific part of an industry, or if you wish to boost your profile with additional experience, a LinkedIn post can help you land an internship or a new job.
Examples of text for posts on LinkedIn
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When you want to gain experience
Dear network
I am reaching out as I really want to land a job, an internship, or the like to help me gain more experience within communications or marketing. My quick hands move effortlessly in the SoMe arena, and I naturally think in lines of content during my day, finding value and visual ideas along the way.
With one foot firmly grounded in classic journalism with writing articles and more, and the other foot dancing in measurable marketing initiatives, I can ensure effective campaigns and eye-catching texts that will create awareness of a product or services.
In other words, I am eager kickstart a new chapter of my career with new competences like e.g. using AI in my work.
So, dear network… could you please work some magic and help me? I am open to starting a new job, an exciting internship, or something similar to help me move forward – soon hopefully.
I hope you will share this post to reach your network – in return, I will invite you for a coffee or something refreshing during spring.
Best regards
Name
Asking your network for help with your job search
Dear network! I could really use your help.
I have been on the job market for some time now, looking for my next wonderful workplace. I have searched wide and far, and honestly, I am a bit lost dealing with applications, interviews, waiting and making unsolicited calls to nice but busy people. I know that other people searching for jobs feel the same. We do everything right, make good interviews, write good applications – but fail to go all the way. Being a constant runner-up is no fun and does not land you the job.
Scrolling through LinkedIn tells me that hiring parties can get lost too – they unintentionally write misleading job posting, hire the wrong people or lack the time to read ALL THOSE APPLICATIONS…
Maybe this sound familiar? As job seekers or employers?
SO – I could really use your help!
I see a lot of posts on LI from job seekers right now asking their network to help. Reportedly, it is peak season for job change and making new decisions during this time of year – I am not alone in needing a push in the right direction.
I’m reaching out to all of you who might know or see something that could be relevant to me. Some of you already know me and might know of a relevant position that I can apply to? I would greatly appreciate anything you can provide.
As a qualified teacher, I am very committed to the learning and development process in young people. I have experience in teaching and learning processes. As a consultant and facilitator, my drive is to help support collaboration and knowledge sharing between different professions and perspectives to move people in their profession or voluntary activities.
I value network, relations and cross-functional collaborating, keeping an open mind and good communication.
I can take on tasks within:
- Teaching and pedagogical processes
- Identification of learning potentials and academic focus – including cross-functional courses
- Working with relations and class management
- Establishing frameworks and design for projects with internal and external parties
- Facilitating and organizing development and learning processes in various collaborative communities
- Gathering knowledge and documenting processes in testimonials or reports
- Administration and financial management; contracts, invoicing and budgeting/accounting
- Volunteer involvement and volunteer work
Please share, add a comment, or write me a direct message. Do you know someone that I can contact? Have you seen a post that could be interesting to me? Do you know someone looking for my expertise?
Thank you for your time!
Thank you for your input!
Thank you for your help!
Best regards Name
Method 2: Make an email campaign
| Materials: | Computer and a company list |
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With this method you are making a relatively similar-looking email and resume. Both should be targeted the type of tasks you would like to be a part of in the company. You should send this to a large number of companies, preferably around 30-40.
The advantage of this method is that you quickly show your interest and initiative to a lot of companies – and if they happen to have a job opening, you will not be competing with a lot of other applicants.
Step 1. Prepare your email template and your resume
In your email template you briefly describe your abilities and wishes. It is a good idea to target your materials. This means that if you apply for a job within communication, you should use this as an entry point for both your email and your resume. You can always make a new email template if you would like to target something else.
It can also be beneficial to add a paragraph about why you are reaching out to this specific company. This should be changed according to the company you are sending it to.
You can help yourself by highlighting where in the text you need to adjust something for every email.
If you also wish to update your resume, you can find help right here to do so.
Examples of email campaigns
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The short version
Topic: A possible collaboration about [digital welfare solutions]
Dear [name]
I have had a look at [company] and see that you are a major player in virtual reality in the social and healthcare sector.
The reason I am reaching out to you, is that I am highly interested in digital welfare solutions that enhance the everyday life for young people with social anxiety disorder. I am curious about your experience with implementation of VR in residential facilities.
I am interested in working with tasks such as:
- User involvement
- Implementation
- Evaluation
I will call you next week and ask if you have time for a short meeting about a possible collaboration
Kind regards,
The more detailed version
Topic: Can I help you [strengthen your citizen involvement?]
Dear [name]
I am reaching out to you as a newly graduated anthropologist with a background in urban development. I see a lot of possibilities in using and developing my competences in [company name’s] work with creating a strong dialogue with citizens and users and ensuring results through a well-structured user involvement process.
I can offer the following competences:
- skilled analyst with solid knowledge of qualitative methods
- experience with project planning and execution in urban development
- experience with citizen involvement e.g., through facilitation of workshops and user surveys
- Good at collaborating and building relationships with colleagues and customers
- Strong written and spoken communication skills
- initiative, great commitment and a good sense of humor.
I have a background as a project employee at [company name]. You can read more about that in the attached resume.
I am interested in collaborating with you, either as a project employee or a freelancer, but also as an intern in a project where you find my skills useful.
If I have sparked your interest, I would be happy to come by for a meeting to discuss the possibilities.
I look forward to hearing from you.
The curious version where you invite them to a coffee meeting
Topic: Curious [title, education, job position]
I am writing you as I am highly interested in your work with [topic]. Both in general but also more specifically because [reason]. In that area my visions and ambitions are completely aligned with yours.
My experience with [topic] comes from my time at [previous employer], where I got hand-on experience with [topic/task/competence], which resulted in [your result]. My strongest skills are [your main skills].
I hope you would be interested in meeting with me - without obligation, of course. I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on the industry's current challenges, as well as what you specifically look for when hiring. If you're available, we could meet sometime next week? For example, Thursday at 1pm, but let me know if another time works better for you.
Best,
The curious version where you as a recent graduate offer an internship
Topic: A talk about a possible internship
I am writing to you because I recently graduated as [Master's degree] and am looking to enter the [industry] and have been following [company] for some time. Your work with [...] is exemplary in my opinion.
I have experience with [topic] from my time at [company name] and am particularly strong when it comes to [topic]. I am a responsible and outgoing colleague. I am currently looking for knowledge and experience in [the industry] and of course a place where I can grow and create value - initially in an internship.
I would really like to have a cup of coffee with you and hear about what you look for when hiring and what challenges you as a company are currently facing.
My schedule is flexible at the moment, but I'll start by suggesting Wednesday xx/xx at 1pm - please let me know if another time works better with your schedule.
Best regards
The outgoing version where you suggest a possible collaboration
Topic: A chat about a possible collaboration
I have been following [company name] for some time and your projects regarding loneliness and young people which match my skills in fundraising and project work very well.
[choose one of the following options]
Option 1: I'm writing you to ask if you might be interested in a non-binding meeting about a possible collaboration. The meeting could be virtually or in person, whichever makes more sense for you.
Option 2: I am writing to you because I have the opportunity to work 4-8 weeks at a company at no cost, and I immediately wondered if you would be interested in a possible collaboration.
I have attached my resume, where you can read more about what I can do for you. You are of course welcome to contact me for more information.
I look forward to hearing from you, and if I don’t hear back from you, please allow me to follow up on my inquiry by phone Thursday next week.
Kind regards
Step 2. Send your emails
Adjust your email template based on your research to ensure that each email is tailored to the individual company. An important note is to make sure your emails are addressed to a specific contact person in each company so they don’t get lost.
It's a good idea to send your emails around 7:30 in the morning, so they don't get drowned out by other emails and you signal professionalism. It's also a good idea to send your emails on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday so that they don't end up in the ‘it’s almost weekend’ pile.
With some email programs, you can set your emails to be sent at a specific time, so you can prepare them in advance.
Step 3. Follow up
After about a week, you follow up by phone on the emails that have not yet been answered. Reaching out through a phone call shows that you are serious about your email and that you are genuinely interested in the company.
For example, you can start the conversation like this:
"Hi, I'm calling because I sent you an email a week ago. I'm very interested in working with you, and I'd like to know if you've had time to look at it?"
Download the templates for reaching out the companies through email
Method 3: Call the companies
| Materials: | Computer, phone and a company list |
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With this method you use your phone to reach out to companies. You simply reach out directly to the company's contacts and quickly find out if they want to talk to you and if they have a job opening in the pipeline.
Step 1. Prepare a call script
If you're good at freestyling a presentation of yourself over the phone, you're of course welcome go ahead and start calling companies. However, many people benefit from preparing what they want to say and how they want to present their purpose of calling. You can do this with a call script.
When making a call script you can decide how direct you want to be in relation to the fact that you are looking for a job or an internship. It's also a good idea to know what you specifically want from the contact person. Are you asking for a coffee meeting to gain knowledge or share know-how on a topic? Or are you asking directly about the possibility of an internship - or a job at their company?
If you're nervous about making the call, it can help to prepare how you want to start the conversation. Be specific enough to know exactly how you're going to say 'hello' to the person you're calling.
It is good to prepare:
- your introduction of yourself
- your reason for calling this person
- your background and competences
- your wish for what you want from the contact person
- your suggestion for when you can meet
- your answers to possible objections (see examples under Step 2. Prepare for objections)
You should also think about what you do if you reach an answering machine.Do you leave a message or call back later? Or maybe both?
Examples of call scripts
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The version where you found them on LinkedIn
Hi! My name is [name]. I found you on LinkedIn because you work in [area/industry].
My reason for contacting you is that I am looking for companies within [area/industry] because [your motivation for their core task, e.g. "I am very curious about how you work with greenwashing"].
Can you spare half an hour at some point to talk to me about [area/industry]? My primary purpose of the meeting is networking and knowledge gathering.
- If yes: How about [day] next week, e.g. at xx?
Thank you for the conversation - I look forward to meeting with you. - If no: Do you have other relevant colleagues I could reach out to instead?
Thank you for the conversation and your time.
The version where you have been recommended to call the person
Hi! My name is [name].
I've been recommended by [name] to call you because you [your reason for calling, e.g. "have a special knowledge of the area/industry"].
I'm particularly interested in [what you want to get out of the meeting, e.g. 'learning more about your company culture and your approach to project management'].
Would you be open to spending half an hour talking to me about [the topic you'd like to discuss further, e.g. 'how you navigate working with project management across large organizations]?
- If yes: How does [day] fit in next week, e.g. xx pm sound to you?
Thank you very much for your time - I look forward to meeting you. - If no: Do you have other relevant colleagues I could reach out to instead?
Thank you for your time.
The version where you present your desire for a job right from the start
Hi,
You are speaking with [name]
- Introducing yourself: I'm a job seeker and I'm wondering if you can help me with feedback on how my skills can be utilized in an interesting company like yours.
- Or: I'm calling you ask about possible job opportunities or projects in your department.
I can briefly tell you that I [your background, e.g. 'have been trained as/worked as'] and will be able to solve tasks such as: [the tasks you would like to work on, e.g. 'updating your website, CRM systems, optimizing your use of social media].
Would you be interested in having a non-committal coffee meeting with me where we can talk about [what you would like to talk about, e.g. 'the possibilities at your company']?
- If yes: How does [day] fit in next week, e.g. xx pm sound to you?
Thank you very much for your time - I look forward to meeting you.
- If no: Do you have other relevant colleagues I could reach out to instead?
Thank you for your time.
Step 2. Prepare for objections
When you call different companies out of the blue, you're bound to encounter objections at some point. Before the phone call you can prepare yourself on how you will respond to them. You can find inspiration in the suggestions below.
Objection Answer | I do not have time, I am in a meeting. When would it be more convenient for me to contact you? |
Objection Answer | I do not need any new employees at the moment. When would you need new employees again |
Objection Answer | We are not interested Can you recommend anyone else I can contact instead? |
Objection Answer |
I'm calling to learn more about my job search. |
Download the templates for preparing a call script
Do I have to call it an “internship”?
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Examples of what you could also call an internship
To some, the word ‘internship’ may sound like something that's mostly for students. If you prefer to call it something else, that is completely fine. You can also call it something else when you write it on your resume afterwards.
Other unemployed graduates have called their internship:
- A project collaboration
- A collaboration free of charge
- A no-obligation collaboration for 4 weeks
- An extended job interview
- A "brush up" on a topic you are not quite up to date with
- An opportunity for a portfolio project
- A collaboration on a possible business case
- A research collaboration
- An analysis collaboration
What can you get from a contact that doesn’t lead to a job or internship?
Sometimes there just isn't an opening - or it's the wrong match. On the other hand, through the dialog you can gain knowledge about career paths, industries, other companies or job openings, trends, etc. that you can use in your further job search.