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How to List Cold Calling Skills on Your Resume (Free Templates)

How to List Cold Calling Skills on Your Resume (Free Templates)

Listing your mastery of cold calling on your resume is a great way to stand out in an admittedly crowded marketplace when applying for new jobs.

Recruiters and hiring managers can see hundreds of resumes per day for a single position, and that’s after the resumes get scanned by internal applicant tracking softwares that reject poor-fit resumes.

When it comes to a role in sales or telemarketing, listing your cold calling skills will be one of the most important things to include on your resume if you want to get past the tracking software and in front of recruiters. How you write and format your resume is key—thankfully, listing cold calling skills on your resume isn't nearly as difficult as some may fear.

To help make this process even easier, we’ve put together two free cold calling resume templates & a cover letter template that you can download (in Google Doc format) to customize and use in your application process.

DOWNLOAD YOUR RESUME TEMPLATES →

Why Highlight Cold Calling Skills On a Sales Representative Resume?

The job you’re applying for probably requires cold calling, so it makes sense to list your related experience. But beyond that, listing your cold calling skills on your sales representative resume does more than simply show that you know how to pick up and dial a phone. Being a great cold caller tells hiring managers a lot about you.

  • You’re confident: It takes confidence to be a successful cold caller! With every call, you put yourself out there and do your best to generate interest despite lots of “no thank yous” and “stop callings” ... and not everybody has the credence necessary to do it.
  • You persevere: Cold callers are able to persevere through hundreds of calls every day, without being discouraged or giving up. It takes a special kind of person to keep going under these conditions, no matter what. (Out of all the people in the world, a fruit vendor in Thailand once taught me a great lesson on the power of perseverance .)
  • You’re detail-oriented: Being able to look at potential leads and quickly separate ideal-fit prospects from bad leads is a heck of a talent, and it’s a skill that’s transferrable to other tasks, as well. The ability to identify which tasks are high-value can be a hard skill to teach.
  • You’re a great communicator: Selling over the phone requires you to convey what your product is and why it should matter to your prospect in a clear and concise way that engages your prospect from the start. By listing your cold calling experience on your resume, you provide evidence of solid communication skills.

Overall, recruiters and hiring managers find all of these skills important because they essentially represent the entirety of the sales process distilled down into one role. Cold calling starts with a single, unsolicited interaction, and requires follow-up phone calls that usher prospects from one end of the sales funnel to the other. Handling a start-to-finish role throughout the sales cycle requires a level of finesse that not everybody has—and sales reps who have all of the qualities listed above will certainly be at the top of the applicant pool.

DON'T FORGET YOUR FREE RESUME TEMPLATES!

What to Include on Your Sales Rep or Telemarketing Resume

First things first—you’ll need to include those standard elements that would appear on any resume, like your full name, your email address, your phone number, and potentially your LinkedIn URL (if you have a complete profile, that is).

Beyond that, what follows are some areas of your resume that should definitely be highlighted for the best results moving forward.

Cold Calling Experience & Achievements

Remember, you're not just creating a general resume—this is one with an emphasis on cold calling in particular. Therefore, list position-specific experience and any achievements that you've received whenever possible. Do this by listing any experience you have with each of the following elements of cold calling towards the top of the job responsibilities listed for each prior position.

Lead Generation

Describe your experience in identifying quality leads for your offering. Be sure to include a statistic of how many potential customers were identified in what amount of time, and how you achieved it. For example:

Identified 362 leads (92% qualified prospects) over two weeks by searching LinkedIn for job titles and responsibilities matching those of our ideal customer .

Inside Sales

Having progressive experience with inside sales shows your comfort and capability in selling remotely from an office-based environment, as opposed to using in-person tactics. An example bullet point to include in your resume could be:

Achieved a close rate of 14% in Q3 of 2021 by using cold calling along with email and various online channels to target customers by demographic.

Sales Goal Achievements

Setting realistic sales goals is always important, whether they’re personal goals or sales targets provided by a supervisor. Showing your proficiency in tackling and achieving those goals, on time and in full, will show your potential as a great new hire. Examples include:

  • Averaged 116 daily sales calls, above and beyond the 80 required daily calls.
  • Maintained an average sold contract value of roughly 7% higher than average sales peers.
  • Met or exceeded sales targets for 6 consecutive quarters, Q1 2021 through Q2 2022.

Skill Sets Related to Cold Calling

In addition to those skills that directly relate to cold calling, there are a number of other related skill sets that should also be on your resume. Remember: you're trying to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate with experience in several areas. While a company may be looking for someone to fill a cold calling position today, there may be a different position open six weeks from now. A hiring manager would never know that you’re a good fit if related skills aren’t on your resume.

The following skills and job functions can be included on your resume, as applicable to your experience. Within the context of each, try to lean on the details of your own personal experience and achievements.

  • B2B & B2C Sales : 11 years experience in consumer sales, and 6 years experience in B2B sales, with a 94% average success rate in hitting annual sales goals.
  • CRM Familiarity: 13 total years experience with CRMs including Close, Salesforce, and Zoho CRM.
  • Sales Management : Proven track record of success in leading outbound sales teams to reach goals and improve both warm and cold outreach skills.
  • Communication Skills: 4 years experience collaborating both externally with clients and internally with team members.
  • Product Knowledge: Successful in quickly memorizing the fine details of a product and it’s many features in order to authoritatively answer prospect questions.
  • Lead Generation : Identified a more streamlined lead generation process , allowing my peers and I to generate 15% more leads in the same amount of time.
  • New Business Development : Built up my own book of business with 10 clients and $150,000 in annual revenue.
  • Lead Qualification : Saved the business time and money by passing only the highest quality leads along to the sales department.
  • Account Mapping : Successfully mapped the buyer's journey to create a better and more efficient experience on behalf of clients.
  • Account Management: 5 years progressive experience in account management , ultimately serving 14 client accounts entirely myself.
  • Customer Service : Provided excellent customer service while handling day-to-day customer concerns and achieving a resolution rate of 98%.
  • Customer Relationships : 5 years experience creating and maintaining relationships with customers, improving their customer lifetime value by 10%.
  • Direct Sales : 3 years of experience leading a B2B sales team, setting and meeting sales quotas, and mentoring others.
  • Email Marketing : Optimized email marketing templates to increase click-through rates by 43% in 6 months.
  • Negotiation : 2 years of experience negotiating with vendors to secure better prices on behalf of employer, saving more than $110,000.
  • Sales Operations : Mentored and provided advice to new members of the sales team, ultimately helping them close 20% more deals at a rate 40% faster than before.
  • Sales Analysis : 3 years of experience using business intelligence and data analytics to compare sales team performance to goals.
  • Marketing Strategy : Spearheaded successful marketing strategies, including lead generation and prospect outreach strategies, for three distinct products.
  • Microsoft Office Suite: Proficient in both the Microsoft Windows and MacOS versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Attention sales professionals: Want to enhance lead conversion rates? Our article on MQL vs. SQL is a click away.

Education & Certifications

You should also be sure to include not just your education, but also any relevant certifications that you have received. They, too, can help your sales representative and/or cold calling resume stand out in a crowd.

Psst... Seeking clarity on sales headsets ? Our review of the top 8 options will help you make the right choice.

High School Diploma or GED

Provide a short, simple mention of this achievement. All that is required in this section is a mention of the institution that you attended and the specific type of diploma that you received.

Higher Education

When including reference to your time at a higher education institution like a college or university, be sure to mention not just the institution that you attended but also your core area of study and the degree you received (Associates, Bachelors, or Graduate-level). Beyond that, nothing more is required.

Related Certifications

It's important to list any related sales certification courses , sales training programs , CRM training , CPA courses , and continuing education classes that you may have attended over the years—especially if they were related to sales, customer relationship building, lead generation, accounting management, public speaking , or similar concepts.

The reason for doing this is that it shows not just that you are a well-rounded individual, but also that you prioritize continuing education. You're always looking for opportunities to improve upon your current skills and hiring managers absolutely take notice of that.

When listing these related certifications, you'll want to make sure that you're using a unified format, such as the one here:

  • “Certificate Title,” Awarding Institution (Dates Attended/Earned - Unique Certificate Number If Applicable)

In practice, this format would look like this:

  • “Advanced Sales Strategies on Social Media,” American Marketing Association (September 2021 - Certificate #0038712)

Resume Writing Tips to Stand Out From the Competition

All told, every job seeker is unique unto themselves, meaning that everyone's professional resume will and should look a bit different from the next. Having said that, there are a few best practices that you can follow to help your resume stand out from the rest of the pile.

First, as outlined above, make sure that you're including any relevant experience for the position that you are applying for. Read the job description carefully and look at the actual requirements that are listed. Two companies may define something as seemingly simple as "Sales Representative" in two slightly different ways, so a skill relevant to one position may not be to the other.

This may require you to modify your resume for every different job you apply for, but the effort pays off when you continue landing interviews. Work the keywords from the job description into your resume in a natural way. This will help you get past any pre-screening software, and will help the hiring manager quickly see that you’re an ideal fit for the job.

In addition, when listing your past achievements as they pertain to sales and cold calling, try to use statistics whenever possible. Don't just say that you increased your close rate through cold calling. Say that you increased it by 20% over 5 months. Including statistics turns a bland resume into a much more impressive one, that’s easier to quantify for a hiring manager.

Sales Representative Resume Examples

Once your resume is fully written or updated, you'll want to make sure that it’s properly formatted before you send it out. Hiring managers are busy, so you’ll need to rely on formatting measures to help the important content get seen first.

To make sure your formatting is on point, use a resume builder or resume template for help avoiding the types of unprofessional mistakes that could cost you the job.

Standard resume formatting includes your name on top, followed by your contact information. Next will come your goals/intent, followed by a list of recently held positions and their responsibilities. You'll follow that up with your education and your related skills.

Check out the these cover letter and resume samples for ideas on formatting your own resume:

how to write cold calling on resume

Roles That Benefit From Cold Calling Experience

There is a wide range of roles that either require or would benefit from cold calling experience, spanning every type of sales professional (sales managers, business development reps, account managers, etc.). But beyond this, the experience you’ve gained from cold calling goes far beyond sales roles. Being able to confidently introduce a product to a stranger and create excitement for it is a skill that can be utilized in all types of positions–even those as high up as the executive level and C-Suite.

The sad reality is that many people incorrectly write off cold calling as some type of "lesser" job responsibility when in reality, it’s a skill that should be promoted with pride. A salesperson that excels in cold calling is worth their weight in gold to the hiring company.

Want to add cold calling skills to your resume? Get your resume and cover letter templates:

Nick Persico

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Cold Calling Skills: Example Usage on Resumes, Skill Set & Top Keywords in 2024

Including cold calling on your resume signals to recruiters that you possess determination and strong communication skills. For inspiration on how to effectively shape your resume, delve into the guide below for innovative ideas and alternate expressions.

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In This Guide:

Misusage of cold calling on resumes, how to demonstrate cold calling skills on your resume, what are the relevant certifications for cold calling skills on resume, most relevant jobs for cold calling skills, key takeaways.

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Cold calling is a skill that involves reaching out to potential clients who have had no previous contact with the salesperson making the call. It's a tactic used by sales professionals to solicit new business, often seen in sectors like insurance, finance, and telemarketing. Mastering cold calling requires strong communication skills, confidence in speaking with strangers, and the ability to handle rejection. It's about making a great first impression over the phone and convincing someone to consider a product or service they weren't thinking about before.

Adding cold calling to your resume can show potential employers that you're proactive and have the courage to initiate conversations with potential clients. However, there are drawbacks. Some businesses may view cold calling as outdated or less effective compared to modern marketing strategies. Highlighting this skill could pigeonhole you into certain types of roles or suggest that you're not up to date with the latest sales techniques. Instead, focus on showcasing your ability to build relationships, your expertise in consultative selling, or your proficiency in digital marketing tools, which are often more relevant in today's job market.

In this article, you will learn:

  • The pros and cons of listing cold calling as a skill on your resume.
  • Alternative skills and terms that may better reflect current market trends.
  • How you can demonstrate related competencies that appeal to modern employers.

Incorporating cold calling skills into a resume can dramatically improve a candidate’s appeal, especially in sales-driven roles where direct engagement is key to success. However, listing these skills inappropriately can have the opposite effect, signaling a lack of professional understanding. The candidate must demonstrate relevant experience succinctly while maintaining the fine line between confidence and braggadocio. This careful balance communicates proficiency in a way that resonates with hiring managers.

  • Summary section misuse: Claiming to "Conquer sales territories with unrivaled cold calling techniques,” suggests overconfidence and lacks specificity about actual skills or methods used.
  • Experience section misuse: Listing "Regularly made 100+ cold calls daily, resulting in substantial lead generation," without providing context on conversion rates or the nature of the leads, which omits critical performance indicators.
  • Achievements section misuse: Writing "Single-handedly improved company revenue through expert cold calling," without quantifiable data, fails to substantiate the achievement and appears unsubstantiated.
  • Highlight successful cold call campaigns you’ve led or contributed to, including specific results such as increased customer engagement or sales percentages.
  • Include statistics to quantify your achievements, for example, the number of calls made per day or the conversion rate from cold calls to sales or appointments.
  • Showcase any awards or recognitions you've received for outstanding sales performance or customer service excellence during your cold calling tenure.
  • Mention experience with relevant software and tools that aid in cold calling, like CRM platforms or auto-dialing systems, to show your technical proficiency.
  • Detail ongoing training or professional development in sales techniques or industry knowledge that keeps your cold calling skills sharp and effective.

Example 1: Demonstrate cold calling in the experience section

  • • Initiated a cold call strategy targeting SMEs that resulted in a 15% increase in B2B sales over a six-month period.
  • • Implemented a tracking system for call outcomes, which improved lead quality and customer engagement, leading to a 10% rise in successful call rates.
  • • Collaborated with the marketing team to refine sales scripts based on customer feedback, which boosted conversion rates by 8%.
  • • Mastered product knowledge to provide accurate information during 50+ daily cold calls, elevating customer trust and driving a 5% increase in follow-up inquiries.
  • • Led a customer outreach initiative that identified and resolved pain points for 200+ clients, securing repeat business and referrals.
  • • Expanded the customer database by 30% through proactive cold calling and relationship building.
  • • Built a pipeline of over 500 potential leads through strategic cold calling and follow-up, contributing to a $2M revenue increase for the fiscal year.
  • • Developed and delivered pitch presentations for high-value prospects, successfully converting 20% into long-term clients.
  • • Conducted market research to identify and capture business opportunities in untapped markets, resulting in a 25% client base expansion.
  • This resume example avoids clichés and clearly showcases the applicant's ability to successfully conduct cold calls.
  • Quantifiable achievements, such as percentage increases in sales and customer engagement, are included, making the experience concrete and credible.
  • Detailed accomplishments are tied to the applicant's actions, emphasizing the direct impact of their work on business goals.
  • Each bullet point presents a different aspect of the applicant's role, providing a comprehensive view of their abilities and successes.
  • Recent and relevant work experiences are prioritized, reflecting the applicant's current skill set and competencies.

Example 2: Demonstrate cold calling in the summary section

  • The summary directly showcases a decade of sales experience without resorting to overused terms, focusing on proven results.
  • There's a clear indication of the candidate's ability to construct meaningful client bonds, which implies interpersonal skills and client retention abilities.
  • Technical skills in market analysis are mentioned, displaying the applicant’s concrete expertise relevant to sales positions.
  • An outstanding career achievement is highlighted, showing a significant impact made in a previous role.
  • The content is informative, straightforward, and avoids exaggerations, providing a factual and compelling character to the applicant's profile.
  • Furthermore, the summary conveys a sense of enthusiasm which suggests a motivated and proactive work attitude.

Example 3: Demonstrate cold calling in the achievements section

  • This section clearly shows the applicant's impact on their previous positions with concise titles and informative descriptions.
  • Each description provides specific numbers and outcomes for the reader to easily understand the candidate's achievements.
  • Real work situations are described, establishing the applicant's practical experience and effectiveness in their role.
  • The achievements avoid vague terms and instead use clear language that showcases the applicant's skills and contributions.
  • Achievements are presented in a relatable way, making it easy for prospective employers to envision the candidate's potential contributions.
  • The entries are free of excessive jargon and fluff, keeping the focus on the applicant's proven track record.

Here are certifications that can enhance your cold calling capabilities:

The top 5 certifications for gaining cold calling skills expertise:

  • Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP) - American Association of Inside Sales Professionals (AA-ISP) This certification focuses on developing core sales skills, including cold calling, and is useful for professionals looking to improve their phone sales techniques.
  • Certified Sales Development Representative (CSDR) - The Sales Management Association The CSDR certification provides training on lead generation and cold calling strategies, helping sales reps increase their effectiveness in initiating customer contact.
  • Professional Sales Certificate (PSC) - National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP) The PSC program helps salespeople refine their communication skills and cold calling tactics, aiming to bolster their confidence and success rates.
  • Certified Tele-Sales Executive (CTSE) - Global Tele-Sales Certification Institute This certificate equips sales professionals with the skills needed for telesales, including cold calling, enabling them to excel in virtual sales environments.
  • Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant (SCC) - Salesforce While not exclusively about cold calling, the SCC certification ensures sales professionals are proficient with the Salesforce platform, which can enhance lead management and outreach effectiveness.

Top skills people add together with cold calling skill on resume:

Lead Generation

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Sales Prospecting

Telemarketing

Product Knowledge

Sales Presentations

Market Research

Negotiation

Communication

Active Listening

Time Management

Adaptability

Self-Motivation

Persistence

Problem Solving

Cold calling is an essential skill in many roles that involve direct sales or relationship building. Professionals in these positions often reach out to potential clients or customers who have had no prior contact or relationship with the company. These conversations require a combination of persuasive communication, resilience to rejection, and the ability to quickly engage interest. The jobs listed below are some of the most popular roles where cold calling is a key component of the job duties.

  • Telemarketer
  • Sales representative
  • Business development manager
  • Insurance agent
  • Real estate agent
  • Stockbroker
  • Debt collection agent
  • Market research interviewer
  • Cold calling is a valuable skill that can make your resume stand out to potential employers as it shows you have the confidence and ability to initiate contact with prospects.
  • Common misuses of cold calling include not respecting customer boundaries and being overly aggressive; avoid these by understanding customer cues and promoting a respectful conversation.
  • To effectively display cold calling abilities on your resume, highlight specific successes you've achieved through cold calling, such as high conversion rates or substantial sales growth.

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How to Say “Cold Call” on Your Resume: Guide, Tips, and Examples

When creating your resume, it’s essential to accurately describe your skills and experiences. Sometimes, you may want to highlight your ability to cold call, which is a valuable skill in many industries. In this guide, we’ll explore various ways to express “cold call” on your resume, both formally and informally. We’ll also provide you with tips and examples to help you craft a compelling resume that showcases your expertise in this area.

Formal Ways to Describe Cold Calling on a Resume

Using formal language on your resume can help convey professionalism and ensure clarity in your job application. Here are some effective ways to describe your cold calling abilities:

  • Cold Outreach: Demonstrated strong cold outreach skills, effectively identifying and engaging with potential clients through direct calls.
  • New Business Development: Successfully engaged with prospects through proactive outreach, driving new business development opportunities.
  • Client Prospecting: Executed strategic client prospecting techniques, initiating conversations with potential clients and nurturing relationships.
  • Lead Generation: Generated leads by initiating targeted outbound calls, establishing qualified prospects and uncovering new business opportunities.
  • Telephone Sales: Utilized persuasive communication skills to engage potential clients over the phone, resulting in successful sales conversions.

Informal Ways to Describe Cold Calling on a Resume

If you’re looking to present your skills in a more approachable and informal manner, you can use the following alternative phrases:

  • Cold Calling Expertise: Developed a strong knack for cold calling, effectively initiating conversations and building rapport with potential clients.
  • Prospecting Ninja: Mastered the art of prospecting, consistently exploring new business opportunities through direct calls.
  • Fearless Phone Prospector: Fearlessly contacted prospective clients via phone, consistently achieving high conversion rates and exceeding sales targets.
  • Phone Wizard: Demonstrated exceptional phone skills, confidently engaging potential customers to generate leads and drive sales.
  • Persistent Connector: Showed persistence in connecting and nurturing relationships with potential clients via cold calling, resulting in a steady stream of new business opportunities.
“Cold calling requires a combination of confidence, communication skills, and grit. By effectively describing your ability to cold call on your resume, you can demonstrate your sales or business development potential to potential employers.” – Resume Expert

Tips for Describing Cold Calling on Your Resume

When highlighting your cold calling skills on your resume, keep these tips in mind:

  • Quantify your achievements: Where possible, include concrete numbers or percentages to showcase your success in cold calling. For example, “Achieved a 30% conversion rate through strategic cold calling techniques.”
  • Use action verbs: Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb to convey your proactive approach. Examples include “initiated,” “engaged,” “developed,” “executed,” and “generated.”
  • Showcase results: Highlight any specific outcomes or achievements resulting from your cold calling efforts. This might include metrics such as increased sales, new client acquisitions, or successful lead generation.
  • Demonstrate communication skills: Emphasize your ability to effectively communicate, build relationships, and persuade potential clients through cold calls. Mention any training or techniques you’ve utilized to improve your communication skills.

Examples of Cold Calling Statements on a Resume

To provide further clarity, here are a few examples of how you can incorporate cold calling descriptions into your resume:

Generated qualified leads through targeted cold calling efforts, resulting in a 25% increase in new client acquisitions. Utilized persuasive communication skills to engage with prospects and drive successful sales conversions.
Successfully initiated conversations with potential clients through proactive outreach, nurturing relationships to secure new business opportunities. Demonstrated strong cold calling expertise, exceeding monthly sales targets by 40%.
Developed and executed a comprehensive cold calling strategy, resulting in a pipeline of qualified leads and a 30% increase in revenue. Employed effective communication techniques to build rapport with prospects and convert sales opportunities.

Remember, your resume is a sales document that markets your skills and experiences. Tailor your descriptions to highlight your strengths and showcase the value you can bring as a cold call expert. By effectively articulating your abilities, you can make a strong impression on potential employers and increase your chances of landing a job interview.

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How to List Phone Skills on a Resume: Best Skills and Examples

Phone Skills | Best Skills & Examples

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Why do employers want to see phone skills on your resume?

What to include in a phone skills resume, how to demonstrate phone skills on your resume, examples of phone skills to include on your resume, how to improve your phone skills, phone skills resume example.

Many jobs today require excellent phone skills, from sales roles to receptionists. The key to showing employers that you are the best candidate for the job may be to highlight your phone skills in your resume. Learn about what skills to include and how to include them with examples to guide you.

Employers want to see phone skills on a resume because they want to make sure you can communicate effectively over the phone and use complicated operating systems skillfully. Most jobs require some phone usage, whether answering calls in the front office, making cold calls for sales or simply joining in on company meetings.

When creating your phone skills resume, you should include the following details:

  • Specific technical skills related to using the phone and phone systems
  • Soft skills you use to communicate with customers and callers
  • Any phone or call center software you have experience using
  • Your job responsibilities associated with phone usage
  • Quantifiable details regarding your phone skills

You can incorporate these types of phone skills in the experience listed on your resume. To be considered for a specific role, you should also read through the job posting and then include those relevant skills if you have them.

Use these steps to properly include phone skills on your resume:

1. Firstly, mention the most notable phone skills in your resume introduction

Your introduction is the first paragraph a hiring manager will likely read when reviewing your resume. Whether you choose to use a summary, objective statement, professional profile, or qualifications summary, you should mention at least one noteworthy phone skill so the reader can understand your expertise.

2. Secondly, include detailed examples of your phone expertise in your work experience

Your work experience section allows you to elaborate more on your phone experience. Under each past job, describe responsibilities you held related to using the phone and communicating with callers. This is also the space to include quantifiable data about your phone skills, such as customer satisfaction ratings as a customer representative, impressive sales closing numbers, or the number of handled and resolved customer complaints. Information presented in numbers communicates success to hiring managers.

3. Thirdly, note your technical and soft phone-related talents in your skills section

Phone skills include technical capabilities to use complex software and multi-line phones and soft communication and interpersonal skills, such as active listening and compassion. List these in the skills section of your resume to emphasize them to the hiring manager.

Common phone-related skills to list in your resume include:

Communication skills

The ability to communicate clearly is one of the most important and required skills for a role that uses the phone often. For customer support and sales jobs, where primary communication is done over the phone, successful communication is needed to yield beneficial results for the business. Other jobs may require employees to field emergency calls, manage customer conflicts or take hundreds of phone calls a day, making exceptional communication necessary. Communication skills include active listening, asking questions for clarification and interpersonal skills like empathy and patience.

Technical skills

Knowing how to properly use phone equipment is another commonly-required skill. Some jobs may require employees to operate complex phone systems like PABX systems and operator boards. Other roles may entail advanced knowledge of specialty call center software.

Customer service skills

Many jobs that require heavy phone usage are customer-service related. Customer service skills include maintaining a friendly and helpful demeanor, dictating clearly, answering calls promptly, and resolving conflicts. For individuals who do most of their work over the phone, they need to be skilled at making outbound telemarketing calls, getting high customer service ratings, and closing sales.

Foreign languages

Many employers want to hire bilingual individuals because of the increasing population of non-English speakers. If you fluently speak another language, make sure to add this to your resume under skills or education.

Here are a few ways you can improve your current phone skills:

1. Firstly, build up your active listening abilities

The first step toward improving your phone skills is to be a better active listener.

Examples of active listening abilities:

  • Staying as focused as possible. Try to remain undistracted from your surrounding environment and concentrate on the call.
  • Wait for a significant pause before responding.  You will listen more effectively when you allow the caller to finish their sentence before taking your turn.
  • Ask questions to gain clarity. If you are unsure of a caller’s needs, ask questions to make sure you find the best solution for them.
  • Recap key points to ensure you understood them correctly. Summarizing the most essential details also   shows the caller you are listening to them.

2. Then, enhance your responding skills

You can also improve how you respond to callers.

Examples of being responsive:

  • Project a positive and natural-sounding tone.  This helps a caller feel comfortable and respected. Try smiling to help you maintain a happier, attentive tone.
  • Pay attention to your rate of speech.  Make sure to speak at a moderate pace so the caller can clearly understand you.
  • Enunciate clearly. Use simple words and phrases when possible, and keep your tone professional. Practice speaking using a pause instead of filler words such as ‘um’ or ‘like.’

3. Finally, learn the technology

Know how to properly operate the phone equipment and software you will use. Spend downtime practicing common functions and familiarizing yourself with the basics. Spending more time learning the technology will reduce missed calls, wrong transfers, and other avoidable technical issues.

Use this resume example to better understand how you can emphasize phone skills on your own resume.

Brett Mitchell 602 Wirth Blvd. Albuquerque, NM 12345 555-555-5555 [email protected]

Self-motivated and service-oriented call center representative with substantial experience in over-the-phone troubleshooting and customer conflict resolution. Attentive to details in all professional matters and highly skilled in telemarketing. Advanced in call center software and complex PABX systems.

  • Typing 70 WPM
  • Microsoft Office
  • Multiline phone operation
  • Zendesk software
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Professional dictation and demeanor
  • Conflict resolution
  • Organization
  • Active listening
  • Critical thinking
  • Multitasking

Work Experience

Customer Service Phone Representative Energize Nutrition, Inc. Albuquerque, NM 2015 – 2017

  • Assess customer needs quickly and provide solutions proactively
  • Accurately and thoroughly document customer interaction details into the system during calls
  • Manage inbound calls for order placement and product inquiry with exceptional customer service

Phone Representative Advantage Marketing Agency Austin, TX 2013 – 2015

  • Maintained a high-volume workload with short deadlines
  • Assisted an average of 150 clients each week, consistently meeting performance goals
  • Analyzed reports to discover weaknesses and implement department improvements
  • Directed customers by telephone and email to correct departments
  • Maintained a professional and polite telephone manner
  • Continuously achieved high ratings on my team for low call time and customer satisfaction

Front Desk Representative Lakeland Hospital Austin, TX 2012 – 2013

  • Directed calls to the most appropriate department based on the caller’s needs
  • Booked appointments for patients and called for confirmations
  • Created order forms for the lab
  • Routed nurses’ and doctors’ messages for patients
  • Translated Spanish for patients, nurses, and other medical staff
  • Handled and translated Spanish phone calls

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration Minor in Spanish The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

If you need help writing a resume, use our data-backed resume builder .

StandOut CV

Cold Calling CV example

Andrew Fennell photo

Expert in initiating contact and warming up prospects, your cold calling abilities could be the driving force behind a company’s sales pipeline.

Your CV should buzz with your persuasive communication skills and tenacious attitude.

Our guide, with a Cold Calling CV example, will help you dial in on your strengths to make sure your application gets a warm reception.

CV templates 

Cold Calling CV example

Cold Calling CV 1

This is a good example of a Cold Calling CV which contains all of the information that a hiring manager will need to be impressed, and presents it in a well- structured, easy-to-read format.

Take some time to study and understand this CV, and refer to it throughout the writing of your own CV for best results.

CV builder

Cold Calling CV format and structure

Think your CV is just about the content within it? Think again.

Your CV needs to look professional and be easy for recruiters to read, meaning the structure and format of your CV are just as important as the written content within it.

Facilitate ease of reading by using a simple structure which allows anybody to easily navigate your experience.

How to write a CV

Tips for formatting your Cold Calling CV

  • Length: If you want to hold the reader’s attention and ensure your CV isn’t yawn-worthy, it’s best to stick to two sides of A4 or less. This is more than enough room to highlight why you’re a good match for the role – anything more can quickly become tedious!
  • Readability : Columns, lists, bullet points, bold text and subtle colour can all help to aid the readability of your CV. Your overarching goal should be to make the content as easy to read and navigate as possible, whilst also aiming to make your key skills and achievements stand out.
  • Design & format: While it’s important that your CV design looks good, it also needs to be functional (which means easy for recruiters to read) Keep the design simple to achieve a good balance between looking good and reading well.
  • Photos: Headshot photos aren’t required in a CV by most employers, but some creative and artistic industries like to see them. If you decide to include one, make sure you look smart and professional in the picture.

Quick tip: Creating a professional CV style can be difficult and time-consuming when using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. To create a winning CV quickly, try our quick-and-easy CV Builder and use one of their eye-catching professional CV templates.

CV formatting tips

CV structure

When writing your own CV , break up your CV content into the following key sections:

  • Name and contact details – Place them at the top of your CV, so that employers can easily get in touch.
  • CV profile – A punchy sales pitch of your key experience, skills and achievements to reel readers in.
  • Core skills section – A bullet-pointed snapshot of your abilities.
  • Work experience – A well-structured list of your relevant work experience.
  • Education – An overview of any relevant qualifications or professional training you have.
  • Hobbies and interests – A short description of any relevant hobbies or interests (optional).

Now you understand the basic layout of a CV, here’s what you should include in each section of yours.

Contact Details

Contact details

Start off your CV with a basic list of your contact details. Here’s what you should include:

  • Mobile number
  • Email address – It’s often helpful to make a new email address, specifically for your job applications.
  • Location – Share your town or city; there’s no need for a full address.
  • LinkedIn profile or portfolio URL – Make sure the information on them is coherent with your CV, and that they’re up-to-date

Quick tip: Delete excessive details, such as your date of birth or marital status. Recruiters don’t need to know this much about you, so it’s best to save the space for your other CV sections.

Cold Calling CV Profile

Your CV profile (or personal statement , if you’re an entry-level applicant) provides a brief overview of your skills, abilities and suitability for a position.

It’s ideal for busy recruiters and hiring managers, who don’t want to waste time reading unsuitable applications.

Think of it as your personal sales pitch. You’ve got just a few lines to sell yourself and prove you’re a great match for the job – make it count!

CV profile

How to write a good CV profile:

  • Make it short and sharp: It might be tempting to submit a page-long CV profile, but recruiters won’t have the time to read it. To ensure every word gets read, it’s best to include high-level information only; sticking to a length of 3-5 lines.
  • Tailor it: No matter how much time you put into your CV profile, it won’t impress if it’s irrelevant to the role you’re applying for. Before you start writing, make a list of the skills, knowledge and experience your target employer is looking for. Then, make sure to mention them in your CV profile and throughout the rest of your application.
  • Don’t add an objective: Avoid discussing your career goals in your CV profile – if you think they’re necessary, briefly mention them in your cover letter instead.
  • Avoid generic phrases: Cheesy clichès and generic phrases won’t impress recruiters, who read the same statements several times per day. Impress them with your skill-set, experience and accomplishments instead!

Example CV profile for Cold Calling

Results-oriented Telemarketer with 5+ years of experience in initiating unsolicited calls to prospects without any prior relationship to promote and close deals for auto insurance. Ability to apply basic analytical skills to assess customer needs, recognise patterns, and make data driven decisions. Demonstrated awareness of market dynamics in the automobile underwriting insurance sector.

What to include in your Cold Calling CV profile?

  • Experience overview: Start with a brief summary of your relevant experience so far. How many years experience do you have? What type of companies have you worked for? What industries/sectors have you worked in? What are your specialisms?
  • Targeted skills: Highlight your skills which are most relevant to Cold Calling jobs, to ensure that recruiters see your most in-demand skills as soon as they open your CV.
  • Important qualifications: Be sure to outline your relevant Cold Calling qualifications, so that anyone reading the CV can instantly see you are qualified for the jobs you are applying to.

Quick tip: If you are finding it difficult to write an attention-grabbing CV profile, choose from hundreds of pre-written profiles across all industries, and add one to your CV with one click in our quick-and-easy CV Builder . All profiles are written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset.

Core skills section

Underneath your profile, write a core skills section to make your most relevant skills jump off the page at readers.

It should be made up of 2-3 columns of bullet points of your relevant skills.

Before you do this, look over the job description and make a list of any specific skills, specialisms or knowledge required.

Then, make sure to use your findings in your list. This will paint you as the perfect match for the role.

Core skills section CV

Important skills for your Cold Calling CV

Pitch Development – Expertise in crafting compelling and effective sales pitches tailored to the specific products or services being offered.

Objection Handling – Adept at identifying and addressing potential objections raised by prospects to navigate towards successful sales outcomes.

Product Knowledge – In-depth understanding of the products or services being promoted, enabling accurate and persuasive communication with potential clients.

Closing Techniques – Mastery of various closing techniques to secure commitment and finalise deals during cold calling interactions.

Time Management – Efficient organisation and prioritisation of calls, ensuring maximum outreach and productivity during work hours.

Resilience – Demonstrated ability to handle rejection and persist with a positive attitude to achieve sales targets.

Customer Relationship Management – Proficient in building and maintaining relationships with potential clients, fostering trust and rapport over the phone.

Adaptability – Quick adaptation to different scripts, client profiles, and industry nuances to enhance the effectiveness of cold calling efforts.

Data Entry – Accurate and timely input of relevant information and feedback into CRM systems or databases for comprehensive record-keeping and future reference.

Quick tip: Our quick-and-easy CV Builder has thousands of in-demand skills for all industries and professions, that can be added to your CV in seconds – This will save you time and ensure you get noticed by recruiters.

Work experience

Recruiters will be itching to know more about your relevant experience by now.

Kick-start this section with your most recent (or current) position, and work your way backwards through your history.

You can include voluntary and freelance work, too – as long as you’re honest about the nature of the work.

Work experience

Structuring each job

Whilst writing your CV, it’s essential to look at it from the eyes of a recruiter.

If they’re met with giant blocks of text which are impossible to navigate, they might get frustrated and skip onto the next CV.

Instead, make use of the 3-step structure shown below, to give them a pleasant reading experience.

Role descriptions

Start with a solid introduction to your role as a whole, in order to build some context.

Explain the nature of the organisation you worked for, the size of the team you were part of, who you reported to and what the overarching purpose of your job was.

Key responsibilities

Use bullet points to detail the key responsibilities of your role, highlighting hard skills, software and knowledge wherever you can.

Keep them short and sharp to make them easily digestible by readers.

Key achievements

Round up each role by listing 1-3 key achievements , accomplishments or results.

Wherever possible, quantify them using hard facts and figures, as this really helps to prove your value.

Sample job description for Cold Calling CV

Reach out to potential customers via telephone to introduce and sell automotive coverage, for a company that offers car, pet, home, health, and life insurance to citizens living in the UK.

Key Responsibilities

  • Identify and qualify leads through effective inquiries and information gathering.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all interactions in the CRM system.
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of offerings through in-house training programmes.
  • Read scripts and ensure consistent messaging when communicating policy features and benefits clearly and persuasively.

Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our quick-and-easy CV Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.

Education section

After your work experience, your education section should provide a detailed view of your academic background.

Begin with those most relevant to Cold Calling jobs, such as vocational training or degrees. If you have space, you can also mention your academic qualifications, such as A-Levels and GCSEs.

Focus on the qualifications that are most relevant to the jobs you are applying for.

Hobbies and interests

The hobbies and interests CV section isn’t mandatory, so don’t worry if you’re out of room by this point.

However, if you have an interesting hobby , or an interest that could make you seem more suitable for the role, then certainly think about adding.

Be careful what you include though… Only consider hobbies that exhibit skills that are required for Cold Calling roles, or transferable workplace skills.

There is never any need to tell employers that you like to watch TV and eat out.

An interview-winning CV for a Cold Calling role, needs to be both visually pleasing and packed with targeted content.

Whilst it needs to detail your experience, accomplishments and relevant skills, it also needs to be as clear and easy to read as possible.

Remember to research the role and review the job ad before applying, so you’re able to match yourself up to the requirements.

If you follow these guidelines and keep motivated in your job search, you should land an interview in no time.

Best of luck with your next application!

Cold Calling Resume Skills

cold calling resume skills example

Top 20 Cold Calling Skills for Your Resume

  • Lead Generation
  • Account Management
  • Business Development
  • Customer Service
  • New Business Development
  • Email Marketing
  • Market Research
  • Microsoft Office
  • Sales Management
  • Direct Sales
  • Negotiation
  • Sales Process
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Sales Operations

Create a resume

How to List Cold Calling Skills on Resume

  • Independent performer with self-generated network and conversions from cold calling.
  • Experience in Cold Calling, Business Development, and Lead Generation via Phone, Email, and Web.
  • Generate new leads and set appointments for the Sales Managers, within defined territory, for specific lines of business, through cold calling campaigns.
  • Reaching out to 1000 new customers each month via cold calling.
  • Cold Calling - Inbound and Outbound.
  • Cold Calling & analyzing the Recent ACME reports and newsletter releases
  • Hands on experience building prospect databases to target Email Campaign, Cold Calling, Lead Generation.
  • Identified more than 258 new prospects through cold calling

Jobs That Demand Cold Calling Skills

  • Business Development Executive
  • Sr. Business Development Associate
  • Sr. Business Development Executive
  • Sales Manager
  • Account Manager
  • Business Development Associate
  • Chief Employment Officer
  • Sr Business Development Executive
  • Sr. Associate - Business Development
  • SR. INSIDE SALES ASSOCIATE
  • Business Development Manager
  • ICT Sales Representative
  • Virtual Assistant

Other Skills That Are Related to Cold Calling Skills

  • Social Media
  • Team Building
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Time Management
  • Team Leadership
  • Solution Selling
  • Project Management
  • Email Campaigning
  • Cold Calling
  • Social Networking
  • Sales Presentations
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Digital Marketing
  • Advertising
  • Strategic Partnerships

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Cold Calling Skills

Cold calling skills refer to the abilities and techniques used by sales professionals to initiate phone calls to prospective customers who have no prior relationship or knowledge of the salesperson or the product or service being offered. These skills are crucial for engaging potential customers, building rapport, and ultimately closing sales. Here are some key cold-calling skills:

  • Effective communication: Cold callers should have excellent verbal communication skills to clearly convey their message, speak confidently, and articulate their value proposition.
  • Active listening: It's important to listen attentively to prospects, understand their needs, and respond accordingly. Active listening helps build rapport and allows salespeople to tailor their pitch to the prospect's specific requirements.
  • Product knowledge: A thorough understanding of the product or service being sold is essential. Cold callers should be able to answer questions, address concerns, and highlight unique selling points effectively.
  • Resilience and perseverance: Cold calling can be challenging, as it often involves facing rejection. Salespeople need to develop resilience, maintain a positive attitude, and persistently follow up with potential leads.
  • Research and preparation: Before making a cold call, it's important to research the company and individual being contacted. This helps in personalizing the conversation, demonstrating knowledge, and establishing credibility.
  • Confidence and persuasion: Cold callers should exude confidence, project enthusiasm, and effectively persuade prospects of the value and benefits of the product or service. Building trust and credibility is crucial to gain the prospect's attention and interest.
  • Objection handling: Prospects may raise objections or concerns during a cold call. Salespeople should be prepared to address these objections calmly and provide suitable responses that alleviate any doubts or hesitations.
  • Time management: Efficiently managing time during cold calling is vital. This involves setting targets, organizing contact lists, and maximizing productivity by prioritizing high-potential leads.
  • Follow-up skills: Following up with potential leads is crucial for converting interest into sales. Cold callers should have effective follow-up strategies in place, such as sending personalized emails, scheduling further meetings, or providing additional information.
  • Continuous learning: Cold-calling skills can be honed through practice and ongoing learning. Sales professionals should continuously seek feedback, adapt their approaches based on experience, and stay updated on industry trends.

Types of cold calling skills to include on a resume

Image for part: Types of cold calling skills to include on a resume

Let's dive into each of these skills in detail;

  • B2B and B2C Sales: B2B (business-to-business) sales and B2C (business-to-consumer) sales are two different approaches to selling products or services. B2B sales involve selling to businesses or organizations, while B2C sales involve selling directly to individual consumers. The skills required for each can overlap but also have some differences. In both cases, effective communication, product knowledge, relationship building, and the ability to understand and meet customer needs are crucial.
  • Account Acquisition: Account acquisition refers to the process of acquiring new customers or accounts for a business. This skill involves identifying potential customers, reaching out to them through various channels (such as cold calling, email marketing, or networking), and successfully closing deals to bring them on board as new clients. It requires effective prospecting, lead generation, and persuasive selling techniques.
  • Account Retention: Account retention focuses on maintaining and strengthening relationships with existing customers to ensure their continued business and satisfaction. It involves providing excellent customer service, promptly addressing concerns, and anticipating and fulfilling customer needs. Account retention skills also include upselling and cross-selling to increase customer value and loyalty.
  • Lead Generation: Lead generation is the process of identifying and attracting potential customers or leads who have shown interest in a product or service. This skill involves using various marketing strategies such as content marketing, social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and advertising to generate leads. Effective lead-generation techniques help to fill the sales pipeline and create opportunities for the sales team to convert leads into customers.
  • Lead Qualification: Lead qualification is the process of evaluating and determining the quality and potential of a lead to become a paying customer. It involves gathering information about leads and assessing their needs, budget, timeline, and decision-making authority. By qualifying leads, sales professionals can prioritize their efforts and focus on leads that are most likely to convert into sales, optimizing their time and resources.
  • Lead Conversion: Lead conversion refers to the process of converting qualified leads into paying customers. This skill requires effective sales techniques, building relationships, addressing objections, and compellingly presenting the value proposition. It also involves effective negotiation and closing strategies to finalize the sale.
  • Customer Support: Customer support is the skill of providing assistance and resolving customer queries, issues, or concerns after a purchase. It involves active listening, empathy, and effective communication to understand and address customer needs. Customer support skills also include problem-solving, product knowledge, and the ability to handle difficult situations professionally and satisfactorily.
  • Client Relations: Client relations involve managing and nurturing relationships with clients to ensure their satisfaction, loyalty, and long-term business partnership. It requires effective communication, regular engagement, proactive support, and a deep understanding of the client's business goals and needs. Building trust and providing personalized solutions are key aspects of maintaining strong client relations.

Mastering these skills is essential for sales professionals as they navigate the complex landscape of acquiring and retaining customers, generating leads, and providing excellent customer support. By continuously improving these skills, salespeople can enhance their sales performance and contribute to the growth and success of their organization.

What jobs require cold-calling skills

Cold-calling skills are highly valuable in various job roles that involve sales, customer acquisition, and relationship management. Here are some jobs that commonly require cold-calling skills;

  • Sales Representative: Sales representatives are responsible for actively prospecting and generating leads through cold calling. They make outbound calls to potential customers, introduce products or services, and aim to convert leads into sales.
  • Business Development Executive: Business development executives focus on expanding the customer base and establishing new business relationships. Cold calling plays a significant role in their job as they reach out to potential clients, identify opportunities, and initiate conversations to explore business partnerships.
  • Telemarketer: Telemarketers engage in cold calling to promote products or services directly to consumers or businesses. They follow scripts, make persuasive sales pitches, handle objections, and aim to generate sales or appointments.
  • Account Manager: Account managers are responsible for managing and nurturing existing client relationships. Cold calling skills come into play when they reach out to clients for upselling, cross-selling, and renewing contracts, as well as addressing any concerns or requests.
  • Recruitment Consultant: Recruitment consultants often engage in cold calling to connect with potential candidates for job opportunities. They identify suitable candidates, present job opportunities, and conduct initial screenings over the phone.
  • Financial Advisor: Financial advisors may engage in cold calling to identify potential clients who may benefit from financial planning or investment services. They initiate contact, build relationships, and offer their expertise to help clients achieve their financial goals.
  • Real Estate Agent: Cold calling is commonly used by real estate agents to find potential buyers or sellers. They reach out to prospects, provide property information, arrange viewings, and negotiate deals.
  • Fundraiser: Fundraisers, particularly in the nonprofit sector, often rely on cold calling to solicit donations or sponsorships. They reach out to potential donors, explain the organization's mission, and seek financial support.
  • Insurance Agent: Insurance agents often engage in cold calling to identify potential clients who may be interested in purchasing insurance policies. They introduce the available coverage options, address concerns, and close sales.
  • Customer Service Representative: While not primarily focused on cold calling, customer service representatives may engage in outbound calling to follow up with customers, resolve issues, or conduct customer satisfaction surveys.

These are just a few examples, but cold-calling skills can be beneficial in any role that involves sales, customer acquisition, or relationship management. Adaptability and a willingness to engage with prospects or clients over the phone are essential in such positions.

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  • How to Send a Cold Email That...

How to Send a Cold Email That Gets You a Job

5 min read · Updated on April 05, 2022

Lisa Tynan

Done well and consistently, cold emailing for a job can open the door to your next great position.

For many of us, emailing someone we don't know to ask for help with our job search can generate some anxiety — but there are worthwhile benefits if you risk it.

Cold emailing for a job shows that you're willing to take the initiative and extra effort required to reach your next career goal, which will impress many of the people you reach. This in turn can generate long-lasting connections, new career opportunities , informational interviews, additional clients, funding for your business , and much more.

Here are the general steps to successfully cold email for a job — and for your career as a whole.

Following these steps will increase your chances of standing out from others in a very crowded inbox.

Find the best person to contact

Your goal is to send your email directly to the person who makes the hiring decisions for the role you want, and good places to begin are LinkedIn, the company website, or even your alma mater's career office.

Use a specific keyword, such as a department name or job title, to search for people at your desired company. You might not always reach the decision-maker, but you may get someone in a similar role who will forward your email to the right person.

If you find names but not emails, you can either use this method to find emails or take your best guess. Many email naming conventions include:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

You may need to experiment until you get an email that doesn't bounce back.

Use a strong, relevant subject line

Make it short and creative, but practical enough to give the reader a strong reason to actually open and read your email. Once you know what the company wants and what you hope to gain from this email, build your subject line on those areas. 

For example: "Marketing Manager with Medical Expertise Ready to Build Your Team."

Other subject line examples include:

Mentioning a common connection: "Carol Baker recommended I contact you"

Complimenting the business: "I loved your LinkedIn article on marketing"

Asking a pertinent question: "Any advice for someone fascinated by the research results you're getting at Company X?"

Be concise and specific

You have only a few seconds to generate interest once your email is opened, which is similar to the 6 seconds (or less) resume test . State who you are, where you work, how you found their information, and why you'd be a great fit for their job. What makes you stand out so they'd want to hire you?

Provide enough details about your relevant skills and experience to pique their interest, but not so many that they quickly move on. This is a good place to put your elevator pitch in writing. If appropriate, you can also briefly mention a shared interest that connects you to the reader.

In the end, focus on what you can do for the company rather than what they can do for you.

Have a reasonable request

Asking for the job is a little too direct and will more than likely turn the reader off, effectively ending your opportunity to make a connection.

Instead, suggest a phone call or virtual coffee date in order to learn more about the company, explore the reader's role in the organization, and get their advice on how to succeed in a specific career. You're more likely to get a response and an actual meeting, potentially leading to a job discussion.

Make connecting easy

Give the reader specific instructions on how to respond to you. If you've asked for a time to meet, include your available dates and times.

Follow up with reasonable expectations

Wait one to two weeks for a response before following up with another email. 

Don't demand a quick reply, but rather acknowledge that they must be busy and ask if they've seen your email or need any additional information. Experts suggest replying to your original email so both messages are in the same thread.

Sample of how to write a cold email for a job

Here is a good example to help you get started on writing a cold email .

Dear/Hello/Greetings [First Name or Mr./Ms. Last Name],

My name is [your name], and I am interested in finding out more about the [position/role] listed on [company website/job board/LinkedIn]. Your assistant provided me with this email so I could get in touch with you [or state the specific way you located the person's name and email].

I noticed that your company won [award name] for four consecutive years, and I also saw you mentioned in an article regarding [subject]. I would enjoy meeting with you because of our shared interest in [career area, business strategy, etc.]. 

I'd love to schedule a time to discuss my suitability for the [position/role] within the next couple of weeks. I will follow up with you next week if I haven't received a reply from you before then.

[Your Name]

You can add a paragraph that includes your elevator speech, related skills/experience, or anything that would catch the reader's attention, or you can modify the second paragraph with that information. Remember there is no “one size fits all” template.

Once you know how to write and send a cold email for a job, commit to sending as many as necessary until they open the door to your future success.

Before you send that email, make sure your resume is ready. Our free resume review can point you in the right direction.

Recommended Reading:

How to Write the Perfect Subject Line When Emailing Your Resume

4 Smart Tactics for Sending Emails to Recruiters

Best Practices for Professional Email Etiquette in Every Situation

Related Articles:

8 Tips to Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market

There's Nothing Wrong With Having a Gap Between Jobs

7 Signs Your Resume is Making You Look Old

See how your resume stacks up.

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  • Cover Letters

Learn How to Write Cold Contact Cover Letters

Find out What to Include and See Examples

how to write cold calling on resume

Cold Contact Cover Letter Example

Sending an email cold contact letter.

  • What to Include in the Letter
  • Before You Send a Cold Contact Letter

More Cold Contact Letter Examples

What is a cold contact cover letter, and how can it help your job search? A cold contact cover letter is a document sent with your resume to companies that have not advertised job openings .  

Sending a cold contact cover letter provides you with an opportunity to be considered by the company for employment. Because writing this type of letter takes time, it's a good idea to only send cold contact cover letters to companies that you are very interested in working for.

The following is an example of a cold contact cover letter sent to an employer that hasn't advertised job openings. Download the cold contact cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Cold Contact Cover Letter Example (Text Version)

Susan Sharpe 123 Main Street New York, NY 11111 555-555-5555 susan.sharpe@email.com

August 17, 2020

Mr. David Paulin Greenwood Elementary Principal 1390 Broadway New York, NY 11111

Dear Mr. Paulin,

Independent schools such as Greenwood Elementary require a hardworking, organized administrative staff to ensure that the school runs successfully and efficiently. My administrative experience and organizational skills would help contribute to the long history of success at Greenwood School.

I have extensive administrative experience in an academic setting. For the past two years I have worked at the Early Childhood Center at XYZ College, where I alternated between running activities for the children and answering phones, scheduling parent-teacher meetings, and performing other organizational tasks.

I also served as an intern for the principal of 123 Elementary School, undertaking a variety of office assignments while also observing firsthand the day-to-day duties of an academic administrator.

I have attached my resume, and would love to speak with you regarding how I could make a significant contribution to Greenwood School's daily operations. I will call you within the next week to discuss arranging an interview. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Susan Sharpe (signature hard copy letter)

Susan Sharpe

When you are sending your cover letter via email, include your name and the job title in the subject line of your message:

Subject: Inquiry From Susan Sharpe

List your contact information in your signature, rather than in the body of the letter:

Susan Sharpe 123 Main Street XYZ Town, NY 11111 Email: susan.sharp@mail.com Cell: 555-555-5555

What Information You Should Include in the Letter

As with an ordinary cover letter, your goal is to get the company's attention and show that you're a great candidate. Writing a cold contact cover letter is harder, however, since you cannot base your pitch off of the information provided in the job description.

In your letter, convey your interest in the organization, identify your most relevant skills and experience , and explain what you would offer the organization. Particularly since you're sending unsolicited correspondence, you should have a strong pitch or thesis statement for why you're worth considering.

For instance, you might say:

From the awards your company has received, it's clear that you make the very best of Widget X. However, the directions on how to assemble Widget X aren't as praised. That's where I can help: As an award-winning technical writer, I excel at explaining complex things in clear, simple language.

Here are the basic elements you'll want to include in your cold contact cover letter:

A Good Hook

Start with a strong subject line—this will help ensure that the recipient will open the email, despite not recognizing the sender. You can try aggressive subject lines like "Why you need a better event planner" or "Increase your sales 10%." Or, try more subtle approaches, such as "Quick request—marketing positions" or "Experienced marketer interested in company X."

If you know someone in common, include the person's name in the subject line.

As well, you'll want to have an attention-getting first sentence that conveys both what you want (a job; an informational interview) and what you can offer.

What You Would Offer

Be clear about why you'd be an asset. This is where research comes in: You want to connect the company's needs and goals with your skills and abilities. Show how you're well-suited to help the company achieve its mission, whether that's selling more widgets or making on-time deliveries.

If You're Connected, Mention It

If you have a connection that you can mention, make sure to include that information in the first few sentences of the letter. (Always check beforehand to make sure the c onnection is comfortable with you including their name and prepared to recommend you.)

Provide Evidence

It's great to say you have a proven track record launching PR campaigns; even better to send a link to an article or press release about the campaign's success. Include a link or attachments to your portfolio, writing clips, and any other relevant evidence of your work.

Include Next Steps

Conclude your email by offering next steps, such as a potential time for a follow-up call or a request for an interview or conversation. While your goal may ultimately be a job interview, smaller requests, such as an informational interview , tour of the company, or request for information on the next job fair, may more readily be granted.

Before You Send a Cold Contact Cover Letter

Is it worth it to send cold contact letters? That's a tricky question to answer. As you can see, crafting a strong cold contact cover letter involves as much time—or even more—than a cover letter written in response to a posted job description. And even with a strong, targeted letter, there's no guarantee that the company will be receptive to your overture.

However, that doesn't mean that cold contact letters and emails never get results.

If you email persuasively and convey clearly why the company needs someone like you, it can be far more attention-getting than one of many emails in a pile of cover letters responding to a posted offer.

Much of the success of a cold cover letter depends on timing, your understanding of the company, and the quality of your letter. This technique is most likely to be successful when you're truly passionate about a company and believe you'd be an asset.

Before sending a cold contact cover letter, do your research. As well as knowing the company, you'll want to send your letter to the most appropriate person. Use LinkedIn to find out the names of managers or employees in the department where you'd like to work.

  • Inquiry Letters
  • Letters of Interest
  • Personal Value Proposition Letters

CareerOneStop. " Inquiry Letters ." Accessed Aug. 17, 2020.

Career Sidekick

Welcome to my LinkedIn cold messaging guide, based on my experience as a recruiter . I’ve received hundreds of cold messages from job seekers and I’ve tested a variety of outbound messages myself to see what works and what gets ignored. These are the best messages to send.

In this article, we’ll cover:

  • How to reach out to people on LinkedIn about jobs (including how to message a hiring manager)
  • How to start a conversation for networking, referrals or other purposes
  • LinkedIn message samples and templates
  • Mistakes to avoid

Let’s get started…

What Does “Cold Message” Mean?

A cold message is a message sent to someone who doesn’t know you and isn’t expecting to receive communication from you. This type of outreach can be sent through a variety of channels such as email, LinkedIn, Facebook and more. Because cold outreach involves contacting someone who has never spoken with you, it’s relatively difficult to get responses and requires a certain type of strategy to succeed.

The rest of this article will cover these strategies in depth. We’ll focus on LinkedIn, but these tactics and example outreach messages that you’re going to see can be applied to email and more, too.

How to Reach Out to Someone on LinkedIn About a Job: Tips to Follow

1. don’t apologize.

First, don’t be afraid or apologetic about this. LinkedIn is a professional network, and as long as your message is professional, you have every right to send it. So you never want to start your message with, “Sorry to bother you,” or, “I know you’re really busy, but…” Instead, start off confidently, skip the apology and get right into what you wanted to discuss with them. By being clear from the start, you’ll get the other person’s attention and interest faster. (And their respect).

2. Be clear about why you’re reaching out

Next, make sure your message is clear about what you want. Avoid jargon and wordy phrases and say what you really mean. The more clear and direct you are, the more responses you’ll get. For example, sometimes job seekers send me a cold message like, “Will you look at my LinkedIn profile and tell me what you think?” Or, people will ask, “Can we hop on a call for 15 minutes?” without being clear about what exactly the purpose would be.   That’s far too general. I wouldn’t know what to look for without investing a lot of time, so I usually don’t respond. Or, I receive a message saying, “Hi, how are you?”

example of bad linkedin cold message

If I don’t know the person sending this, I’m not going to reply if there’s no indication of what they want. I just receive too many direct messages of this type to reply and find out what they’re aiming for, and it often leads to a lengthy conversation without any clear purpose.  However, if someone were to ask a specific, clear question like, “Do you think my LinkedIn ‘About’ section would be better if I removed the first paragraph?” then I usually answer.

More examples of exact questions and messages you can send are coming up soon!

3. Ask for one thing

Also, make sure you’re asking for one single thing in your first cold message, not multiple things. If you ask for too many things or ask too many questions, it’s going to become too complicated and overwhelm the reader. You can always ask for more help after they respond to the first question. But the key to getting that first response when cold messaging is to keep it brief and simple to start. Make it easy for them, and you’ll hear back more often!

4. Make the message short and concise

The best cold messages on LinkedIn will be fewer than 100 words. 50-75 words is ideal. When somebody opens your outreach message, they’re much more likely to read it (and reply to it) if it looks manageable and easy to read at first glance. You want it to be inviting to read! For email, you can go  a bit longer, but I’d still stick to four to six very brief paragraphs with two or three sentences per paragraph.  Always remember to include good spacing. Try to send two or three small paragraphs instead of one large paragraph, for example. This is true for email, LinkedIn, and any other online platform.

5. Customize your message for each person

You should always add some customization to show the reader that you’re not just copying and pasting the same message to many people. You’ll see this in all of the cold messaging examples/templates coming up. They all feature customization and personalization, because it helps you get more responses.  If you only spend a few seconds pasting a generic message to somebody, they’re not going to take their time to reply in most cases.

6. Avoid attachments

One thing to avoid in your cold LinkedIn messages is attachments/files/links. If you want to get more responses, you’re better off keeping your first piece of outreach text-only. When you send a message on LinkedIn, the recipient will see the bottom of the message first when they open it up. You don’t want the first thing they see to be a big PDF or Word doc, or a huge paragraph with two or three links.  Imagine receiving that when you’ve never spoken to someone before. It’s too aggressive and will start the conversation off on the wrong foot. It’s likely they won’t reply at all if you do this.

Here’s an example: I’d likely reply to someone asking a specific question about their resume, like, “Where would you say that the typical hiring manager expects to see a Skills section on your resume? Should it be near the top? Or after work experience, near the bottom?”

Whereas I’m less likely to reply if someone just attaches their resume and asks me, “Can you take a look at my resume and tell me what to improve?”

7. Look for an existing connection before reaching out

Before sending any cold outreach, look for any existing connections that you may have. If you have mutual connections, you can ask for an introduction and boost your chances of successfully starting a conversation with this new person! You can use LinkedIn to see if you’re connected to some of the same people as the other person (this is known as mutual connections). Or if you’re not comfortable asking for an introduction, you can still reach out and say: “Hi Dan. I saw we both worked with James Anderson back at Verizon in 2018. How are you? I had a question about…” Simply mentioning a name or a company that you both worked at will often improve your odds of hearing back from them. You can also mention other common pieces in your background, such as attending the same university.

However, if you can’t find any connection at all, then you can use the message templates/samples that are coming up in this article and reach out completely cold. You can still succeed like that.

8. Give before you get

This next tip isn’t always possible… but if there’s some way to help the other person before asking for a favor, that’s a great way to get more responses. Here’s a real-life example that happened to me recently: Another business in the career advice space shared one of my posts on Facebook and tagged me. Then, the next week, they did it again! I had never spoken to them. A couple of days after this, they emailed me to ask about a potential partnership. While it wasn’t something I was open to doing in the end, I recognized their company name and carefully considered their email when it hit my inbox! Essentially, they “warmed up” our relationship before sending the direct outreach, so that I’d be familiar with them when I see their message.

This takes advantage of the law of reciprocity , too. The basic idea: When somebody helps you or does something nice for you, you’ll have a strong psychological urge to return the favor.

How to Ask Someone for a Job on LinkedIn: Cold Messaging Samples

We just looked at steps to follow for successful cold messaging above, so now let’s look at samples and messaging templates for various situations. The first scenario we will cover is how to ask someone for a job at their company when they’re not the hiring manager. (Often, employees can refer you to the hiring manager even if they’re not doing the hiring). Most people aren’t going to refer you to a hiring manager or recommend you for a position if they don’t know you at all, though. So you need to get to know them a bit first. Here’s how…

Messaging an employee to get referred for a job:

Hi Danny, I saw you joined Apple two years ago. How have you enjoyed the work environment in the engineering department since moving over? I’m beginning a job search myself, and Apple is one of the top companies on my list. But I always like to ask first-hand about the work environment at a company.

Then, if the person responds, you can thank them for the information they shared, exchange one or two more messages, and then ask a question like this:

By the way, do you know if the Senior Data Engineer position that’s posted on Indeed is within your group? Or do you know who typically does the hiring for that type of role? I was thinking of applying for the position but I didn’t want my application to get lost in the shuffle online.

After this, they may offer to introduce you or pass along your resume/CV. If not, you can send one final message…

Asking directly for the introduction:

Great. Would you be willing to float my resume over to them?  I’m very interested in learning more about the role.

Note: These are just samples and you should adjust the wording and formality for your industry and specific situation.

Another important note: Many companies offer employees a cash bonus for referring a new person who they hire. So while you shouldn’t immediately ask for a referral in your first message, it’s okay to do so after you’ve established some rapport. You might even be helping that person earn some money!

Here are some additional topics that you could ask about to start a conversation if you like this general type of approach:

  • How they feel about the direction and future of their company
  • If they feel the company has offered good learning and advancement opportunities since they joined
  • How it compares to their previous company
  • How they got the job in the first place

Messaging a hiring manager directly:

Next, if you believe someone is the hiring manager for a role, you can be a bit more direct in your approach. It’s still best to confirm that they’re responsible for the role by asking a question, though, rather than assuming. And it’s still best to send the first message without a resume attached unless you’re 100% sure that they’re expecting to receive resumes in their inbox for this position. (For example, if their email was listed on the actual job posting and the company said to send all applications to this email, then it’s different. But if you’re just emailing the hiring manager to start a cold conversation, then avoid attachments).

Here’s an example of how to approach someone who you believe is the hiring manager for a job:

Hi Amy, I came across your LinkedIn while researching job openings at <Company Name>. Does the Senior Staff Accountant position that’s posted on LinkedIn report to you? I’ve spent the past six years in public accounting and can offer you a mix of expertise in <Area 1>, <Area 2>, and <Area 3>. If you’re the person in charge of hiring for this role, I would love to share more with you and learn a bit more about what you’re looking for.

Note that Area 1, Area 2, and Area 3 in the template above should be items that are listed on the job description ideally, or that you feel are highly relevant to the specific role in question.

That’s what will make an employer most likely to want to interview you. Don’t just talk about what you think is important in your background; think about what they’ll find most important for their specific role.  When employers are talking to candidates, they’re thinking, “How will this person’s skills fit into my job?”

Messaging an industry expert to see how they got where they are:

You may also come across somebody who you would like to learn from, build a long-term relationship with, or ask to mentor you.  In this case, leading with a compliment and then following up with a specific question is a great approach. Here’s an example of how this would sound:

Hi Megan, I’m impressed by how quickly you advanced from Senior Staff Accountant to Director of Finance at Verizon over the past six years! Are there one or two things you did that you feel contributed most to this success? I’m hoping to follow this type of career path myself, so anything you can share would be a big help.

Here’s one more example of this same type of approach:

Hi Devon, I loved your article on LinkedIn last week about AI and which industries you expect to be impacted most. I just completed my degree in Computer Science and am considering following a career path similar to yours. Is focusing on AI and Machine Learning something you’d recommend for someone just beginning their career in technology this year?

Template for cold messaging a recruiter:

Here’s how to message a recruiter who you’ve never talked to before. With this approach, you’re showing that you’ve done your research and have specific reasons for messaging them, which will help catch their attention.

Hi John, I saw your profile while searching on LinkedIn for tech recruiters here in Austin. I’m thinking of testing the market as I wrap up my third full year here as a back-end developer at Adobe. My main skills are Java and Python development. Does that fit with the type of roles you recruit for? If you think it’d be a good fit to work together, I’d love to talk.

Additional reading: Should I use a recruiter in my job search?

Cold emailing to request an informational interview:

This was a topic that multiple people requested on LinkedIn when I mentioned I was writing this article. However, it’s not my greatest area of expertise. So for requesting an informational interview, I’m going to put three articles from other sites below that cover the topic in detail:

  • Email Informational Interview Requests (with Samples)
  • How to Ask For an Informational Interview
  • A Simple Email Template for Landing Informational Interviews

Since all of these articles suggest a longer first message, which does seem like a good approach here, I recommend emailing instead of cold messaging on LinkedIn for this. LinkedIn’s inbox and message system doesn’t lend itself well to long, detailed messages.

Don’t Begin With, “Can You Help Me Get a Job?”

Now, if you’ve read this far, you may be thinking, “Hold up, Biron… none of these sample cold messages actually ask for a job!” But that’s the point. You’re not going to get responses on LinkedIn if your first message to someone is such a big request. People don’t refer strangers for a job. How do they know if you’re a good worker? What if you go into the interviewer and are rude, unprepared, or incompetent? That’s going to reflect poorly on the person who referred you. So you need to start a conversation in your first message, and then focus on getting the job interview in a follow-up message soon after!

Can I Cold-Send My Resume on LinkedIn?

You should not cold-send your resume to somebody on LinkedIn until you’ve exchanged a few messages and gotten to know them. You’re going to get more replies if you wait until the second or third message to send your resume. It’s best to use your first message to confirm that the person is open to talking and in a position to help you. (For example, confirming a recruiter works in your industry, or confirming that someone is the hiring manager for a certain position).

The bottom line is: If someone isn’t expecting your resume, it’s not going to be well-received in a first cold message.

That’s why none of the cold outreach message samples above include any mention of a resume, CV, or other attachment. You should not be attaching anything in the first message to someone who doesn’t know you. No exceptions.

The same goes for email. If you’re going to reach out to someone about a job, and the other person isn’t expecting to hear from you or hasn’t openly asked for resumes to be sent to their email address, don’t attach a resume right away. Start a genuine conversation first!

How Do You Send Cold Messages on LinkedIn? InMail vs. Connection Requests

In terms of actually sending out your message, you’re going to have a few options. You can send someone an invitation to connect first, send a brief customized message with the connection, and then follow-up in their inbox after they’ve accepted your request.

how to ask someone for a job on linkedin - cold messaging samples

Or, you can send an InMail, which allows you to reach the inbox of people who aren’t your direct connections on LinkedIn.

Finally, some people have their email address available on their LinkedIn profile (usually after you’re connected to them). So email is another option for your cold outreach after you’ve found someone through LinkedIn.

Final Step: Test and Fine-Tune

The steps and samples above should provide a good starting point for reaching out to people about jobs, but it’s important to test a few different approaches and see what works best for you . The best approach for you will depend on your location, industry, and more. Also, since a lot of people are going to be reading this article, you don’t want to be sending out the same exact message as everyone else.

So use this article as a starting point, but always be thinking about what else you can test or how else you can fine-tune things for your industry and situation. And then track your results (I recommend doing this in an Excel spreadsheet). Track how many people you’re reaching out to and how many responses you’re getting for each strategy or type of message.

This information will help you optimize your outreach and get better results from your effort as time goes on.

If you read everything above, you know know how to cold message on LinkedIn (or anywhere else) to get more replies, more interviews, and more help in your job search.  Like anything else, practice makes perfect… so don’t worry if you find it challenging to write the first few pieces of outreach that you send. It’s okay to spend 30 minutes writing and editing before you send it! Take your time, think about each sentence you’re writing, and keep it brief and direct. If you do this, you’ll be on your way to writing great messages that grab attention and get replies.

Biron Clark

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

7 thoughts on “LinkedIn Cold Messages: How to Reach Out About a Job”

This is just awesome! I did exactly what you said and I got a reply in less than 24 hours and a interview next day. Thank you so much!

Biron, thanks for the great, helpful content, this particular article fits perfectly to my current situation!

I noticed you didn’t touch on what to put down as the subject, would you have any suggestions? In one particular case, I am cold messaging a 3rd connection who I’ve met briefly in the past, about a position the connection may or may not be the hiring manager.

Any tips would be much appreciated!!

Hi Biron! My name is Dina–I work for a Canadian not-for-profit that welcomes newcomers. My work has been most focused with newcomer youth trying to get a first job ever, or a first job in Canada. I really enjoyed you article and am wondering if you would consider granting me permission to adapt it for the clients I work with–I would, absolutely and of course, give you credit for inspiring the handout.

The reason for adapting is mainly that in the programs I facilitate or help to design curriculum for–clients don’t reach out immediately for work purpose, but they begin by “warming up” the network. Also, for the 2nd half of the article, I was thinking of reaching out to local recruiters and employers to ask them for samples of messages that they found effective.

Thanks for considering my request!! And thanks for the great article! -Dina

Is this for a physical, paper handout? With credit, that’s totally fine. Feel free to email me ( https://careersidekick.com/contact ) if I misunderstood.

So helpful, thanks!

Thank you for including these tips. Very helpful

Biron, This is golden! I am doing these things now, found some things I have been doing right and a few things….well, not so much. I appreciate this guidance. Keep up the good work!

Comments are closed.

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IMAGES

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    Host/Cashier, 2002 to 09/2002. Ryan's Steakhouse - City, STATE. Accepted payment from customers and made change as necessary.Assisted diners with seating as neededAssisted co-workers.Cleaned and maintained the beverage area, display cases, equipment, and order transaction areaCleaned bars, work areas, and tables.

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    When you are sending your cover letter via email, include your name and the job title in the subject line of your message: List your contact information in your signature, rather than in the body of the letter: Susan Sharpe 123 Main Street XYZ Town, NY 11111 Email: [email protected] Cell: 555-555-5555.

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    4. Make the message short and concise. The best cold messages on LinkedIn will be fewer than 100 words. 50-75 words is ideal. When somebody opens your outreach message, they're much more likely to read it (and reply to it) if it looks manageable and easy to read at first glance. You want it to be inviting to read!

  18. Cold Calling Specialist Resume Sample

    Mci - Cold Calling Specialist. Hubbard, IA 01/2016 - Current. Calling warm/cold leads leading to the establishment of appointments for sales presentations for home improvement services. Lead entire outbound sales team in arranging sales appointments in every month on the job, on average 10-15 appointments per week.

  19. How To Create Effective Cold Calling Scripts (With Examples)

    Follow these steps to learn how to create a cold-calling script: 1. Find an audience. Focusing on a certain audience when cold calling is beneficial, as this saves time and resources. Before creating a script, businesses identify an appropriate audience for their offering by defining a handful of verticals.

  20. How to Write a Cold Cover Letter (With Steps and Example)

    Related: How to Format a Cover Letter (With Tips and Examples) 4. Greet the reader and introduce yourself. Issue a polite greeting before you start composing your introduction paragraph. If possible, address the hiring manager by name, or you can use a general greeting such as 'Dear Hiring Manager'.

  21. How to Write a Cold Cover Letter (Template and Example Included)

    A strong cold cover letter should include the following: A subject line that grabs the reader's attention. An introduction stating who you are and why you're writing. Why you'd like to work for the company. Reasons why you believe you're the best fit. Your experience and accomplishments and how they relate to the role.

  22. Lead Generation Prospecting Cold Calling Resume Sample

    Specifically in online business. Lead Generation/Native Advertising Copywriter, 02/2015 - 03/2015. Diamond Consulting Group - City, STATE A one time campaign where Claude Diamond's voice was injected into persuasive copywriting. The last time I checked, Claude Diamond was $24,000,000 (Million) dollars strong.

  23. Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab

    The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out ...