Cold calling is the practice of making telephone calls to attract potential clients or candidates who are not expecting to hear from you.
A LinkedIn report reveals that 57% of respondents are making more phone calls, and 44% of them said customers’ sales cycle has increased. And recruiters are rising to meet the challenge of the remote world in a range of ways. Recruitment cold calling is one of the most conventional hiring methods, yet it is effective even today.
Effective cold calling helps you sell yourself as a recruiter or a position that you are trying to fill and attract more candidates. Cold calling in recruitment is an excellent opportunity for networking and engaging with clients and candidates, which builds a favorable brand image in the job market.
Few steps of creating an engaging Recruitment Cold Calling Script
Remember that cold calling can only bring favorable results if you have prepared adequately. Before you engage in any cold calling, creating a script is the best way to prepare. A cold calling script can guide you throughout the call and ensure a structured conversation to help you convey your message effectively.
The more recruitment cold calls you make, the less you’ll rely on a script. Here are a few tips on how to write a good well-crafted script
An independent study by Cognism found that the average success rate of cold calling is 4.8%.
1. Introduce yourself.
First, say your name and which company you work for. You need to sound confident and energetic. I can’t tell you how many cold calls I listen to that begin with, “This is Name from Company/ Place.”
The prospect goes, “What? Who??” Right from the start, the call is going poorly.
You don’t need to yell your greeting, but you do need to articulate the words.
After you say, “This is [name] from [company],” pause.
Check – Best Recruitment CRM Software
2. Establish rapport.
Now that the call deviates from the standard cold call ask them a question to establish rapport. Your goal is to get them talking and prove you’re familiar with them and their company. Here are some sample questions:
- So, [prospect name], I see you went to [university]. How did you like it?
- Wow, you’ve been at [company] for [X years]. How did you get started there?
A good question is topical and makes someone smile. If they seem receptive to chatting, ask them a follow-up question.
3. Use a positioning statement.
A positioning statement shows your prospect that you work with similar companies and understand their challenges. You’re not talking about yourself, which is what most cold callers do. Here’s a hypothetical positioning statement:
“I work with sales managers in hospitality with five to eight reps on their team. My customers are typically looking to increase rep productivity. Does that sound like you?”
Since you’ve pre-qualified them, they’ll always say “yes.”
Also Read – Detailed guide about Cold Calling Recruitment
Here are a few samples of good calling scripts
Sample Script – 1
Hi [prospect’s name], this is [your name] from [your company name].
I’ve been doing some research on [prospect’s company name], and I’d love to learn more about [challenge you’ve discovered in your research].
At [your company name] we work with people like you to help with [value proposition 1, value proposition 2, and value proposition 3.]
Is this something you think could help with [common challenges/pain points]?
Option 1: Yes, tell me more.
Great! [This is where you’re going to ask them to attend a demo or continue the conversation with an Account Executive or take whatever next steps are part of your sales process.]
Option 2: Objection
I understand. Is it ok if I send you a follow-up email to review at your convenience? Then I can follow up with you tomorrow.
If yes, send the email and set a reminder to follow up. If not, thank them for their time and ask if there’s another point of contact they can connect you with. Include resources that clearly explain what your company does and ask to continue the conversation.
You may have noticed you’re not cold calling anymore, as you’ve already winnowed down your list and done some homework all before picking up the phone. I promise you, my friend, this extra work will be worth it.
Sample Script – 2
Introduction A: Reference to a high-level position at the company
Hi [candidate name], this is [your name]. I’m recruiting for [company name], and our [state position, e.g., VP of Engineer] is impressed with your background. Do you have 5 minutes to talk about positions on our team?
Introduction B: Common connection
Hi [candidate name], this is [your name]. I’m recruiting for [company name]. Our mutual contact, [connection name] suggested I call you. Do you have 5 minutes?
If they agree to talk, make a clear introduction and state the purpose of your call. For example:
We are looking for a [job title] to [high level overview of job], and I think your background would fit perfectly. I’d love to tell you more about this opportunity.
If a potential candidate says, “I’m not interested,” respond with:
I can fully appreciate that. I can go ahead and share the JD via email so that you have it on hand or want to recommend a contact. It’s a challenging role that we think you would excel at and we would be happy to talk to you about it now or in the future.
If the person says no, thank them for their time and move on. If they say yes, thank them for their time and tell them you’ll follow up via email with the JD.
Also Read – How to improve employer branding
Sample Script – 3
Caller: “Good morning/afternoon/evening! This is Valerie from Explosive Entertainment.”
(pause)
Caller: “You’ve managed The Blue Beach Hotel for the last 10 years, Mr. Garcia. That’s amazing! In that time, have you enjoyed working in the Blue Beach area?”
(Pause, allowing for a response, and reply)
Caller: “That’s great! I just wanted to let you know that we have multiple acts that tour the area, providing world-class entertainment to local venues like yours. You see, I work closely with business owners in the local tourism industry who need alternative options for guests. My company has found that live entertainment is hard to come by in Blue Beach. Have you noticed a similar issue?”
(Pause and allow for a response)
Caller: “Really? Tell me more about your experience.”
(Prospect discusses particular pain points)
Caller: “So you’ve noticed a lack of live entertainment options, and the few you find tend to be far too expensive. We hear about this a lot in the area. Explosive Entertainment has a wide range of options, and I’m sure we can find something within your budget. Would you mind if I scheduled a follow-up call to discuss the details? When are you available?”
(Prospect offers their availability)
Caller: “Fantastic! Have a wonderful morning/afternoon/evening, Mr. Garcia. I look forward to hearing from you on Monday at 2:30 p.m.”
Check – Cloud Telephony Solutions for Recruiting.
Rounding Up
I hope these tips for writing an excellent cold calling script help you be a more effective cold caller. Just remember that it’s all about providing value. You’ll build rapport and win prospects by piquing their curiosity and solving their needs, even if the conversation began “cold.”
The work doesn’t stop here. You must tailor your script and template to fit your business, prospects, and personal style.
Once you do, you’ll see a much higher return for your efforts. Before you start your cold calling campaign, be sure you have the correct B2B lead-generating and sales prospecting tools to find email addresses, direct dial phone numbers, and even cell or mobile phone numbers for the Decision Makers you are targeting for your outreach.
Recommended Reads:
A guide to being an effective recruiter
6 Best Messaging Tools to Text Candidates – 2023
Phone script templates for rejecting candidates
Warm calling in recruitment
FAQs on Cold Calling Templates
Does cold calling in recruitment work?
Cold calling in recruitment is not effective anymore; those days are long gone. You might have heard this recently, but it couldn’t be farther from the truth. In most recruiting agency environments, cold calling is an untapped opportunity to get new leads and win recruiting projects.
How do you write a cold call script?
Your recruiting message should ultimately answer why your company is an excellent place for that candidate to work and reference how their interests align with your key value propositions. You can even reference how it felt when you were starting in your career or at your current company.
What is a good recruitment message?
I see you recently started a new position, so I know you may not be looking right now, but you may know someone interested in this great opportunity. I’d love to tell you about our opportunity and see if you know any quality candidates who may be interested.
How do I talk to a recruiter on the phone?
When answering the phone while you are job hunting, answer it professionally, speak slowly, and annunciate your answers – stay away from slurred speech, slang, and saying things like ‘hunh? ‘ When you need something repeated, a better way to reply is – ‘I am sorry, can you please repeat that.’
What are recruiter calls like?
While some recruiters may go by the book regarding phone screening, my calls are typically spontaneous and free-flowing. Once a candidate opens up and answers a question, I answer follow-up questions based on their answer. Doing so helps to get to know who the candidate is while keeping them on their toes.
