Don't try so hard. Enjoy unemployment and its' bounty freedom harvest. Drink more. Sleep more. Worry less.

Thanks everyone for all your advice!!

There was a great article in the last issue of Business 2.0 about cold callng. it gave some tips, which are all mostly covered here, but the great point that it made was that with the advent of networking, cold calling really took a back seat. But I gotta tell you--no offense to my friends, but my friends and friends of friends are not helping me. Sure, when I call, people will talk to me. And they'll chat me up for hours at a time. But I'm not getting sales. Two of the biggest sales and partnerships I've made this year have been through cold calling. IBM and Microsoft were started with cold calls. Netscape's partners met each other because one cold-emailed the other. It goes on and on. I think it's a numbers game in terms of some people are nice and receptive to calls, and some are not. That's just like asking someone on a date, or anything else you might want from another human being.

The most difficult aspect of cold calling is sustaining belief in yourself and your ability to deliver. You must convey confidence and a positive attitude, never put down the competition, ask questions and share your goals. Be prepared with the points you wish to discuss, and be brief. Research your targets before you call, demonstrating knowledge of the targeted company defines you as a serious contender. When you do get through try to end the call with an agreed upon follow-up where YOU will make the call. No one will call you unless they are the very rare exception. Email is not a call (repeat that often); email is a coward’s way of reaching out without putting yourself on the line. It also is the easiest contact to avoid. Email is a good way to say thanks for the time while confirming the understanding or expectations taken away from the discussion. Above all remember it is a process that takes time and stamina.

here's what NOT to do. i just got this via email: Hello to whom it may concern, My name is Scott Eveleigh, I'm sending you my cover letter and resume in the attachment. If you have any question(s) to ask me, please do email me with your quesition(s), I will be happy to reply. It is best to email me. Also it would be nice if you reply to let me know that you have received my cover letter, my resume and to let me know if there any position or not. My salary requirement would limited to $25,000-$30,000. Thank you. Scott Eveleigh first, call and get names of whomever is in charge of hiring or looking at portfolios. and if they aren't hiring, try to get in from of them anyway for a look-see, turning it into an opportunity to expand your network. but back to the call.... always sound upbeat. ask who you are speaking with - and make them your ally. i have people call all the time, get me on the phone as i've picked it up and never ask who they are speaking with, and asking all kinds of questions. make it personal. THEN....ask about who does the looking. ask any of the above what is the best way to reach THEM. best way to make an impression on me is to send a letter with a note staying YOU will call. don't ask ANYONE to call you back. 99.9% of the time, they won't. confirm via email that you have sent a letter. and both letter/email should have clean, simple resume. and if you get in the door, make sure you send a follow-up thank you note. makes me want to post my rules for getting in the door.

I never meant to turn this into an dicussion of whether free labor is a good or bad thing. I have my own opinions on that and they may not work for everyone. I see Susan has started inquiring about some Pro Bono work, which I think is great and a great way to hone your skills and show off to employees. Some of the best ways to start the job search is to do a personal evaluation of your own skills and goals. After you figure out what you want you will be able to find agencies that match up with your desires. Now that you have targeted the ones you are really interested in you can sutdy up and find out as much about them as possible. That will allow you to better tailor your efforts to each individual agency. Good luck, oh and bourbon has always worked for me keeping my spirits up.

....realize the power of "Nothing ventured-nothing gained" (got cut off)

Mike--As I said, "if nothing else works", try a free test drive. As you said, "The problem is that your services are valuable and offering them up for free allows the company not to value them, and worse shows them that you do not value them either.-------" The "reality is", when you are just staring out, "your services have little value"; because your services and you, are inexperienced, untested, unproved, unknown, and your talents and skills under developed, plus you do not have any or enough or the right portfolio samples yet-ETC. You are a simply a matter of "potential", and nothing more. Do not let your ego, or a false sense of entitlement wrap what the reality of that situation is. -------Mike, your notion that you do not value your service, since you are willing to give these services away for free is bull shit. We have already discussed their worth. You value your services and yourself more than most people do, and are thus willing to prove this to the employer, by showing them that you are the right choice (at no risk to them). You are utilizing the principle of "cause and effect", or in other words -"giving to get", which is one of the few laws of mankind that really works. Obviously, you set the terms and conditions of the free test drive. If this happens in this period of time, then that happens. What difference is a free test drive from a non paying internship. "It is a chance to get your foot in the door" (that is what this thread conversion is all about), to prove your are the correct choice, in a highly crowded and competitive marketplace, where employees have a tons of choices, to choose from. ---------Yes, it does work Mike, for P Diddy and countless others, including myself. One, word of warning, you have be good at what to do, have drive and desire and confidence. This is not a good suggestion for the average person, or run of the mill talent and skill set.--------- Anyway Susan, again, good luck, and realize the power of "nothing ventured-noth

I understand what you are saying Michael, but the idea of offering services for FREE seems completely crappy. Some people have used this technique, and many with great success, P. Diddy for one. The problem is that your services are valuable and offering them up for free allows the company not to value them, and worse shows them that you do not value them either. Once you start like that you are in a constant struggle to prove your worth, not that proving yourself is not a problem for everyone, but people who are getting paid have a head start or at least some sort of tangible value. I am not saying it can't work, just think long and hard before considering something like this. I must say that I really like the idea of turning the job search into a creative problem solution challenge. I have heard many stories of creative ways to get noticed. Once someone printed their entire portfolio really small and stuffed it in a wallet that matched the wallet of a CD of an agency he was interested in. When he left it in the lobby someone picked up the seemingly lost wallet and gave it to the CD. I have heard of people literally camping outside the door of an agency they are interested in. There are several others, but you probably wouldn't want to try these because if I have heard of them then at least .00000001% of the ad world has heard of them and you wouldn't want to follow that. The key is they want to see your thinking so, as was already said, figure out a way to sell yourself. Write your own brief, do some research about yourself, and start concepting. If you really want to try the fly or die way I would suggest that you don't set something for as long as three months, ask to be put on a project with a deadline that is shorter than that, then let them know that if you can prove yourself there then they should hire you. It may not be a bad idea to set specific goals and if you meet them then they hire you. Good luck, I am sure you will do well.

Make cold calling a game, a numbers game-that is after all, what it is. Make it a creative problem / solution challenge, for you to solve- it is that too. If you cannot sell yourself, how are you going to sell a product or a service for someone you wish would hire you? Do not take rejection personally. Businesses are looking for what you can do for them? What can you bring to the table? What benefits do you have to offer them? If nothing else works, offer your services to the business you think is right, for FREE, for a certain period of time (3 months), as a no risk free test drive. Tell them you are so sure you are the right person for them, that you are willing to prove it. That is a hard offer for a business man to turn down-free labor. Good luck. Let me know what happens.

Susan, persistence is key, it's very similar to New Business. Don't be shy about calling, you have a lot to offer a company. Don't be afraid to leave a message, but don't expect a call back. Your job is to keep your name and qualifications top of mind with your prospective employers so that when they have a need your name jumps to the top of the list. Don't take inactivity and rejections personally, for every no or Not hiring right now you get, it brings you that much closer to your next opportunity. Good luck. PS, this is a good week to call people because with the Holidays , a ton of EA's are out and decision makers are answering thier own phones.