Cold call gone bad................

So I emailed the MD of this boutique (about 20 persons including EA) middle of this year. His EA responded by saying that they don't have intern openings at that moment. Last month I checked back with the MD asking if they have openings now (that's actually a bad move I believe), and got no response. Then I emailed another MD there, no response again.

So last week I called the first MD by his office number, didn't pick up. Called again later last week, still didn't pick up. I called him yesterday, he did pick up.

After I introduced my name and started my "pitch", he interrupted me and started "I know you, we told you we don't have openings! If you keeping calling and emailing I will call your school to tell them you are a pain in the a**. My EA responded, I responded, and the other MD also responded. Why are you still after this? You are crossing the fine line here, this is a life lesson you should learn....."

He went on for a while, and when I started apologizing, the call disconnected (I think he hang up on me). I immediately called back and explained I didn't get any response except for the very first one. He seemed calmed down a little then, and let me apologize for a while. In the end, he said I should have learned a lesson here. I said I did and thanked him for his time and advice.

What are you guys' opinion on this? Is there anything I can learn from this experience? Maybe the MD had a bad day, and I understand that. Maybe I should not email two MDs at the same boutique?

 

man dont even worry about it, the guy is being a douche. That is what an MD does for a living anyways, be persistent with calls until he gets an answer. We recently pitched a deal to a PE and after several chats with management and a site visit they stopped responding for like 2 weeks... no yes or no so my MD legit called them every single day until he got a response for two weeks and just last week they said they were interested and still moving forward

Also at my first internship the MP said that the reason they hired me was because I was persistent - they would never hire someone through just a resume because if you cant sell yourself then you arent built for the job

fuck it and move on

"If you survive to my age and you rack up a CV like mine, you can look at HR and say, "Fuck you. I don't try out."- Eddie
 
Best Response

^The guy (MD) is being a douche? Are you kidding me? They said they didn't have any openings. What do you think has changed in a month?? If someone doesn't reply to you after 3 or 4 emails, that means that they aren't interested... It's pretty simple. Move on.

But then to call them 3 times, you almost deserved it. If he hangs up on you, that's the end. The relationship is over. Do NOT call back, why would you? To apologize and waste more of his time?

One thing you, and other people should learn, is to know when to stop. Sure persistence is important to break in, but if they say they aren't hiring and then you send 4 emails and call 3 times, it's just a little much. Now I am in college too right now, but life is about perspective and learning how to look at other things from other people's perspective. You should have done that after the 4th email and 2nd phone call. But best of luck in your job search.

 

Cleanup on aisle 4... As they say, you learn way more from your hardships & mistakes. Maintain your thick skin & keep at it, but know when to quit on each task.

All the world's indeed a stage, And we are merely players, Performers and portrayers, Each another's audience, Outside the gilded cage - Limelight (1981)
 

After getting bitched out for calling too much...

Arsene Wenger's Father:

I immediately called back

Obviously though, if he lacks the communication skills and is so delusional as to think that he responded to you initially when he didn't, it's not a place you probably want to work anyways.

People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for freedom of thought which they seldom use.
 

I think the biggest mistake I made was check back after the EA responded by saying there's nothing. I thought it had been 3 months and summer ended, so maybe when the summer intern went back to school, they might need a fall intern or something. Also I shouldn't have ever emailed the other MD. It's a bad move.

But he said he responded to me, which in fact is not ture. On the phone, he did ask me to check my spams, but I'm 100% sure I never got a response

 

I think the lesson learned here is you need to be more tactful. Being too straightforward can work negatively if you haven't established any rapport. If he doesn't respond to your e-mail then cold calling him out of the blue is a bad idea.

 

I had a phone screen from a partner at a small firm. He did not go into any specifics at all about my resume (weird because some items always elicit at least 1 question), didn't ask any technicals and then simply said "Do you think you can handle this job?"

That question deflated me pretty badly (at least I think that the question signaled that he gave me a courtesy call or something and had made up his mind beforehand) but I said yeah I can, I work hard, quick learner, will put in the time etc.

No call back for a proper interview yet. Been a week. And I REALLY wanted that job.

Anybody have any ideas if I can turn it around somehow? It is a really small firm, not even 50 people in total.

 

Ah god, that was a terrible read. A little surprised they were that rude, but come on, that was taken over the top. You scream desperation, which is not attractive for an employer.

But it is good to get chewed out every now and then, as it does give you thicker skin. Don't be so damn abrasive though in the future, I can only imagine what they thought you'd be like to work with.

 

When Keeping at Cold Calling the same firm goes wrong... Jokes aside, that is terrible to hear, but like others said, say it was what it be and move on to the next firm. Trust me when I say that, as I cold called a bunch of firms one year in school looking for a IB SA and fortunately my persistence paid right before the school year ended. All it takes is for someone to yes. I would say search for the cold calling guides that people have posted from their experiences and look at M&I as they have a few articles on cold-calling.

Authored by: Certified Corporate Development Professional - Director
 
Jon258:

Frankly you seem desperate and borderline autistic. I would have bitched you out even more if I were the MD.

I agree, because I should've never checked back again after only 3 months. But if they had answered my second call instead of ignoring it, I would've stopped right there. I thought they missed call so I kept calling
 
Arsene Wenger's Father:
Jon258:

Frankly you seem desperate and borderline autistic. I would have bitched you out even more if I were the MD.

I agree, because I should've never checked back again after only 3 months.
But if they had answered my second call instead of ignoring it, I would've stopped right there. I thought they missed call so I kept calling

Textbook solution is usually to call once, leave a message with a call back number and then leave it alone.
 

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