Final answer:
The first thing to consider when gathering leads is to conduct research on companies, make a list of people to target, and prepare questions to ask.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first thing to consider when gathering leads is to conduct research on companies of interest. It's important to learn as much as you can about the company before contacting a hiring decision-maker. Review their website content, search for additional information about them, and identify whether they have any current job postings.
After conducting research on companies, make a list of people who you want to target. Identify the key decision-makers at your target companies, preferably in departments that are of interest to you and in senior enough positions to have some influence.
Avoid the human resources department and research on social media and industry publications to locate people whom you would like to connect with.
Preparing ahead of time and formulating the questions you want to ask will increase your chances of gathering helpful interview material. Consider researching company websites and social media profiles to gather information about the company and the key decision-makers.