This week I made small talk with a customer at my current job, who unexpectedly provided me with the contact information of the head of a department for the type of work I am currently seeking. Unfortunately, she did not include an email address for this person, only his name and number. The customer included that she works/used to work with the contact and told me to call him during normal working hours and as “they could use someone like me”. When I asked If I should provide him with her name as a point of reference, she declined and said “no names needed”, which I found odd.
What's the best way to go about contacting a stranger asking for work when all you have is their name and number? If I had an email address I could have provided them with a letter of interest/resume/references all in on go, but I have no experience making this type of call and the thought of doing so is daunting. How should I approach this person? What sort of questions should I ask? Is making this call an even a wise idea to begin with?