cover letter for a speculative application

Speculative cover letter examples

Speculative cover letters can be a proactive way to get your foot in the door and find jobs that haven’t even been advertised yet.

But with so much resting on this application, you need to use the space wisely to explain what type of role you’re looking for and what attracted you to their company.

Find out how to do that successfully with our expert advice and speculative cover letter examples in the guide below.

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Speculative cover letter example 1

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Speculative cover letter example 2

Speculative cover letter example 3

The example cover letters here should give you a good general idea on how your Speculative cover letter should be formatted and written.

The rest of this guide gives more specific guidance on how to create your own cover letter in this format, and even includes some templates you can copy and paste.

How to write a Speculative cover letter

A simple step-by-step guide to writing your very own winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

When you send a cover letter with a job application, you should always write your message into the body of your email – or the body of the messaging system if you are sending via a job website.

Why do this?

Simply because you want to get your message seen as soon as the recruiter opens your application.

If you attach the cover letter as a separate item, this means the recipient will have to open it before they can read it – slowing down the process and potentially causing frustration along the way.

So, write your cover note in the body of your email/message to ensure you make an instant connection with the reader.

Start with a friendly greeting

To build an instant connection with the recruiter reading your cover letter, start with a warm greeting.

It should be friendly but not casual – keeping it professional at all times.

Hi, hope you’re well
Hi [insert recruiter name]
Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very traditional companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

Check out the company website and look at their About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

After you have greeted the recruiter, it’s important to state the job you are applying to.

Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so they need to know exactly which job you are referring to.

Be as specific as possible and use a reference number if you can find one.

Here are some examples you can use;

I am interested in applying for the role of admin assistant with your organisation.
I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 4057393)
I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
I saw your advertisement for a trainee project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The main purpose of your cover letter is to excite recruiters and make them eager to open your CV. And you achieve this by quickly demonstrating your suitability to the job you are applying for.

Take a look at the job adverts you are applying for, and make note of the most important skills being asked for.

Then, when you write your cover letter, make your suitability the focal point.

Explain how you meet the candidate requirements fully, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider your application.

Keep it short and sharp

It is best to keep your cover letter brief if you want to ensure you hold the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers. A lengthy cover letter will probably not get read in full, so keep yours to around 3-6 sentences and save the real detail for your CV.

Remember the purpose of your cover letter is to quickly get recruiters to notice you and encourage them to open your CV, so it only needs to include the highlights of your experience.

Sign off professionally

To finish off your cover note, add a professional signature to the bottom, stating your important contact details and information.

This not only provides recruiters with multiple means of contacting you, but it also adds a nice professional appearance to the cover letter, which shows that you know how to conduct yourself in the workplace.

Include the following points;

A friendly sign off – e.g. “Warm regards”
Your full name
Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
Email address
Profession title
Professional social network – e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Aaron Smith Customer service professional 075557437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip : To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate document that you could copy in.

What to include in your Speculative cover letter

Here’s what kind of content you should include in your Speculative cover letter…

The exact info will obviously depend on your industry and experience level, but these are the essentials.

Your relevant experience – Where have you worked and what type of jobs have you held?
Your qualifications – Let recruiters know about your highest level of qualification to show them you have the credentials for the job.
The impact you have made – Show how your actions have made a positive impact on previous employers; perhaps you’ve saved them money or helped them to acquire new customers?
Your reasons for moving – Hiring managers will want to know why you are leaving your current or previous role, so give them a brief explanation.
Your availability – When can you start a new job ? Recruiters will want to know how soon they can get you on board.

Don’t forget to tailor these points to the requirements of the job advert for best results.

Speculative cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Speculative cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

I am writing to express my strong interest in any upcoming data engineering and analytics opportunities available at Intuita. Over the course of my 17 years of experience in IT, I have diligently supervised cross-functional teams and delivered data-driven solutions that have transformed various businesses.

While there may not be a specific job opening advertised at this time, I believe my computer science qualifications align perfectly with your commitment to informed decision-making and technological advancements. In my current role as a Data Specialist at Sphere Digital Ltd, I use tools such as Python, SQL, and Tableau to extract valuable insights from complex datasets, and subsequently translate these into actionable recommendations that positively impact the company’s performance.

Within the last 3 years I have successfully reduced the time spent on analysis by 25% through creating interactive visualisations, and lowered procurement expenses by 15% due to identifying cost-saving opportunities. I also developed automated dashboards that decreased report generation time by 50%.

I welcome the chance to discuss how my skills and qualification align with your organisation and would be keen to attend an interview when a suitable position becomes available.

Kind regards

Felicity Wright

Hello Roger

I read through your website and noticed that WSP is recruiting for a number of transport planning vacancies throughout the UK, and I am keen to offer my CV for any positions that come available in Hull.

As a results-oriented professional with a passion for optimising transportation operations and a strong background in logistics, I am enthusiastic about contributing my skills to your world-renowned organisation. Throughout my 10 years of experience in the industry, I have demonstrated my ability to optimise routes and ensure timely and cost-effective delivery solutions.

In my current role at DPD Group, I have implemented freight consolidation strategies that cut transportation expenses by 15%, coordinated with carriers in increases in on-time delivery performance by 25%, as well as introduced training programmes which boosted driver productivity by 35%. I firmly believe that my qualifications and past achievements align perfectly with your commitment to excellence in transportation services and continuous improvement.

Thank you for considering my application and I look forward to the possibility of joining your dynamic team when a vacancy arises in the future.

Sable Fernandez

Good afternoon, Miles

I am writing to show my interest in your upcoming opportunities as a landscape architect and consultant at Tyler Grange. As a creative and detail-oriented professional with a passion for transforming outdoor spaces into beautiful landscapes, I am eager to contribute my expertise to your organisation.

Over the course of 15 years in landscape architecture, I have demonstrated my ability to conceptualise and execute innovative projects, including urban design, public parks, greenways, and school gardens which align with clients’ visions and environmental sustainability. I believe that my qualifications and skills resonate perfectly with your establishment’s commitment to excellence in landscape design.

Some key achievements I have played a significant role in while at Atkins include, attaining a 98% on-time project completion rate for 7 straight years, as well as incorporating design practices and native plant selections that led to a 20% reduction in landscape maintenance costs. Furthermore, I generated £4M+ annually through client referrals and repeat business.

I am eager to discuss any upcoming landscape architecture vacancies in greater detail. Please feel free to contact me via email or by phone to schedule an interview.

Vincent Cowell

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a Speculative job, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

Find a company

Crafting a compelling cover letter for hidden job opportunities

Jan 07, 2020 - updated Aug 27, 2024

Writer, editor and digital content specialist

You’ve found the perfect company. The team is experienced and dynamic, and the mission aligns with your values. You can see yourself there, contributing your skills to help the business succeed. But there’s a catch—there’s no open job that fits you. At least, not yet.

This is a common scenario in job hunting, but it doesn’t mean you have to move on. If you’re passionate about a company and believe you’d be a great addition to the team, it’s worth reaching out even if there isn’t a job posted. In the US, this is often done through cold emailing or submitting an unsolicited job application. This means contacting the company directly to express your interest and demonstrate how your experience and skills could benefit them.

Although an unsolicited job application might not lead to an immediate job offer, it’s an excellent way to make yourself known to a company and be considered for future openings. To stand out, how you present yourself is crucial—this involves crafting a strong cover letter and customizing your resume for the specific company and role. But before we dive into how to write that perfect cover letter…

Why bother with a spontaneous application?

The odds that a perfect role for you is just an email away are slim but a spontaneous application can be well worth your while.

The number of job vacancies never publicly advertised makes up such a large percentage of openings that there is even a name for this sector: the hidden job market . Certain companies, and even entire industries, are more likely to lean on private networks or referrals to fill available roles quickly, rather than going through a public job posting process. So there’s a high likelihood that the perfect role for you is out there, but not advertised.

More significantly, an unsolicited job application or a cold email is useful for making a positive introduction to a hiring manager for potential roles in the future. It gets your foot in the door, so to speak. It may also be an opportunity for you to sell yourself, your experience, and your knowledge of the company and its vision by suggesting to an employer that they need a role they simply haven’t yet thought of.

When should you send one?

If you’re applying for a position that is unlikely to exist yet, consider sending a spontaneous application in the discovery phase of a job search. This is when you’re interested in a new position but not actively in need of one. This way, you’re not placing too much faith in the application, and have plenty of time to create a long-lead introduction to the company .

It can also be helpful to pay attention to tech and business news, noting startup companies that have recently completed fundraising rounds. This is likely to mean that they will be hiring very soon.

How to write an accompanying cover letter

When you’re writing a cover letter for a cold email or unsoclicited job applicaiton, you won’t have a specific job description to guide you. This can be frustrating because it’s more difficult to clearly explain how your experience and skills fit a particular set of requirements without a framework. However, it can also be liberating, allowing you to be broader in your personal pitch.

The main idea, as with any cover letter, is to sell your expertise, your knowledge of the company and your belief that you have what it takes to help their business succeed. While the body of your email should be crisp and digestible, your cover letter is where you can make the most compelling case for your candidacy.

Even though there is no bullet list of job duties that you can reference, you can infer from the company’s products and services what your work there might involve. After, you can elaborate on how you would excel by using specific examples from your past experience as a reference.

Here are a few tips specific to unsoclicited cover letters:

Be as concise as possible while still clearly detailing your experience and ambitions. Because your application is spontaneous, a manager’s attention span when reviewing it will probably be even shorter than normal.

Be specific in describing how you could help the company, and what kind of position you would like. The narrower your goal, the more convincing it will be that you are a focused applicant, and not someone fishing for any available job.

Include examples of your past work , if relevant to your industry. Do this either in the form of a link to a professional portfolio website or as a separate attachment that you can reference in your email.

Email a specific person by searching through Welcome to the Jungle, or other recruitment websites and tools such as LinkedIn. This will make sure that your message reaches the right person and is (hopefully) read.

Ask for a recommendation , if you happen to have anyone in your social or professional networks who works, has worked, or knows anyone at the company to which you’re applying. Having a personal introduction can make all the difference, especially if said person is able to vouch for your abilities and your work ethic.

The waiting game

Next comes the hard part: being patient. It’s best not to expect any news, and certainly not straight away. You may not hear back after sending the cold email at all. The company might simply not respond to these types of applications. Even if you made a good impression, it may be months before a role is open that fits your experience. In such cases, you can follow up with a friendly email.

Give it at least two weeks before following up on your first email, and then leave any subsequent unsolicited contact to once every few months. Any more than that, and you risk seeming less like an interested and passionate candidate, and more like a nuisance.

Despite the uncertainty, cold emailing is still an exercise well worth doing. Jobs, as with life, are uncertain—a unique combination of the right place, the right time, and more than a little bit of luck. Your application may not lead anywhere productive. But whereas the downside is nonexistent, the upside holds huge untold potential. Who knows? It might just end up with you landing your dream job.

Photo by Thomas Decamps for Welcome to the Jungle Follow Welcome to the Jungle on Facebook , LinkedIn , and Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter to get our latest articles every week!

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How To Write A Speculative Cover Letter With Template

Wondering how to write a speculative cover letter?

A speculative CV with an accompanying cover letter is a way of connecting with employers when they’re not advertising vacancies.

Speculative applications can have great results, and can also be an effective way of getting internships or work placements .

Lots of positions are filled without ever being advertised, so a speculative letter could be your way in.

Here’s how to write a speculative cover letter that strikes the right tone and helps you get your foot in the door.

We’ve also written a speculative cover letter template to show how to format and write your letter – this can be found at the bottom of the blog.

Start by researching thoroughly

Once you’ve found an organisation you’d like to work for, the first thing to do is research it thoroughly .

Find out everything you can about the organisation, its staff and the wider industry it operates in.

Most of the information you’ll need will be readily available from online sources, including:

The organisation’s website
Press releases published by the organisation
Its LinkedIn page and social media profiles
News articles relating to the organisation
Industry-specific publications, newsletters or blogs
Review sites like Glassdoor

The more knowledge you can arm yourself with, the better you’ll be able to work out how your skills, experience and interests could benefit the organisation, and how you’ll be the perfect fit for the company.

And remember, when writing a speculative cover letter, accuracy is key.

Misspelling the name of the organisation, its products or services or the addressee (ultimately the decision maker) could spell disaster for your speculative letter.

Know who you’re talking to

Research the organisation’s staff list carefully to find out who to address your letter to. This may be:

The managing director, if it’s a smaller firm
A head of department
The hiring manager
A member of the HR department

It’s absolutely crucial that you address the letter to a specific person. ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ or ‘To whom it may concern’ won’t score you any points, especially if they have their name in their email address.

Mention early on or at the end of the letter that you’ve attached your CV to the email, to encourage the reader to look at this after the cover letter.

Strike the right tone

It can be hard to judge how to write a speculative cover letter and what tone to use. In our opinion, it’s best to opt for a formal tone. You don’t know the person, so don’t be over-familiar.

Open with ‘Dear [person’s name]’, and avoid any informal chit-chat like ‘I hope you had a good weekend’. Keep your tone friendly but professional throughout, and close with ‘Yours sincerely’.

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Don’t apologise

You might think sending a speculative CV and cover letter will come across as pushy or presumptuous – but hiring managers are unlikely to see it that way.

Don’t be tempted to start with something apologetic like ‘I hope you don’t mind me contacting you unsolicited’.

There’s no need to apologise – a speculative application is evidence that you’re enthusiastic and proactive , rather than arrogant.

Get straight to the point

If you’re wondering about how to start a speculative cover letter, our top tip would be: get to the point!

Hiring managers are busy – so don’t waste their time. Too many speculative cover letters suffer from long, repetitive introductions, clichéd language and wordy explanations that are unlikely to be read.

Cut to the chase straight away. Say why you’re writing, and demonstrate how you can benefit the organisation with a few key highlights from your CV .

Get that cover letter written by us!

Cover letter, format your cover letter appropriately.

A formally laid out cover letter is likely to have a better chance of succeeding. Put your name, address and the date on the right at the top, and the addressee’s details on the left starting on the line below.

The purpose of a speculative job letter is to get the hiring manager to look at your CV – so give them a reason to read it with three or four solid points straight off the bat.

You could format these as bullet points to make them even easier to read.

Keep paragraphs short and snappy and try to keep your letter to around half a page, and definitely no more than one page.

Focus on the employer

When writing a speculative cover letter, you should say as much (if not more) about the organisation you’re writing to as you do about yourself.

Try not to start every paragraph with ‘I’. You want to communicate what you can do for the organisation and why you want to work there, so try to evidence the knowledge you gained through your research.

What challenges and opportunities is the organisation facing? Try to focus on the person reading the letter and their priorities, and give a few examples from your experience that show how you can meet them.

Avoid the hard sell. Some sources recommend ending with something like ‘I’ll be calling you next week to schedule an interview’, but this pushy approach may backfire.

End simply by expressing that you’d like the opportunity to continue the conversation. Specify how the hiring manager can contact you (by phone or at your email address, for example) followed by ‘I look forward to hearing from you’.

As always, check, check and check again for typos and grammatical errors. Get someone else to proofread it for you if you can.

If you don’t hear anything within a couple of weeks, it’s a good idea to follow up by email or phone . This will show perseverance and a real desire to work for the organisation.

It’s also an opportunity to ask for constructive feedback if you weren’t successful.

Speculative cover letter template

Below is an annotated speculative cover letter example to give you an idea of how to format and write the letter:

How to write a speculative cover letter: a summary

A speculative application can be a great way to engage with an organisation, and could get you one step closer to your dream job.

Even if the employer doesn’t have your perfect role open immediately, it could put you on their radar as someone to contact in the future.

We hope our guide has given you a better idea of how to write a speculative cover letter.

Remember, a cover letter acts as the bait to get hiring managers to read your CV – so make sure your accompanying CV is as good as it can be!

Need help crafting a kickass CV? Our tailor-made CVs showcase your best bits and set you head and shoulders above the job market competition. Find out more .

Want to know more about how to write a good standard cover letter? Go back to basics with these principles. You can see some examples of cover letters here , including a speculative cover letter example.

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How to Write a Speculative Cover Letter

You may have spotted an employer that you’d love to work for, but they’re not currently hiring for any position that fits with your aspirations. Speculative applications can have great results, especially for those wanting to get an internship, work placement, apprenticeship or graduate job. You’ll need to be engaging, expressive and able to confidently discuss your skill to really have an effect.

Why Send a Speculative Cover Letter?

If you’re looking for a job within a competitive industry, you may need to be proactive with your job searches and job application as not all roles are formally advertised. Plus, if there’s a company that you think could provide you with your dream job, why not give it a shot? A speculative CV with an accompanying cover letter is a great way of connecting with recruiters or potential employers when they’re not advertising vacancies.

How to Start a Covering Letter

Before you think about sitting down and writing your covering letter, you’ll need to research the company. Even if you know a lot about the company, you’ll want to brush up on your knowledge in order to create a good cover letter.

Find out everything you can about the organisation, including its staff and also the wider industry they operate within.

Take a look through their website and also look for press releases as well as related news article to really find out what’s happening at their organisation. Make sure you look at their social media profiles and also look on websites such as Glassdoor for staff reviews on working there.

The more knowledge you have to start with, the easier it will be to write your covering letter. It’s this knowledge that will enable you to connect your skills, experience and interests to their company.

What to Include and what not to Include

The general formatting of a speculative letter will be relatively similar to a standard cover letter:

Start with personal information such as your name, address and contact details. You should never include your national insurance number or bank details on your cover letter.
Include information to your social media platforms such as Linkedin. There should be crucial information about your work experience on there and it will also enable them to get a better indication of your interests through shared articles and endorsed skills.
Include the manager’s name if you have it, but if you don’t just use Dear Sir/Madam.
Within the first paragraph, you should outline what type of role you’re looking for, and why you want to work for that particular company.
The second paragraph should explain more about the skills you possess and any experience you have that could be of interest to them. There is no job description so you’ll have to be inventive on how your skill set may apply to their business.
The closing paragraph is the last chance for you to make an impression. You need to tell them exactly why you’d be perfect for the company and what you could potentially contribute. If there isn’t an open job, why should they open one for you? what do you have that is different? this doesn’t always have to be your skills, genuine passion for the company and their values could be enough.
To close the covering letter, thank them for their time and sign-off the cover letter with ‘Yours faithfully’)

The final thing to mention here is that you must ensure there are no spelling mistakes. This involves specific person names, product names and relations to the company especially. You can use a spell checker or Grammarly for the checking of punctuation and spelling, but they may not pick up branded names so you’ll need to double-check.

Get to the Point, Set your Tone & Don't Apologise

You might think that sending a speculative application and cover letter could come across as pushy or presumptuous by the receiver. In most cases this couldn’t be any further from the truth, HR teams are often impressed by this process as it shows passion, confidence and forthcomingness. It’s also worth mentioning that recruiting can be a timely and expensive process, so someone coming forth is a great way for them to avoid this.

What you absolutely shouldn’t do is open with anything apologetic such as ‘I hope you don’t mind me contacting you’. You need to be confident that you’re offering them something of value and apologising for contacting them doesn’t give that impression. A speculative application is verification that you’re an enthusiastic and proactive individual, rather than arrogant or presumptuous.

The best start to a speculative cover letter is one that gets straight to the point. HR teams and managers are busy people so avoid long-winded introductions and ones that are copied off the internet as they’ll have read it ten times already.

Quickly explain why you’re writing to them. Don’t just explain, demonstrate how you can benefit their company with key highlights from your CV. Keep to a formal layout and ensure all the points in the ‘What to Include and what not to Include’ section are covered. Make a mental note to keep the information condensed.

By now you’re likely wondering, how many words should a cover letter be? There really is no golden number, it’s about how many words it takes to really sell your worth to the company. The general guidelines are to stick to around half a page and definitely no more than one page.

We hope our guide has given you the knowledge you need to go and write an amazing speculative cover letter that lands you the position you desire. Remember the cover letter is the bait to get the HR team to read your CV, so make sure your CV is as good as your covering letter!

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What Is a Speculative Cover Letter?

Who should i send my speculative cover letter to, what to include in a speculative cover letter, example speculative cover letter, what happens next, tips for writing your speculative cover letter, final thoughts, how to write a speculative cover letter.

Updated October 11, 2023

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A speculative cover letter is sent to apply for or enquire about a job that is not currently being advertised.

You should consider making a speculative job application if you are:

Actively looking for a new job role
Trying to find a work experience placement
Thinking about making a career move

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Sending a speculative job application can be an effective way to show you are keen, motivated and committed to your career goals .

Remember, even if the company you send your speculative cover letter to doesn’t have any current job vacancies, opening a dialogue with them could help to ensure you are at the top of the list when a suitable vacancy comes up in the future.

Much like a standard cover letter , a speculative cover letter accompanies your CV when you are applying for a job. However, a speculative cover letter is different from a standard cover letter in a few ways.

Standard cover letters are usually sent when applying for an advertised vacancy and should be tailored to that vacancy. In contrast, a speculative cover letter is sent to apply for a job that has not been advertised.

Standard cover letters need to be highly focused on niche or specialist skills that are outlined in a job description or person specification.

In contrast, a speculative cover letter should:

Give details of your relevant transferable skills
Outline your past work experience
Demonstrate why you would be a good fit for the company

As with any cover letter, a well written speculative cover letter will provide you with the opportunity to engage with the recipient and start building up a positive rapport.

Where possible, try to send your speculative job application to a particular person, rather than a generic department.

If you are not sure of the name of the person you should send your speculative cover letter to, have a look at the employer’s website. Try to find out the name of the manager for the department you are interested in working for.

Alternatively, you could call the HR department to find out the name of the department manager.

Sending your speculative cover letter to a specific person will help to ensure your letter is read by the most appropriate employee or department. It will also show that you have carried out some background research into the company and its current employees.

You can choose to send a speculative cover letter by email or by letter. The advantage of a letter is that it will land on somebody’s desk, making it harder to ignore.

Your speculative cover letter will need to be both engaging and informative.

As you are not writing to apply for one particular job role, you will need to provide an overview of the skills and experience that you have gained so far. A speculative job application aims to show the employer that you are a good all-rounder, not just a specialist in one single area.

Whilst a speculative cover letter is not tailored to a particular job role, it will need to be written specifically for an employer. So, if you are planning to send out more than one speculative job application, you will need to adjust each letter accordingly.

A speculative cover letter will need to include the following information:

A brief outline of the type of job role you would be interested in applying for

Information on your existing skills and experience and how these could be of benefit to the business

An outline of the reasons why you would like to work for the business

A closing summary to reiterate what you would be able to offer to the business

An assertive, confident call to action to end the letter; for example, ‘I look forward to hearing from you soon’, instead of, ‘I hope to hear from you soon’

When writing your speculative cover letter, try not to repeat the information contained within your CV.

Don’t forget to include your name, address and contact details (including your mobile telephone number and email address).

If you are unable to find out the specific manager’s name, start your letter with ‘ Dear Sir/Madam ’ and close it with ‘ Yours faithfully ’.

If you have managed to find a named person to send the letter to, you can start your letter with ‘ Dear [Name] ’ and close the letter with ‘ Yours sincerely ’.

Here is an outline of what your speculative cover letter should look like. This speculative cover letter template is for a person who wants to make an application to a legal firm.

Jane Laws 1 The Street Townford TR17 9NQ 01234 567891 [email protected] Mrs D Judge Legal Practice London W3 2QQ Dear Mrs Judge I would like to enquire whether you have any current administrative vacancies within your firm. Please find enclosed my CV, which outlines the experience I have gained during my career to date. Having worked as a legal secretary for the past five years, I have demonstrated my commitment to providing high-quality legal administration services. I have a sound working knowledge of industry terminology and legal working practices. I am proud that my dedication and commitment to my work has been recognised through a recent nomination for the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs ‘Legal PA of the Year Award’. My experience to date has been gained through working for two small legal practices. While this has been both challenging and enjoyable, I would like to develop my skills and experience further in a fast-paced, busy role. I understand your company is one of the largest legal practices in London with continuing plans for growth, making it the ideal place to pursue my future career objectives. As an administrative worker for your firm, I would strive to support your partners with high-quality secretarial support. I am a competent typist with a keen eye for detail and a proven ability to cope under pressure at all times. I would be delighted to have the opportunity to discuss my application with you in further detail. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely Jane Laws

After you post your speculative cover letter, you will need to be patient. You probably won’t hear anything straight away but, hopefully, the recipient of your letter will be in touch to discuss job vacancies you may be suitable for.

If you still haven’t heard anything back within two weeks, it is advisable to follow up with the employer directly, to check that they have received your letter.

If they say that they haven’t received it, ask them whether they would be happy for you to re-send it over to them. At this point, you could find out whether they would be happy for you to send it by email, as they will know to look out for it in their inbox.

Even if the manager says that there are no suitable vacancies available at the moment, you could still ask them to provide you with constructive feedback on your speculative job application. This will help you to improve any speculative applications you make in the future.

Step 1 . Do Your Research

Find out as much as you possibly can about the business you are planning to write to. For example:

What is their mission statement?
What are their values?
What product or service do they provide?
Who are their customers?
Who are their main competitors?
How many people do they employ?
What are the must-have skills for employees?

The company website is a good place to start. You could also browse through relevant social media pages, press releases and industry-specific content like blogs or newsletters.

Use the information that you find to help you write your speculative job application. For example, if you already have a particular qualification or skill that they want all of their employees to have, make sure this is clearly stated within your application.

Or, if you find out that they are planning to expand or acquire another company, let them know if this is a process you have had experience with in the past.

Step 2 . Keep Your Speculative Cover Letter Short and Professional

It is important to keep your speculative cover letter short and to the point . Keep the content succinct and focused – doing so will help to ensure the recipient reads it and digests the information it contains.

A letter that is too long will probably end up in the waste paper bin before it has even been read.

To ensure your letter makes a good first impression, set it out formally, use an easy-to-read font (such as Calibri or Arial, size 11 or 12) and write a maximum of five short paragraphs.

Step 3 . Proofread

When making speculative job applications, your cover letter is the one opportunity you have to make a good impression. If the text is littered with spelling and grammar errors, this is unlikely to make the manager want to call you to discuss a potential job opening.

Make sure you proofread your letter thoroughly, and ask a friend or family member to check through it too.

If you are looking for ways to progress your career, there is no need for you to wait for the perfect job vacancy to be advertised online.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by sending out a speculative job application. After all, your employer of choice could be just waiting for somebody with your skills and experience to make contact with them.

By sending a speculative job application to your preferred employers, you will show them that you are confident, enthusiastic and willing to go the extra mile to achieve your career objectives.

Don’t forget, a speculative cover letter aims to show the employer why you would be a great addition to their existing team. Ensure your application gives an overview of your existing qualifications, skills and experience, and how this could help the business to achieve its goals.

You might also be interested in these other Wikijob articles:

How to Write a Cover Letter? (Examples & Cover Letter Tips)

Or explore the Application Advice / Job Applications sections.

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How to write a speculative job application

If you're not having any luck with jobs that are advertised then it might be time to consider those that aren't. Being proactive and sending a speculative application can increase your chance of success in a competitive job market

What is a speculative application?

Making a speculative application means getting in touch with an organisation to ask whether they have a suitable job for you, despite the fact they aren't advertising a particular vacancy. It usually involves sending a cover letter and a CV.

Of course, major graduate schemes and roles at large companies will usually be formally advertised and you can apply in the normal way - via their websites, more often than not through the submission of an application form.

However, if you rely solely on responding to job adverts you may miss out on a range of opportunities, especially in the charity , design , environmental and media sectors where applying 'on spec' is common practice.

Speculative applications provide a direct route into the company and making contact with recruiters can lead to:

temporary or permanent work
internships or work shadowing opportunities
increased business connections.

Even if it turns out there isn't a job available, your positive approach may impress the employer and they'll bear you in mind for future vacancies.

How do I identify employers?

To be successful with a speculative application you need to be organised, so rushing off a standard CV without any context or explanation won't cut it.

Draw up a shortlist of employers to target by focusing on the sectors and companies that interest you. As a starting point, consider the organisations where you've carried out work experience and the companies you've always wanted to work for. Don't discount small, local businesses - it's usually small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are the most open to speculative applications.

Visit your university careers service to get information on employers and to make connections through events and alumni networks. Social media is also a good way to network, make contacts and discover more about a business. Find out more about social media and job hunting . You could also attend networking events both face-to-face and online as having conversations with those in industry may help dig up employers that do not have a traditional graduate scheme.

For more ideas, browse employer profiles or attend careers fairs .

Once you've identified where you'd like to work, and have checked that they aren't advertising vacancies, you'll need to do some background research so you are knowledgeable and well-informed.

Look on company websites to find out how the organisation operates and get a feel for what it does. What projects is it working on? Are there any plans for growth or expansion?

Follow the organisation's social media channels to keep up to date with the company's current events and activities.

How do I tailor my approach?

Take some time to think about what you're trying to achieve and what you want to happen next. Are you going to ask for a permanent role or an internship? How are you going to sell yourself to the company? How can you persuade them that you're a good match for what they need?

You need to tailor your approach to each company. Your CV and cover letter need to explain what type of role you're looking for and why you have chosen that company. Do this by referring to any key projects they're working on, or their aims and values and why they resonate with you. Demonstrate that you really are interested in their organisation, and then highlight the relevant skills and experiences you have.

The emphasis should be on what you can bring to the company, not on what they can do for you, as the last thing you want is to sound like you're begging for work.

If you're applying for a graduate job you're essentially asking the organisation to create a role for you that doesn't currently exist. To stand a chance of success, you need to ensure that all the skills and experience highlighted in your application are directly relevant to the company - this can be tricky without a job description to work from so your research into the organisation really is invaluable.

Look at any current vacancies they have, the job or person specification can infer the skills used in the business, as well as their business make-up.

In order to reach somebody with hiring authority, make sure you send your application to a named contact. If you can't find the relevant contact information on the company website, try searching LinkedIn or make a phone call to ask who is in charge of recruitment. Always be polite in your dealings with the employer.

Discover how to put together a winning application with this example cover letter for a speculative job application .

Should I follow up my application?

About one or two weeks after sending, follow up your application with a phone call. This gives your contact time to read your email - while it's good to be persistent, pestering the company will not show you in a good light.

Should the employer decide they'd like to meet you, it's time to explore interview tips. Be aware that you may be offered something different to what you asked for - for example, a work placement or internship instead of a graduate job or a temporary role instead of a permanent position. At this stage you can be flexible, but don't automatically accept - make sure you think about whether the offer they put on the table is right for you.

You might get a few knock-backs, but making personal contact is so important. Even if they can't help you immediately you can find out more about how they normally advertise, and learn about opportunities that might be coming up in the future.

Even if an employer may not be able to offer you an opportunity, they could put you in touch with someone who could help.

Just because your application has been unsuccessful doesn't mean you can't use this opportunity to learn something. Ask for feedback on your application and how you can improve future speculative approaches.

Find out more

Discover how to write a successful job application .
Search for graduate jobs .

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How To Write A Speculative Cover Letter With Winning Examples

Photo on Unsplash

In the current economic climate, being proactive in your job search is more important than ever. Don’t wait for a company to come to you with an offer. It might never happen! We’ll provide tips on writing a speculative cover letter and convince employers that you’re worth their time and consideration.

A speculative cover letter is when you write and send it to an employer before advertising any specific position. This type of cover letter can be used in many different situations, for example:

– Someone who is unemployed but wants to find work may choose to write a speculative cover letter and send it out

– A person who has been laid off may use this type of cover letter while they are looking for new employment

– A recent graduate might also use this type of application as their first job hunt step

The purpose of a speculative cover letter is to show an employer how you might fit into their organisation. In addition, you can use the cover letter to explain why your skills are transferable and what type of work you would be interested in doing for that company. Your goal should be to stand out from other applicants by showing them some unique things about yourself that they may not be able to see from your resume.

The steps for writing a speculative cover letter are as follows:

– Find the name of an employer you want to work with and contact them directly

– Send in your best application materials, such as a CV or resume and any other supporting documents that demonstrate why you would make a great candidate for the company

– Use a cover letter to introduce yourself and show why you are interested in that particular employer

– Include your contact information on both the CV and resume as well as in the cover letter, so they can reach out if necessary

– Be willing to go above and beyond what other applicants may do

– Be enthusiastic about the company or position you are applying for

– Make sure your cover letter is well written with clear sentences that clearly state what type of job you are interested in doing

A typical speculative letter needs to follow the following steps

1. Introduce yourself

2. Explain the position you are applying for

3. Outline your skills and experience that relate to the position

4. State why you would be a good fit for the company

5. Give an example of how you have demonstrated these qualities in previous jobs or volunteer positions

6a) If there is any specific information they want, include it here

6b) If not, end with “I look forward to hearing from you soon.”

7) Thank them for their time and consideration

What is the difference between a cover letter and a speculative letter?

A cover letter is typically written to accompany an application or resume and provides information about the applicant. A speculative letter is a type of cover letter that may be sent before any position has been advertised — this can often help someone who does not have a job find work faster.

How do you start a speculative cover letter?

First, keep your letter concise. Most hiring managers don’t have time to read a lot of content on an unproven candidate. So start with the basics and avoid being too wordy or flowery in your writing. The goal is not to win over a company you know nothing about but to impress them enough so they’ll want to learn more.

Second, you need a strong opening. Many speculative cover letters open with the standard “I am writing in regards to your job posting for X.” This is good but not great. Suppose you are applying to multiple jobs or even one specific organisational role. In that case, it’s better to point out why they should hire you specifically and how your skills and experience will benefit the company.

Third, don’t forget to highlight your enthusiasm for the role. Why are you writing this letter? What do you hope to achieve by sending it? Would you mind demonstrating that you’re excited about their organisation and why? Lastly, make sure it is personalised! This may require research, but having an extensive company profile shouldn’t be too hard. If you don’t know much about the organisation, try to dig on LinkedIn or do a simple Google search.

Of course, other things make up a tremendous speculative cover letter, but these three are good places to start!

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Are speculative job applications worthwhile?

There’s no doubt that they can be a bit of a gamble. You’ve got to put your faith in the company you are applying for and hope that it matches what their needs are at this time. However, I would say that if you have used it before (and haven’t heard back), then why not give it another go? Every company is different, so it’s always worth taking a punt.

Using speculative applications is an excellent way to determine what the company does and how you can fit in. However, it’s also crucial that your CV reflects this because you need to show them why they should be interested in hiring you. So, for example, you could include links to work samples or contact details for people who have worked with you before.

Speculative applications are an excellent way to get your foot in the door and allow you to find out more about what they do. Still, you must ensure your CV reflects this so they know why they should hire you. It might be worth including links to work samples or contact details for people who have worked with you.

An example speculative cover letter:

Dear Mr Smith,

I am writing to introduce myself and tell you about my qualifications as a potential candidate for the Marketing Manager position at Acme Corp. I understand that this is not an advertised opening. Still, I wanted to take the time to apply anyway because your organisation has always been one in which I have taken great interest.

My background includes 11 years of experience in marketing and advertising with a large company and my work on entrepreneurship projects. I am confident that my skill set would be an asset to your organisation given the requirements outlined in this position description, such as:

-Strong understanding of digital media, including social media channels and blogs

-Experience with managing external agencies and creative teams

-Ability to oversee campaigns in various languages

I have attached my resume for your review. I hope you will consider me a candidate, even if this is an unadvertised opening. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter.

Some Examples addressed for specific roles

An example speculative cover letter for entry level software engineer:.

Dear Hiring Manager,

My name is _____, and I am currently looking for entry-level opportunities in software engineering. After reading about your company on __________, I was excited to learn more about how my skill set could be a good fit within this environment. In addition to learning more about your open position as a software engineer, I am also interested in learning more about the company itself. Would you be willing to answer a few questions for me?

Are there any other positions within __________ that may be appropriate for someone with my skill set looking for their first position?

What is the company culture like at __________, and how does it support its employees to be successful in a professional environment?

The software engineering positions you are currently hiring for sound very interesting. Is there anything else about these roles that may make them more appealing than other entry-level opportunities I have seen on job boards?

Name ___________

Contact info: email address and phone number. GitHub username if you have one.

The hiring manager will then decide whether or not to respond with an interview opportunity! If they get back to you, go ahead and send them a follow-up thank you an email that is much briefer than this.

An example speculative cover letter for an accountant:

While doing some research, I came across your listing for an accountant on the Careers section of the company’s website. I am very interested in this position because it perfectly fits my background, skillset, and career path. With over three years of experience in finance at another company, I am confident that my skills and qualifications would make me an excellent fit for this job.

I believe the key to success in any position is doing your best at all times, learning as much as possible about your role, and taking pride in everything you do. With strong attention to detail, willingness to learn new things quickly, and ability to multitask, I am confident that my background as an accountant would make me a great candidate for this role.

It would be a pleasure to learn more about this opportunity and demonstrate how my skills make me the best candidate. I have attached my resume for your review as well. Thank you very much in advance, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

John Smith (123) 456789101

An example speculative cover letter for the mechanical engineer:

Dear Hiring Manager, I’m excited to express my interest in the Mechanical Engineer position at your company. After scanning your website and learning more about IVALA Robotics, it’s clear that you have a very dynamic team that complements my skill set and career goals perfectly. This intersection of interests is precisely why I’m writing to you today.

The skills I’ve acquired as a mechanical engineering student at [university name] will allow me to hit the ground running in my new role. In particular, I have strong technical and communication abilities — an ability your job posting highlights as one of the essential qualities for this position. Additionally, I would prove a solid asset to the Mechanical team at IVALA Robotics if hired.

I would very much appreciate an opportunity for a conversation. Please be assured that you will find me both confident in my abilities and humble enough to learn new skills as needed . Thank you again for reading my application — I hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely yours_

An example speculative cover letter for a nurse:

Dear Nurse Manager, My name is X, and I am an RN with __________ experience.

My skills in clinical care management combine the most critical aspects of nursing: patient assessment, planning and evaluation for treatment outcomes, implementation of care plan through delegation to healthcare team members, and coordination and communication between various caregivers. Furthermore, my leadership skills were honed by my active participation in _________, and I am a member of the American Nurses Association.

My goal is to work as a nurse manager at your hospital. This position aligns with my career goals, including working for an organisation that shares my commitment to excellence, professional development, collaboration across disciplines, and teamwork — qualities I have developed and demonstrated throughout my career.

I am confident that I can add value to the nurse manager team at your hospital, and I look forward to speaking with you further about this opportunity. Best, X

This is a speculative cover letter for an unadvertised job position in healthcare management. This cover letter example should be customised based on your skills and experiences.

An example speculative cover letter for a chef:

Dear Chef, I would love to work as a sous chef at X. My passion for food and cooking had driven me into this industry since my early teens when I began working in the kitchens of family friends’ restaurants after school. Now that I am graduating from college, I will take things more seriously with a full-time job. I love X’s menu and feel that my experience in the past few years as a sous chef at Y perfectly prepares me to make positive contributions immediately.

An example speculative cover letter for a teacher:

I am a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in education. While I was still working on finishing up my major, I began looking for teaching opportunities. As a result, I landed an internship with extensive classroom experience — it’s been great!

Now that I’m getting ready to enter the job market full-time, I’m eager to explore the possibility of working at your company.

I know from my research that you’re looking for someone enthusiastic about education. I can help students learn by incorporating technology into their learning environment. For example, I found it challenging in school to combine a love of teaching with an understanding of how technology could make those lessons more interactive.

That’s why I chose to pursue my education degree — to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to provide students with an engaging learning environment that incorporates technology in a way they can easily understand while also helping them develop the skills needed for success in future careers.

I’m confident you’ll find me a great candidate for this position because of my education and experience. Still, I’m also excited about the opportunity to learn from veterans in the field.

I look forward to hearing back from you regarding the next steps. Please get in touch with me at [email protected] or (555) 555–5555 if you have any questions.

An example speculative cover letter for an administrative assistant:

Dear Hiring Manager, I recently came across your job listing for a secretary role. Naturally, I am interested in this position and excited to submit my application materials today! While searching online, it appeared that we might have some interests in common — namely, the desire to work with an organisation with outstanding leadership and dedication to making all its employees feel valued and included. I believe this is a mission statement you can stand behind, as it aligns with your organisation’s core values of inclusivity, teamwork, accountability and transparency.

I am an enthusiastic administrative assistant with over five years of experience working across many industries, including finance, retail, travel, and hospitality. I am a skilled communicator who can adapt my language style to suit different audiences; I also have extensive experience managing projects and meeting deadlines for large-scale projects from start to finish. Finally, as an experienced secretary, I know how important it is for your team to rely on each other’s discretion and confidentiality. I take this responsibility very seriously, as it is essential to any business’s success!

In my current role at a large tech company, I have been tasked with coordinating travel plans for our executives across the country. This position has given me extensive experience in time management and multitasking efficiently under tight deadlines. In addition, since my role as the secretary to our CEO is quite demanding, I have also been able to develop new skills in managing multiple projects and prioritising tasks accordingly.

In addition to all of these experiences, I am looking for a career path that satisfies me professionally — something which I believe you will be able to provide! My resume and reference list are attached; please get in touch with me anytime. I look forward to hearing back from you soon!

Sincerely, John Smith

Notes: This is an example of a speculative cover letter for an administrative assistant position in the finance industry. It demonstrates the ability to communicate professionally and experience working on multiple projects.

An example speculative cover letter asking for any administrative job:

Dear Sir, or Madam, I am writing to you as a speculative applicant with no prior experience for the role advertised. My name is [your name], and I would be very interested in any job that suits my skill set of handling paperwork. While searching for jobs online tonight, this position caught my eye because of my skill set.

I can handle paperwork well and would be happy to help you in that work area if given a chance. I also enjoy working with computers and typing documents and emails because it gives me more time for other tasks. If you expect any correspondence from this letter or need anything else done, I would be happy to do that for you.

I look forward to hearing back from you shortly and hope I can start this job soon! Sincerely, [your name]

In conclusion, you can write a speculative cover letter tailored to the company’s needs and strengths. You can present yourself in an honest but confident way. It will also show how much time and effort you put into your application process, which may help land you an interview with this company!

Written by mrafeeq

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Speculative Cover Letter

A cover letter is a bit like your personal statement on a UCAS application, but for a job. A speculative cover letter is the same, apart from it’s sent as part of a speculative application, along with your CV.

It’s a real chance to show yourself off to potential employers and demonstrate how your skill set fits their company.

This is therefore an opportunity to show yourself off in the best way possible and as open-endedly as possible – because you’re not applying for a particular job, you need to show how versatile you are as a candidate and highlight your key skills so that the company can look for places where you could add to their organisation. Tricky, huh?!

‘We never go out of style…’

There are some style rules that are pretty important when doing this. Because this is a speculative application, you need to make sure that your application is not going to be thrown out straight away.

What it therefore has to be is concise and interesting, well laid out and containing no spelling or grammar errors. Check, check and check again. You don’t want to lose out on the job of your dreams because you forgot to capitalise the name of the company you’re applying for.

Three or four paragraphs should be more than enough to show how great you are without boring your reader!

Keep good company…

Because you’re not applying for a specific role, you need to be extra keen on showing why the company appeals to you and how you’d be a good fit. Do your research! What is it in particular that attracts you to the company?

You need to also make sure that the tone of your letter is matched to that of the company – if it’s a formal, traditional organisation then match the phrasing of your cover letter to suit that – don’t go using colloquialisms and smiley faces!

Be content…

So what goes into the actual letter? First off, if it’s possible, find out the name of the person who this letter will go to – using someone’s name is far more likely to endear you to him or her than the standard Dear Sir/Madam.

It’s a simple trick, but one which you should always employ. Make sure the first paragraph outlines what you’re currently doing (University, School, etc.) and what you’re looking to do.

The next two paragraphs should highlight your key skills and back these up with relevant examples and references. Making sure that each skill has examples and experiences is a good way of proving that you’re not just making up what you’re good at and also offers you the opportunity to show a diverse range of things you’ve been involved in that might not have quite made the cut for your CV.

‘I open at the close…’

You need to finish off in style as well – saying something like ‘I look forward to your reply’ or ‘Looking forward to hearing from you’ is a good way of making a statement that you are expecting some sort of consideration and shows you are confident in your own abilities.

Your signature should also reflect the way you began your correspondence – if you found out the name of your recipient, then ‘Yours Sincerely’ is the correct way of closing out the letter, whereas if you didn’t, a ‘Yours Faithfully’ should do the trick!

Putting in your contacts…

Make sure you sign off your name and leave a variety of ways to contact you – the company may prefer to do business over the phone or by email, so don’t sell yourself short at the end. Make your signature look professional and you’ll be well on your way to a reply!

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COMPARATIVE

Speculative cover letter example

Many job opportunities have been discovered via the principle ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get.’ Just because a job has not been advertised doesn’t mean that a recruitment process is not in progress. What’s more, the fact that a job opening doesn’t exist doesn’t mean that it can’t be created for you. A well-targeted speculative cover letter can reveal a gold mine of potential roles.

Speculative cover letters are so normal that the best managers will always give them a quick glance. Why wouldn’t a hiring manager take a quick glimpse at someone who could move the needle for their department?

If the speculative cover letter is a good one, but they don’t have a role currently, they will likely invite you to join their LinkedIn network. If it is convincing enough, it might warrant an exploratory chat. And if they are indeed recruiting, well, the writer wins brownie points for initiative and accesses a role that would have otherwise gone begging.

While there are complicated arguments around whether and when to write a speculative cover letter, for the sake of this guide let’s assume that you have a valid reason. But what should you include in the document? How do you explain your value for a job that doesn’t yet exist? In this wiring guide, we explore the following:

How to choose the right format for a speculative cover letter
How to compose the introduction, middle part, and conclusion
How to argue your case to offer you an interview
Mistakes to avoid that would put any hiring manager off.

Best format for a speculative cover letter

Speculative cover letters differ from normal cover letters in a few ways, but their content should still follow a set format. The introductory paragraph should be a little longer to set the scene. The middle part should be more focused on arguing a potential fit than a normal cover letter and the conclusion should contain more hope than expectation.

Nevertheless, the standard format of any cover letters still applies:

The cover letter header
The greeting / salutation
The cover letter intro
The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)

With any speculative cover letter, you need to be crystal clear about your value the whole way through. You can’t know exactly what role might come your way, so it is hard to tailor it for any specific opportunity. Be brave, be bold, and go out there with the very best version of your career story (and what you want out of your next role and future career).

A regular cover letter would focus on the culture fit with the potential employer and a speculative cover letter is no different. Each letter will be specific to each employer, so show that you are a perfect fit for the workplace. Most speculative cover letters will be generic in this respect, so this is your chance to stand out.

The comprehensive cover letter guide offers more detail in terms of the other cover letter writing advice. Our speculative cover letter example will hopefully offer some inspiration:

Dear Mr. Potts,

I am an experienced customer service manager with five years of experience. I have recently moved to Birmingham, and having been a follower of Core Customer for several years, I would like to be considered for any upcoming employment opportunities.

As an exceptional customer service representative, I have consistently achieved a remarkable track record. I have consistently ranked in the top 1% of employees based on customer satisfaction feedback throughout my career.

My most recent position as Digital Satisfaction Manager was a promotion based on my consistent excellent results in customer service. In this management role I learned how to lead a team while implementing complex customer journeys in collaboration with the digital marketing department. My degree in tourism and hospitality further establishes my expertise in resolving complaints and ensuring customer satisfaction.

My strongest skills lie in digital customer services. This ties in well with your philosophy of convenience for the customer and innovating a service that responds to the average customer’s habits. In fact, I honed many of my skills in digital customer service best practice by using your free online resources on the topic. I would love the opportunity to contribute to a company where digital innovation and customer satisfaction are key values.

While I could not find any roles you are actively hiring for, I hope you will keep my details on file. Please do not hesitate to reach out if something appropriate becomes available, or you would like to speak to me more about my profile.

Thomas Bateman

Cover letter header

While the text of your speculative cover letter is likely best copied into the body of an email, you should still attach a formal cover letter. It may be sent to other people and stored on the employer’s ATS system.

There are many types of design for a cover letter header. As this is an unsolicited application, we would advise opting for something visually simple. You want the hiring manager to get straight into the detail of the letter rather than being distracted by intricate designs. You cannot be seen to be wasting their time or attention in any way.

In both cases, include your full name, email address and mobile number. These details should be prominent in the cover letter header. You don’t have to include your home address until you are at the job offer stage (data protection issues here).

The ‘inside address’ of the employer should only be included if you want to be incredibly formal and it looks a little strange in a speculative cover letter. You have better things to do with your job search time.

Cover letter greeting and introduction

Finding out to whom a speculative cover letter should be addressed is one of the greatest challenges, but if you send it to a generic internal HR or recruitment email, you can be sure that it will be deleted. Individual hiring managers might read the cover letter. Generalist recruiters definitely won’t (they get hundreds of speculative applications every day).

Do your research, find out who your potential hiring manager is and send them an email. Address the letter and email ‘Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Surname.’ No other greeting is acceptable — you have not met this person yet. Consider connecting with them on social media and maybe send them a DM to let them know that you have written to them.

The introduction of a speculative cover letter needs to do so much more heavy lifting than a normal cover letter. Those couple of lines should spell out your value in such a way that the hiring manager decides to interrupt their day and think about something entirely unexpected. ‘It is a little out of the blue, but could this person do a job for me?’

It takes time to work out exactly which problem you solve for them. The more specific your sales pitch, the greater the chances of getting that interview invite. Address their main pain point and leave them in no doubt that you are the person to solve it.

Check out the intro from our speculative cover letter example:

Cover letter middle part (body)

The middle part of a speculative cover letter should be like a normal cover letter, just with less stress on the fit with the prospective role. Share the accomplishments that you think will be most relevant to whatever you would like to do in the future and signpost why you would be a great recruit. Personality is still an important part of the letter, but it takes second place to showing that your experience fits.

Quantifying your case with figures is essential in any speculative cover letter. Lofty words are one thing, but a few impactful figures can really set a hiring manager’s pulse racing. Only include figures that can be directly attributed to your contribution — there may be some awkward interview conversations otherwise. Then jump into full-on sales mode by suggesting what you think you might be able to achieve with your new employer. Be as specific as possible. You need to give them something juicy to contemplate or they will get back to their day job.

A speculative cover letter gives you the chance to stand out with the language that you use. Start your bullets with unique action verbs. Use short and powerful sentences that hint at much more to come in the interview. Sprinkle the cover letter with hints of humility and hope whilst at the same time being firm in your conviction that you can do the job.

The middle part of this speculative cover letter shows the way forward:

How to close a speculative cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

The closing of a speculative cover letter needs to end on one last solid argument to ask for a full CV and details of when you can have a chat. While normal cover letters will end with a hope of an interview, avoid such sentiment in this cover letter. Sell yourself until the very last word. Sometimes, you only get one chance.

It might be a good idea to include a link to your LinkedIn profile at the close of a speculative cover letter. A CV might seem like the obvious next step, but with LinkedIn a hiring manager has the option of connecting with you or following you. If they do so, you have another chance to get in touch with them and advance your candidature.

If you do get a bite after a persuasive close, you then have the chance to send over another message with your CV and more details. A confident close that enquires about next steps should not be omitted. Back yourself. Hiring managers will come back for more.

Check out an example speculative cover letter conclusion:

Basic mistakes in a speculative cover letter (and how to avoid them)

The speculative cover letter will be carefully analysed for any sign of weakness. The smallest mistake might call into question to quality of the application, so be careful to check for the following:

Spelling and grammar mistakes: How you write your speculative cover letter will be judged. Use an online grammar checker to pick up on any errors and ask a friend to proofread the letter to make sure that it sounds like you.
Keep the look professional. Choose a cover letter template that is neutral and does not detract from your message. While the speculative cover letter will likely initially be read in an email, don’t go overboard with the design of the cover letter.
Don’t be too presumptuous: It is all too easy to hint that the employer should offer you an opportunity. There are countless reasons why that might not be the case. Write the letter with a hopeful and optimistic tone — but don’t come across as arrogant.

Let’s be honest, any hiring manager will start off feeling slightly resentful that they are spending their time on this unexpected task, so don’t give them any reason to feel more disgruntled. If your content is compelling, they will soon be on your side. Any mistakes in a speculative cover letter will make their journey towards this conclusion a little tougher.

Key takeaways

Don’t stop selling your story — right up to the final word. You only get one shot.
Share how you will fit in with the employer culture (not a specific job).
Paint a picture of a future with you contributing standout value.
Be hopeful. Give them an option to connect if there is no current opening.

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How to write a speculative...

How to write a speculative application for a job that isn't advertised

8 min read · Updated on October 25, 2022

A company may not be hiring, but you could still land yourself a job. Here's how.

The best-kept secret in finding a new role is the hidden job market . This means that while not all jobs are advertised, you can still apply for them by writing a speculative application.

In this article, learn all about the speculative job application - including what it is and how to write one.

What is a speculative application?

A speculative application, also known as a speculative CV, involves reaching out to a company and putting yourself forward for jobs that have not been advertised or do not exist right now. It usually involves sending a CV and cover letter via email or an online portal.

Applying “on spec” is the term used to describe sending a speculative job application. It's common practice for many industries too. If you're solely looking for job adverts to respond to, you could be missing out on opportunities in the charity, design, environmental, and media sectors, where applying on spec is commonplace.

Sending a speculative CV isn't limited to full-time roles either. Applying on spec can pave a direct route into a company that may reveal temporary or permanent work, contract work, internships, and graduate positions.

Do speculative job applications work?

Speculative applications are worthwhile. They work particularly well for a variety of industries where applying on spec is commonplace, particularly in media, including journalism, broadcasting, publishing, TV, and film. However, they can be advantageous regardless of the field you wish to pursue.

Sending speculative applications can grant you access to a wider pool of roles that you otherwise wouldn't have discovered. Taking a proactive approach can therefore increase your chances of job-hunt success.

And at the very least, you will have increased your business connections that may inform you of future work opportunities.

How do you write a speculative application?

Writing a speculative job application takes a healthy pinch of creativity, logic, and determination. It's a little trickier than your usual application, as you have to assume the details of an imaginary job spec. However, it's not impossible. Here are five steps to follow:

1. Identify what your ideal job looks like

Before you start a speculative job application, reflect on what your current employment needs are and the type of job you are looking for. Remember, just because the job isn't advertised, it doesn't mean you can aim for a “dream job” you're not qualified to do. Consider a role that aligns with your experience, skill set, and career goals.

Once you have pulled together a vision of your ideal job, hunt for vacancies online and peruse the requirements. This will help to verify whether your abilities align with the type of job you're looking for.

2. Curate a shortlist of prospective employers

The next step involves drawing up a shortlist of employers to target. Start by considering the companies that interest you the most. This might be based on a bucket list of dream companies to work for, recommendations from friends or old colleagues, or even brand mentions in industry-related publications that have sparked your interest.

Then move on to look for companies based on their sector and location, to whittle down a shortlist of potential targets. While a simple Google search should reveal “marketing agencies in Bristol” and the like, you can also take to job boards, employer review sites, and professional bodies, which host company profiles to peruse with ease.

3. Conduct background research

Once you've found the companies that meet your sector and location requirements, the next step is background research. This is to ensure that you're well informed about the company and get a feel for the type of work they do.

Start with the company's website. Look through the “About Us” pages, which will highlight the organisation's aims, employees, and values. Also, review the product and services pages and the blog to get a deeper understanding of how they make money, who their customers are, and the topics they care about.

Most importantly, review the careers section of the website which should reveal details about life at the company and the current vacancies. This section should signal the areas where they are currently investing in headcount and at what level. Don't let it deter you if you can't find a vacancy for yourself. Instead, use them for inspiration.

By reading through live job adverts, you'll pick up on keywords that are used in the company's recruitment drive, in addition to desirable traits they are looking for in applicants.

4. Find and establish a suitable contact at the company

It's essential that you find a personal contact at the company before making a speculative application. While an organisation may advertise on their website that they will welcome speculative applications, the email address will probably be related to a group inbox rather than a personal inbox, meaning it may be deprioritised.

LinkedIn will likely be your best friend in this instance. Find out who the hiring manager is, or even the head of the relevant department. Browse their profile to gain an insight into their professional interests and position at work. If their work email isn't listed on their profile, send a short message to say you're looking to reach out and discuss potential work opportunities at the company and ask for the best email address.

Failing that, call the company to find out the name of the person in charge of recruiting and the best email address to reach them on.

5. Tailor your CV and cover letter to an assumed job spec

A tailored CV is a job-search essential. Even though you do not have a job description to reference, this shouldn't stop you from writing a bespoke CV. By using your research about the company, the sought-after traits listed in their live vacancies, and job specs from your earlier research related to your ideal job, you can craft a customised CV.

Pull out organisational values to subtly reference throughout your personal statement . Then, identify industry- and role-relevant keywords to add throughout your CV to highlight where your skill set lies and your relevant achievements. This will make it clear to the employer what you can do, the value you can bring to the company, and that you know what type of job you want.

Mirror the same level of personalisation and detail throughout your cover letter. The first paragraph of a speculative cover letter is slightly different to the standard cover letter for an advertised vacancy . In your introduction, instead of stating the role you're applying for, reference why you're approaching the employer. This is especially pertinent if you have an existing relationship with someone there.

In addition, make it clear what type of role you're looking for by providing a concise and snappy description. If the employer believes you don't know what you're looking for, you may come across as disingenuous.

How do you send and follow up on a speculative job application?

When emailing your speculative application, use your cover letter as the body of the email and attach your CV. This is rather than writing a short email and attaching the cover letter and CV. Be sure to name the file of your CV with something descriptive, so that they can tie the file back to you. Your full name and ideal job title, followed by “speculative CV application” or similar should do the trick.

Follow the same logic with the subject line, but note that you don't need to include your name as the recipient will see it in your email address.

Depending on the size of the company, it could take anywhere from a few days to a few months to respond. Some may not respond at all. As a rule of thumb, send a follow-up email no sooner than a week later to check in and see if they've had a chance to review your speculative application. Keep it light and friendly - after all, this could be your future employer.

Speculative applications are tricky in comparison to applying to live vacancies, but you may hit the jackpot of jobs if it pays off. Be patient, open-minded, and proactive, and remember that, even if there isn't a role available right now, keep all doors open so you'll be in the front of their mind when there is.

Submit your CV for a free review to check that you've portrayed your abilities and achievements in the right way for a particular employer as part of your speculative application.

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Speculative application: Secure your dream job

Have you heard of something called an “invisible” or “hidden” job market? No? Then you should look into it because it is the job market you are addressing with a speculative application (also called unsolicited application).

A speculative application can raise a recruitment need in a company or organisation whose HR planning is not yet definite. Even if it you need a bit of hope, a speculative application and ideal preparation gives you enormous opportunities as a specialist to open the door wide to a job interview .

What is a speculative application?

What must be included in a speculative application?
Speculative application: Advantages and disadvantages of a speculative application
Preparation and research of a speculative application
Template for a speculative application: Three variants for you

Introduction to a speculative application: Establish a catchy connection in your opening sentence

Cover letter for a speculative application: Reinforce this in the main section with knowledge and ability

Conclusion for a speculative application: Be self-confident and optimistic when getting to the point

Which companies are worth sending speculative applications to? Basically all those with positive growth prospects. Publications about new company sites or new project orders are good indicators for this development. Use a speculative application to refer to this information and link it to your own motivation, interests and competencies.

You will be particularly successful if the company invites speculative applications on its own website. If a company is experiencing economic difficulties, it makes little sense to send a speculative application as they will most likely not be hiring at the moment. This means that smart, diligent research is essential for a successful speculative application and to avoid wasted time and effort.

A speculative application is an application that is not aimed at a specific job offer. So, although there is no vacancy, you can still use your application to refer to a specific position in the company and create a requirements profile matching your competencies.

THE 1X1 OF A SUCCESSFUL SPECULATIVE APPLICATION

AUTHENTICITY

Emphasise your competence when formulating a speculative application. (Target icon in cyan blue)

INDIVIDUAL APPROACH

NAMING USPs

WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN A SPECULATIVE APPLICATION?

In terms of structure and individual components, a speculative application is very similar to a standard application. A speculative application should also include at least a cover letter and your CV. Making contact beforehand can clarify whether your preferred next employer expects letters of recommendation, references or even a motivational letter or cover sheet from you.

Therefore, it is advisable to contact the company before you swing into action and compile your application documents. It will help your contact remember you and draw a connection between you and your speculative application. And you know exactly which documents are required in the application folder or digital application.

SPECULATIVE APPLICATION: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

The chances of landing your dream job with a speculative application are good—for the following reasons:

You are not competing with other applicants for an advertised position.

Apart from self-initiative, you are showing a lot of commitment, ambition and also self-confidence: character traits that can benefit any employer.

Since you are creating a fictional profile for a hidden position, you need to clearly highlight your skills and abilities. All companies will remember that. In addition, you have the opportunity of potentially defining your future position.

With a speculative application, you can give free reign to your creativity—in terms of layout and content. Show creativity and stand out from the crowd.

In all probability, you will be added to the company’s pool of a applicants.

Even if the advantages seem overwhelming at first, you should also consider the disadvantages of a speculative application.

You are entering unknown territory. You can only assume the kinds of skills required, but you cannot know for sure.

To find out more details, you need to do preparatory work, do a lot of research —and invest time.

Some companies are currently not looking for people, so a lack of job advertisements means you have little to go on when it comes to composing your speculative application.

Likewise, some companies reject speculative applications on principle. This is yet another reason why you should contact someone and ask them for details.

SPECULATIVE APPLICATION: PREPARATION AND RESEARCH

Naturally, align your speculative application to the contact you were previously in touch with by phone or in writing.

Apart from establishing a general interest in speculative applications, also ask about the required documents. Certificates, letters of recommendation or work samples are always valuable and informative documents because they accurately describe your field of activity and assess your accomplishments. For some employers, however, a short application is sufficient.

Don't forget the application photo, which is an important part of your documents. Choose a professional and up-to-date photo that presents you in a positive and competent light. Make sure that the photo matches the industry you are applying for. In some countries and industries, application photos are no longer common, so find out in advance whether a photo is appropriate in your case. If you are unsure, you can also ask directly during a telephone call.

Try to derive as many details and requirements as possible for your speculative application from the information received. Use this as a basis to tailor your documents to your preferred next employer so the company feels it is individually addressed and you can impress with your detailed knowledge. This will boost your chances of being invited to a first interview.

Try answering the following questions for yourself to perfectly tailor your speculative application to the company:

What values does the company represent? What is the company philosophy?

In which sector does the company operate? What sets the company apart?

What products and services are offered? Do they have a USP?

What current (economic) news is there about the company? Is it expanding into other countries?

Are there gaps in the company’s skill set? Can you close these with your expertise?

What qualifications are present in the company? Which department can your job profile be allocated to?

To answer these questions, you should not only use the company website but also career networks such as Xing or LinkedIn. After all, employees and companies are more likely to share information there than on other social media platforms.

TEMPLATE FOR A SPECULATIVE APPLICATION: THREE VARIANTS FOR YOU

Your comprehensive research has provided you with all the information for writing a meaningful cover letter for your speculative application that will attract attention. Often, these data and details help you to gauge even better whether the company really is a good fit for you—and vice versa.

Since there are so many different prerequisites and backgrounds, it is almost impossible to provide a sample for a speculative application. Nevertheless, we want to give you specific tips on how to structure a cover letter for your speculative application that will inspire your contacts.

Very important! No one in an HR department is waiting for a formalised, dull speculative application. You need to impress with authenticity as well as creativity. Show your rough edges, get to the point of why the company really needs your personality together with your skills and experience. A bog-standard application will land wide of the mark but fresh, original wording with an edge will spark interest.

After addressing your contact, use the first sentence to make your mark. An unusual introduction will encourage the recipient to read on.

Try this (Example):

“Dear Ms Miller,

2022 will change your company. Your new product will come to market, your company will radiate into new international marketplaces and your team will need valid data to shine a light on its success. Even if your marketing team has already taken on national challenges, international product relaunches are a completely different ball game. I can name four things that I have successfully implemented that will also support your relaunch: …”

Start mentioning your knowledge and professional experience in the introduction, focus on your strengths and point out gaps in competencies and staff coverage. Finding an original word play or metaphor for that will give you every chance of attracting attention with the cover letter of your speculative application.

Cover letter for a speculative application: In the main section, impress with knowledge and ability

Following the introduction in the cover letter of your speculative application, you now need to advertise your own competencies and qualifications. As you would in a cover letter for a standard application, try not to squeeze your CV into this main section. Explain briefly and succinctly how the company will benefit from your expertise, how you will drive your preferred next employer forwards and what goals you want to achieve in the process. Clearly state what sets you apart, what soft skills you possess and why you of all people are the perfect fit for the team. Also explain the specific enthusiasm you have for a field of activity and evidence your inner drive. This is the only way for you ensure that your contact can see your motivation and passion.

In the conclusion, mention your earliest possible starting date. You can also self-confidently point to your goal and illustrate the value that collaborating with you would bring the company.

At the end, thank your contact for the time they have invested and optimistically express that you are looking forward to meeting them. Don’t use the conditional in your finishing phrases but instead, look to the future with anticipation and full of confidence as in our example.

“I’ll be happy to be at your disposal full of energy, highly motivated and in keeping with my 3-month period of notice after 1 October. Please treat my speculative application confidentially. Thank you for considering my application documents and I looking forward to accepting an invitation to meet you in person.”

Do you need rework your application documents? See our Download section for CV templates, information about application photographs and check-lists for successful cover letters!

With a speculative application, it is particularly important to be precise and targeted. A common mistake is not personalizing the application enough: avoid generic cover letters and tailor each document to the company in question. It is equally important not to focus too much on general skills , but to highlight specific knowledge and experience that could be of particular interest to the company. Also avoid including too much information.

Your application should be compact, precise and focused on the essentials. Finally, make sure your documents are error-free and professional - spelling mistakes and an unkempt layout can significantly reduce your chances.

Conclusion: Use your speculative application to draw attention to yourself.

As mentioned above, extensive and detailed research is half the battle to ensure that your speculative application hits the mark. This research will also help you in the future to watch out for nuances and choose which companies are a good fit for your personality and which ones aren’t.

What is important here is being authentic. Understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie and showcase your abilities, knowledge and personality in a realistic light. This is the only way for you to come across as authentic and to communicate with your preferred next employer in a relaxed and ambitious manner.

Identifying strengths and weaknesses

The question about your special skills and deficits is popular with HR managers. We will show you how to use a SWOT analysis to perfectly prepare for it.

Update your CV regularly

An up-to-date CV is the heart of any application. But how often should you update it? We can tell you that.

Get the best out of it

Negotiating is an art that can be learned. Our tips will help you not to undersell yourself and to secure your expected salary.

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Writing a covering letter

A covering letter highlights your relevant strengths and motivation for the job and organisation you are applying to, and markets you effectively by complementing your CV.

While there isn’t one way to write a covering letter there are some key things to consider to ensure you follow a logical structure and engage the employer in reading your letter.

Top tips for success

Make sure that your letter is clear, informative and professional-looking, so that the recruiter will want to go on and read your CV.

Keep to one page
If possible, address it to a named person : just call the organisation and ask, if it's not clear elsewhere
Set it out like a business letter, with addresses and date at the top
Check your spelling and grammar
Use the same font as your CV so that they look consistent
Consider addressing gaps in your CV or other areas you think might need explaining, for example, a retaken year or a health problem. Try to be brief and positive and if in doubt book an appointment with a careers consultant
Tailor your letter to each application and try to highlight skills and experience that are relevant to that specific job and employer (it’s obvious it’s a generic letter if you just change the organisation name!)
Give evidence for claims you make
Try not to start every sentence with ‘I’
Keep it concise and focused to encourage further reading of your letter and CV
Be professional rather than overly humorous or informal
Sell yourself : don’t underplay your skills or make negative comments about yourself
If you are sending your application by email , attach the CV and covering letter rather than typing it into the email body. The format of an email can change drastically depending on the system used by the employer.

Write in clear, concise English with a professional yet conversational tone. While you will need to support your claims with evidence, try not to drown the reader with details and avoid jargon they may not understand.

The exact content will depend on you and the job or course but it should include the content outlined below. Remember, you can vary the order of information to suit your style of writing, but make sure it reads logically.

Introduction

Introduce yourself (subject, year and where are you are studying) and explain why you are writing. If you are making a speculative enquiry about the possibility of a job, be clear about the type of work or opportunity you are asking for. If you are responding to an advert, say where you saw it.

Why this role, why this employer

The covering letter is where you should explain your interest and enthusiasm for an organisation and role. Say what attracts you to the kind of work involved, based on your knowledge of the duties and likely satisfactions. This will demonstrate your understanding of the opportunity and your motivation.

Show you’ve done your research into the organisation. Mention what you have done to find out more, e.g. online research or speaking with their staff at careers events, and explain how your skills and interests match the organisation’s values and culture. If possible, back this up by referring to relevant activities where you have demonstrated these interests.

When describing what attracts you to the organisation, make it specific and original, rather than repeating facts stated on their website. Note: If you could say the exact same things about a different organisation, then you have not been specific enough, and the employer will spot this.

Sometimes you won’t know who the employer is, e.g. if you are applying via a recruitment agency. In this case concentrate on the attractions of the role.

Why you are perfect for the job

Using the job description or person specification, describe your most relevant experiences as evidence of the employer’s requirements. This will help convince the employer you are the ideal candidate for this job. If there is no detailed job description, use careers information/job profiles which describe typical features of the work.

You can also use this careers information for a speculative application, as you can describe abilities and experience that you would expect them to be looking for given the nature of the opportunity that you are seeking.

While the CV is a brief summary of facts and your selling points, the covering letter is where you show exactly how and why you fit the opportunity and organisation you are applying to. So when describing your key examples don't repeat the information already in your CV. Instead, add more detail to make a stronger and compelling case.

Reiterate your enthusiasm to join the organisation and end with ‘I look forward to hearing from you’ or a similar statement. If appropriate, say when you are/are not available for interview. Ensure you sign off ‘Yours sincerely’ if writing to a named individual, and ‘Yours faithfully’ if you have not been able to find a named contact. Type your name, but also sign the letter if you are printing it out.

Dealing with 'difficult' issues / disclosing a disability

Covering letters also give you the chance to say more about any ‘difficult’ issues, for example weaker grades, lack of relevant experience, time gaps and health issues/disability. Use the letter to explain how you have coped with any setbacks and be sure to emphasise positive qualities that you have developed as a result, such as determination and persistence. Write positively about the experience, for example what you learnt from it, and what you have done to address the issue since then, if applicable.

If you have health-related issues or a disability, it is your decision whether to disclose this when writing your covering letter and there is further advice on this topic . You may wish to discuss this with an adviser.

Sample covering letters and resources

We have a number of templates to help you write a covering letter and CV, but DO NOT just copy these. You need to use your judgment and create your own application, targeting it to the needs of the the job and employer. Make it personal so that it stands out from the crowd.

CV with skills section and letter
CV and letter
CV with profile and letter
CV and letter for mature student
CV and letter for part-time work
CV and letter for part-time work (two sides)
CV and letter applying for science PhD

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5 ways to stand out on your internship application.

Advice |

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Internships are a great way to get hands-on experience in your chosen field. Over the course of an internship, you can expect to develop new skills and expand your professional network, among many other benefits. In certain cases, an internship can lead directly into a full-time job. When applying for an internship, it’s important to distinguish yourself as a great candidate. Here’s how to make your internship application stand out.

A Solid Cover Letter

When applying for internships you might notice that certain employers ask for a cover letter, while others do not; however, if you want to stand out, it’s best to include a cover letter either way. The great thing about a cover letter is it can provide potential employers with additional information about your experience and skills, along with more detail about who you are as a person.

A good tactic for writing an effective cover letter is to study the internship job description very carefully. Then, make direct connections between the job description’s requirements, and your skills and experience. For example, if the description states that the employer is looking for a team player, you could include any examples of when you worked with others to complete a major project in your cover letter. For a more in-depth look at internship cover letters, check out our previous blog .

Clean Up Your Social Media

These days, most employers will take a look at an applicant’s social media profiles to get a better feel for how they’ll fit into the company’s workplace environment, and internships are no different. Before you start applying to any internships, examine your social media profiles, your posts, comments, your interactions with others, and even the pages and profiles you follow.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid hot-button topics such as politics and religion. Similarly, any posts or comments that can be deemed controversial could hurt your candidacy. It would be to your advantage to start following groups and pages that are relevant to your professional interests, as it will show potential employers that you’re motivated to learn and succeed. You can be yourself, but play it safe—if you get the feeling something might be questionable, it probably is.

Tweak Your Resume

You might have very little or no work experience, but that doesn’t mean you can’t craft yourself a nice resume. Similar to how you would put together a cover letter, study each internship job description and make any necessary adjustments to your resume to make sure it closely aligns with the description’s requirements. You might have to get creative in order to do this, but you should be able to leverage your coursework and experiences working on projects effectively.

The best method for applying to multiple internships is to have several different versions of your resume readily available. Keep in mind that these versions may vary from one another only slightly, but borrowing key words from an internship job description and incorporating them into your resume will help get you noticed. If you have part-time job experience that can be related to the internship job description, include that on your resume as well.

After you’ve applied to a bunch of internship programs, you might be thinking that it’s time to put your feet up and chill out, but there’s still more to do! Take note of all the internship programs you applied for, along with the dates of your applications. Next, set reminders for yourself to follow up with the hiring manager at each company.

It’s best to wait about a week from the date of your application before sending a follow up email, with two weeks being the maximum amount of time you should wait. When writing your follow up email, do your best to be professional and take the time to review your email before sending it, ensuring that there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Here is an example of a follow up email:

Good morning [contact name],

I recently applied for [company name]’s [name of internship program] and I’m just checking in to confirm that my application was received. I am very excited about your internship program and I feel that my knowledge and experience make me a great candidate. If you have any questions about my resume I’d be happy to answer them.

Thank you, and have a great day.

By following up on your application, you’ll show the hiring manager that you’re motivated and eager to start. In certain cases, this could win you a spot in the program, but at the very least it will help speed up the process. Maintaining professionalism throughout the application process is crucial, regardless of the response you get. Remember, you never want to burn bridges, as you never know where you’ll end up down the road.

In most cases, an internship program will require you to have a few references. It’s important to start collecting your references early in the process. A good way to do this is to communicate with your professors about your interest in participating in an internship. Provide details such as the company name, and the name of the program. In certain cases, your professor might already be aware of the program, or they might be able to recommend additional programs.

The best references are people who can speak to your personality, skills, and knowledge. Professors who teach classes in which you’re excelling are great choices. Typically, you want to secure two or three references before you start to apply for any internship programs. If you have a part-time job, you could also ask your boss to be a reference, as they would be able to speak to your work ethic.

Lastly, take the time to review each internship description and apply only to the ones you would most like to participate in, this way you’ll be happy with the outcome no matter which program you get accepted into. With a positive attitude and some extra effort, you’ll be well on your way to a meaningful internship experience.

This article has been republished with permission from Vault .

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How to Write a Speculative Cover Letter (with Examples)
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COMMENTS

How to write a speculative application (with example)
Speculative application cover letter example Here is an example of the content you may write in a speculative application cover letter: Dear Julie, I am writing to discuss the possibility of joining your organisation. Your recent advertisement for a project lead on your community engagement project interested me. I would like to ask that you ...
3 Speculative cover letter examples [Get hired]
Speculative cover letter examples. Andrew Fennell. Speculative cover letters can be a proactive way to get your foot in the door and find jobs that haven't even been advertised yet. But with so much resting on this application, you need to use the space wisely to explain what type of role you're looking for and what attracted you to their ...
How to Write a Speculative Cover Letter
A brief but professional self-introduction. One or two sentences showing your interest in the company. A clear statement of why you're writing to the employer. Here's an example of a strong speculative cover letter opening statement: Using the department manager's name personalises your speculative cover letter.
Speculative Cover Letter: Examples and Writing Tips
When writing a speculative cover letter you need to follow the same formatting rules as a standard cover letter. Here's what to do. Set one-inch margins on all sides of the page. Use single or 1.15 line spacing, and put a space between each paragraph. Choose an easily readable font in 11pt to 12pt size.
How to Write Effective Speculative Cover Letter (+ Example)
Here is how to write a speculative cover letter: 1. Make sure your speculative cover letter header is set out right. Your unsolicited cover letter had better look the part when it's first opened. Align to the right your full name, postal address, email, and phone number. Leave a line and add the date of writing.
How To Write a Speculative Cover Letter for an Unlisted Job
With a speculative cover letter, you may determine the requirements by inferring them from social media, press releases, corporate communications and other job listings from the company and the industry. To help you, considering following these steps: 1. Find out what the company may want in their next hire.
How to write a cover letter for an unadvertised job
Here are a few tips specific to unsoclicited cover letters: ...
How To Write A Speculative Cover Letter With Template
Strike the right tone. It can be hard to judge how to write a speculative cover letter and what tone to use. In our opinion, it's best to opt for a formal tone. You don't know the person, so don't be over-familiar. Open with 'Dear [person's name]', and avoid any informal chit-chat like 'I hope you had a good weekend'.
Speculative cover letters: What you need to know
However, the format of a speculative letter will be fairly similar to a standard cover letter: Start with your personal information (e.g. name, address and contact details - never include a national insurance number or bank details). Include a manager's name (if you have it) Dear Sir/Madam (if you don't have a name) A first main paragraph ...
How to Write Speculative Cover Letters and Email Applications
Step 4. Proofread. When making speculative job applications, your cover letter or email is the one opportunity you have to make a good impression. If the text is littered with spelling and grammar errors, this is unlikely to make the manager want to call you to discuss a potential job opening.
Speculative cover letter
With the help of our speculative cover letter example, you can create your own opportunities . ... Thank them for taking the time to read your application and that you look forward to hearing from them soon. Please be aware that this is an example. Use this cover letter template to help generate ideas and structure your own document but avoid ...
Speculative cover letter example (UK cover letter)
Free cover letter template for a speculative job application; Follows all the latest cover letter writing best practices; You only need 30 minutes to customise it for your application; Example cover letter shows you how to use the template; See how to layout your cover letter, and what info to include in your cover letter
How to Write a Speculative Cover Letter
The general formatting of a speculative letter will be relatively similar to a standard cover letter: Start with personal information such as your name, address and contact details. You should never include your national insurance number or bank details on your cover letter. Include information to your social media platforms such as Linkedin.
How to Write a Speculative Cover Letter
A speculative cover letter is sent to apply for or enquire about a job that is not currently being advertised.. You should consider making a speculative job application if you are:. Actively looking for a new job role; Trying to find a work experience placement; Thinking about making a career move
How to write a speculative job application
Making a speculative application means getting in touch with an organisation to ask whether they have a suitable job for you, despite the fact they aren't advertising a particular vacancy. It usually involves sending a cover letter and a CV. Of course, major graduate schemes and roles at large companies will usually be formally advertised and ...
How To Write A Speculative Cover Letter With Winning Examples
A typical speculative letter needs to follow the following steps. 1. Introduce yourself. 2. Explain the position you are applying for. 3. Outline your skills and experience that relate to the position. 4. State why you would be a good fit for the company.
Speculative Cover Letter
in Cover Letter. A cover letter is a bit like your personal statement on a UCAS application, but for a job. A speculative cover letter is the same, apart from it's sent as part of a speculative application, along with your CV. It's a real chance to show yourself off to potential employers and demonstrate how your skill set fits their company.
How to Write a Speculative Cover Letter
By setting out your cover letter formally, you stand a better chance of your speculative application succeeding. This means adding your name, address and the date on the top right and the addressee's details below this, on the left. Begin with 'Dear...' and end with 'Yours faithfully,' which is the correct format if you don't happen to already ...
Speculative Cover Letter Examples for UK Market (2024)
The comprehensive cover letter guide offers more detail in terms of the other cover letter writing advice. Our speculative cover letter example will hopefully offer some inspiration: Adaptable cover letter example. Dear Mr. Potts, I am an experienced customer service manager with five years of experience.
How to write a speculative application for a job that isn't ...
A speculative application, also known as a speculative CV, involves reaching out to a company and putting yourself forward for jobs that have not been advertised or do not exist right now. It usually involves sending a CV and cover letter via email or an online portal. Applying "on spec" is the term used to describe sending a speculative ...
Speculative application: Templates and wording
Template for a speculative application: Three variants for you. Introduction to a speculative application: Establish a catchy connection in your opening sentence. Cover letter for a speculative application: Reinforce this in the main section with knowledge and ability. Conclusion for a speculative application: Be self-confident and optimistic ...
Writing a covering letter
A covering letter highlights your relevant strengths and motivation for the job and organisation you are applying to, and markets you effectively by complementing your CV. ... You can also use this careers information for a speculative application, as you can describe abilities and experience that you would expect them to be looking for given ...
Attorney Cover Letter—Sample & Writing Guide
Cover Letter Builder Create your Cover Letter in 5 minutes. Land the job you want. Cover Letter Templates Find the perfect Cover Letter template.; Cover Letter Examples See perfect Cover Letter examples that get you jobs.; Cover Letter Format Choose the right Cover Letter format for your needs.; How to Write a Cover Letter Learn how to write a Cover Letter that lands you jobs.
Quality Assurance Cover Letter: Examples & Template
A quality assurance cover letter must demonstrate your testing experience and passion for identifying and resolving issues. An excellent quality assurance cover letter begins like this: 1. Use a Great Quality Assurance Cover Letter Format. The key to an effective quality assurance cover letter lies in its presentation.
5 Ways to Stand Out on Your Internship Application
Here's how to make your internship application stand out. A Solid Cover Letter. When applying for internships you might notice that certain employers ask for a cover letter, while others do not; however, if you want to stand out, it's best to include a cover letter either way. The great thing about a cover letter is it can provide potential ...