Speculatively approaching a company isn’t anything new, but it’s not as simple as just firing off a generic CV and cover letter. In order to maximise your chances of success, you’ll need to factor in significant time to research – and that’s before you’ve even started curating your experience.
What are the advantages to speculatively applying for jobs?
- Little or no competition from other Job Seekers.
- A cheaper hire for the business due to a reduction in recruitment fees (unless they are already saving big by working with Ally of course).
- The ability to define a new role for yourself altogether if there is currently not an existing position.
What could go wrong?
- You might have a killer CV but that is purely subjective in the end, it really is a numbers game before you get the elusive call back.
- Businesses who are not actively looking can move slowly, they may be shaping a role with you in mind, but they might have to wait until the next financial year…
- You need to have resilience to face potential knock backs, or at worse, no responses.
Do you know who to target?
- Yes – You probably already have a company in mind; you’ve scrolled their feeds and refreshed their jobs board weekly, but they just don’t seem to be recruiting. Now’s the time to crack the approach.
- No – You might just have an idea of the industry or sector you want to work in. This is where extensive research now comes into play.
How to make contact
Decide where you want to work and then search for companies in that area. Google is your friend here and once you have a shortlist, (although ‘longlist’ might be more realistic given how many you’re going to need to send out), it’s time to make contact. LinkedIn and Ally are both tools that allow you to find existing employees, so consider reaching out to the decision makers with a polite message – now is not the time to propose coffee or a chat, they’re not actually recruiting and may be less giving with their time.
If you haven’t been able to find a contact, then search the company site for a general contact or HR address. Email allows you to make all key points without the fluster of a phone call and it’s imperative you include a CV and your cover letter as part of this contact.
At the very least you need to include 5 – 8 key points that explain how your skills match the company’s needs. Make this the clearest part of your cover letter, relate these skills directly to recent projects or campaigns they’ve worked on. Nobody appreciates getting the blanket email so make sure your research into the company really shines. Flattery will get you everywhere.
What if I don’t get any replies?
It’s a risk, but it’s not a given. Keep pushing onwards, and don’t be disheartened. You’d be surprised how many speculative enquiries lead to exciting new roles.
In summary, speculative applications can be difficult, but not impossible. Remember to target the right companies for your skill set, better yet one that you genuinely have an affinity for. Create a CV and cover letter tailored to their company and your skills, and be aware that this is not a time to rely on your standard template. Consider how flexible you can be with your skills and most importantly attempt to make a connection within the company before you get started.
We are not a recruitment company. We are your Ally. We enable you to connect with businesses to find your next dream role and grow your database. Create a profile and get started today.