Applying
Speculative job applications: how to get them right, step by step
A speculative application means offering your skills to an employer that hasn’t advertised a job. Well targeted, it reaches them before other candidates; sent in bulk, it ends up in the bin. The difference comes down to a few steps.
Why send a speculative application?
Not every job is advertised: some are filled through contacts, through an application already on file, or before an ad is ever written. A speculative application puts you on the employer’s radar at the moment a need appears. EURES, the European job mobility portal, notes for Austria that it is common practice to apply to firms that haven’t advertised a vacancy, even for apprenticeships.
It works especially well for internships, placements and apprenticeships, for small businesses that rarely post jobs, and for roles employers hire for all year round. The catch: you have to do the work a job ad usually does — say which role, why this employer, and what you bring.
1. Choose your employers
Start from what you want to do, then look for organisations where that job exists: your sector, your town, companies whose products you use, those opening a new site or growing.
- Careers pages: many employers have a “Work for us” or “Join us” page with a speculative application form.
- Your network: former colleagues, tutors, careers fairs, professional bodies. A name someone recommends opens more doors than a generic inbox.
- Local news and business directories: expansions, new contracts and openings are good moments to write.
For each employer you pick, note what you know about them: what they do, recent news, values, size. That is the material for your opening paragraph.
2. Find the right person
An application addressed to a person gets read; one sent to “info@” gets sorted. Depending on the size of the organisation:
| Organisation | Who to write to |
|---|---|
| Large company | The speculative application form on the careers site, and if possible the manager of the team you want to join. |
| Small business | The owner or the head of the team: often the same person makes the decision. |
| Shop, restaurant, trade | The manager on site: handing in a CV in person at a quiet time still works. |
| Firm or agency | The partner or team lead in the area you’re interested in. |
The name is often on the company website, in the local press, or a phone call to reception away: ask who applications should go to. EURES suggests the same for Austria: contact employers by phone or email before sending your documents.
3. Say exactly what you’re offering
This is the most common mistake: “I am available for any role that matches my profile.” The reader has neither the time nor the wish to guess. Name a job or type of work, and when you’re available:
- “an accounts payable role from January”;
- “a six-month digital marketing internship starting in April”;
- “a two-year engineering maintenance apprenticeship”.
You can stay open later in the message, but the first sentence must tell the reader which team to pass your application to.
4. Write a short, targeted message
Most speculative applications now go by email or through the careers site form: the message is your cover letter. One page at most, ideally one screen. Three parts are enough: why this employer, what you bring, and the next step you suggest.
Subject: Speculative application — Accounts Payable Clerk, available from January Dear Ms Taylor, With your new distribution centre opening in Fictiville, your finance team will be handling far more supplier invoices — and I would like to help. I have spent four years in accounts payable at Fictivia, processing invoices from over 300 suppliers from entry to payment, and I set up automatic bank statement matching. I would welcome a short conversation about how I could contribute. My CV is attached. Kind regards, Sam Carter 07700 900000
For the letter itself, see our guide to writing a cover letter: the same structure applies, only shorter. With a similar job ad from this employer, our free cover letter generator can draft a first version from your CV.
5. Tailor your CV to the role you’re offering
With no job ad to answer, work from what you know about the role: a similar ad from this employer or a competitor, a job profile, the careers site’s “Our teams” page. Lead your CV with what matches that job, just as you would for an advert — see tailoring your CV to a job.
- Your headline repeats the role you offer in your message.
- Your profile says what you bring to this kind of employer.
- The file: a clearly named PDF (“CV First Last.pdf”), never an editable document or an oversized attachment.
6. Follow up, then keep track
Speculative applications often go unanswered: the employer has no process for them. A short follow-up about ten days later shows your interest and puts your name back in front of them. See our guide on following up with a recruiter.
Keep a record of each one: employer, contact, date, reply. An employer who says “not right now” may be hiring three months later; that’s the time to get back in touch. See tracking your job applications.
Mistakes to avoid
- Bulk sending: several employers in copy, or the same “Dear Sir or Madam” for everyone.
- No subject line, or a vague one (“CV”).
- A long message: your full background is in your CV; the message only needs to make them open it.
- Pestering: one follow-up, perhaps a second well spaced out, then move on.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a speculative job application?
Pick a few employers where your job exists, find the right person’s name, say exactly which role you’re offering and why this employer, attach a CV tailored to that role, then follow up once about ten days later.
Should I email or use the careers site form?
If the employer has a speculative application form, use it: that’s where their recruiters look. You can also write to the manager of the relevant team if you know their name.
Do I need a cover letter for a speculative application?
You need at least a message explaining why you’re writing to this employer and which role you’re offering. By email, the body of the message is your cover letter; forms often have a field for it.
What happens to my CV after a speculative application?
The employer may keep it on file for future roles, for a limited time. In the European Union and the UK, data protection law lets you ask what it is used for, how long it is kept, and have your data erased.