What makes a good speculative letter

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 copying and pasting.

Your cover letter needs to be original and tailored to the job you're applying for. I am a second-year media design student who is looking to gain some industry experience. I know Media Company has a strong reputation in the industry. I was particularly attracted by the work you did for X Communications, which I came across during research for a university project. Your designs caught my eye and your understanding of the UX made our project flow well - and helped us achieve top marks for our year.

My website www. Along with a group of other students, I have been instrumental in setting up a blog www. We have run two online student events and are currently crowdfunding a live event. I can offer Media Company my flexibility, excellent time management skills, entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to work hard and learn quickly.

Jobs and work experience Search graduate jobs Job profiles Work experience and internships Employer profiles What job would suit me? You might need to make a phone call to get this information. Treat your speculative cover letter as a piece of work — the first the employer will be receiving from you.

Getting the basics right shows professionalism and pride in your work, and makes an impression about the kind of employee you would be. Crossing the Ts and dotting the Is is crucial, so take a look at our guide to what makes a good cover letter. Here are some key reminders:. This is a tough one, especially in a speculative cover letter. You should aim to be professional and formal, but not stuffy or pompous. Finally, you should check the company website to see what their own tone is like.

Having already spent time reading your cover letter, why should they invest even more in speaking to you? Do they have any ethical objectives? Try to be more subtle, and use evidence to back up your claim. Give a brief example which shows how you always go the extra mile to achieve the best you possibly can.

Although pushiness is to be avoided, you should make sure your application is being looked at. When you email it off, ask for confirmation that it has been received. No speculative application is complete without an outstanding CV — check out our guide and make sure yours is top notch.

How to fill out an application form. Sign in with Success at School to save your favourite jobs, careers advice and courses, build your CV, record your work experience and talk to employers and unis in our forums. Register with Success at School to save your favourite jobs, careers advice and courses, build your CV, record your work experience and talk to employers and unis in our forums.

Check your inbox for the email and click on the confirmation link and login to Success at School. Check your inbox for an email with the subject "Action Required: Please Confirm Your Success at School Account" from the email address team successatschool. Next comes the hard part: being patient. You may not hear back after sending a speculative application at all.

The company might simply not respond to unsolicited 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 to 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, a spontaneous application 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. Follow Welcome to the Jungle on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter to receive our best articles.

Receive advice and information on new hiring companies directly in your inbox each week. Why bother with a speculative application? When should you send one?

Here are a few tips specific to speculative cover letters: Be as concise as possible while still clearly detailing your experience and ambitions. Be specific in describing how you could help the company, and what kind of position you would like.