3.1 Speculative applications

Speculative applications are a way of targeting organisations you wish to work for, even if they’re not currently advertising.

You can try this approach with organisations that:

• don’t have to advertise because they receive so many speculative applications
• use recruitment agencies or word of mouth to fill vacancies
• are within a defined geographical area, if you are restricted in where you can work
• you really want to work for.

A speculative letter should be tailored to the specific organisation being applied to, rather than a standard letter used for a number of speculative applications, and should be addressed to a named individual.

The letter should be clearly structured to cover:

• the kind of work you’re looking for
• why you want to work for that organisation in particular
• why you are suitable – emphasise your relevant skills, experience and personal qualities by elaborating on the information on your enclosed CV.

Remember to end the letter positively and enthusiastically.

Try to offer a number of options in your letter. If they have no vacancies, could they keep your details on file? Are you interested in unpaid work experience? If so, say so!

Finally, don’t forget to spell check the document, and also carefully proofread the letter as there are errors a spell checker won’t pick up (for example typing ‘form’ instead of ‘from’). As with all applications and letters, it’s best to ask a friend to check it for you, just in case you have missed something obvious.

Drafting a speculative letter

If you have time, you might like to find an employer or organisation that you would like to work for. You could use LinkedIn to narrow down the choices, or use some of the STEM trends information from Week 3 to identify employers in sectors that are growing and expanding. You could do this as a real application, or just as a practice exercise to get familiar with the process of a speculative application. Try writing a speculative letter using the tips above.

Have a look at this sample speculative letter and, if you’ve written one, see how this compares with yours. Have you seen anything you think you would now wish to change in your letter?

If you don't hear from an employer, wait 7-10 days and then follow up with a phone call. Ask if they have received your letter and CV; if they have, ask to discuss its contents further.

If you are lucky enough to hear back and be invited for an interview, either from a speculative application or an advertised job, the next step will be to get ready for it. In the next section, we will look briefly at how best to prepare yourself.