Applying speculatively - is it worthwhile?

lady_fuschia

Just wondered.

I'm due to be moving to a new area at the end of the summer and need to find a job pretty sharpish. So far I haven't found much advertised in the way of graduate-plus level jobs, and I'd prefer not to have to go back to secretarial work (though I will if I have to!), but there are a fair few businesses who I think would have work in the area I'm interested in. Is it actually worthwhile sending them my Cv on the off-chance? Has anyone ever managed to get work this way or is it just another one of those dud bits of advice careers tutors come out with?
Thoughts...?

Jarvisma

I've never got a job or given a job by these means. I have always been advised to tailor my CV / covering letter specific to the role you are applying for so applying speculatively would mean you couldn't be as specific as to how your strengths would fit the role.

If you know who the organisations are why don't you call them or go on their websites to see if they have any vacancies? I think that would provide better results.

You would also then get an idea of timescales of closing dates and interviews etc so you wouldn't just be in limbo waiting to hear back.

Good luck though, and if you do decide to go for it and land a plum role let us know x

filigree_2

If you have specific organisations in mind, call their HR departments and ask how they like to recruit new staff. Some use agencies, some like you to complete a standard form, some welcome spec CVs. You can't know the best way to apply without asking them directly, and you get brownie points for making the effort.

bristol_pilot

I have both obtained employment and employed people via speculative applications. The covering letter is crucial and you MUST send it to a named individual! If you don't know a name, look on their website or phone HR. You will need to send out a reasonable number of letters whilst targetting each one. Nevertheless, you only need to be lucky once. Good luck.

Tigger36

My colleague got her job with us 4 years ago this way. She just landed on our doorstep at the right time!

ckerrd

Unless you can target an individual then you will have to be very lucky to get a job this way.

Some firms will not employ people on this basis as they have a selection policy that means they have to advertise and go through a fair selection process.

Some HR departments know nothing about the needs, recruitment wise, of some areas of the business. That is not meant as a put down of HR it is just that they are not across this.

If there is a particular bit of a business that you fancy working in try and have a word with someone senior there. Phone up and offer to buy them a coffee in return for a bit of their time.

Good luck.

Pennywise

I would say that purely speculative job applications would only really work if you are very targetted towards a particular job specification and for the smallest of employers.

For example, I got my first job from leaving school from a speculative job application - sent 5 letters to local small firms of accountants, got 3 interviews and 2 job offers - but that was for the lowly trainee accountant role for a pittance.

Now I have my own small accountancy practice and have only ever taken on staff who have approached me informally. When I advertised, I got absolutely loads of applications from people with no experience. Only those with relevant experience/qualifications get my attention - I see far too many applicants just "trying it on" by sending in a totally irrelevant cv, worst offenders being graduates I'm afraid.

So my advice would be to be very selective, be particular about the role you want and cherry-pick your prospective employers. At all costs, avoid a scatter-gun approach as you won't get anywhere and it will be very demoralising for you.

poochel

I got my current role (paralegal in a city law firm) by sending in my CV and a covering letter on the off chance. I'd had a quick browse of the website and chucked in a few lines about why I thought I would like to work there based on what I'd read. It happened to land on the right persons desk at the right time.

Having been here for a fair while now (and moving on soon to a new job which had been advertised) I can say that emailed CV's and letters just get deleted. Always find out a name and send it in the post. It's harder for them to ignore.

In preparation for your move, could you not identify some recruitment agencies in the new area that specialise in the area you are interested in and contact them? Doing this alongside speculative applications would get the ball rolling.

good luck

lady_fuschia

could you not identify some recruitment agencies in the new area that specialise in the area you are interested in and contact them

Not really an option, as the area I'm interested in (community arts and work in arts centres mainly) doesn't tend to use agencies. I'm planning to register with some temping agencies too, so at least I can do secretarial to get some cash if I need to.
I've sent out some CV's and covering letters anyway (a mixture of post and email, it'll be interesting to see if there's a difference in response), so we'll see what happens. I'm still a bit skeptical, but it seemed worth a try, and knowing some of you have had sucess I feel slightly more optimistic about it!