Do Spec Letters Still Work?

akelly90

I'm not sure if this is the right place I can be asking this but I'm just trying to find answers anywhere I can so if anyone can help me out here that'd be great.

I have been looking into working in a Cash Office again but it's been quite difficult finding any vacancies in my area.

So I thought about sending speculative letters to retailers that I knew of that offer Cash Office jobs. I have only sent around 20 spec letters which had my CV and have already received 3 refusals saying they couldn't accept my CV as I would have to apply online.

Before I send any of these spec letters out, I always check on the company's website first to see if there's any vacancies, when there isn't, I would send a spec letter to let them know I'd be interested and to keep my CV on file for any future vacancies that may come up. Since everything is done online these days, sending my CV and spec letter just seems pointless. Even if I sent it through e-mail, I still don't think they would accept it.

Can someone please tell me, am I still wasting my time sending these letters? From the companies I haven't heard back from yet, have they kept my CV or thrown it away?

I'd really love to know as I have no other options to get the career I want again.

saker75

About 5% of graduates find their first graduate role speculatively. So yes, definitely.
I've secured two jobs that way.

akelly90

I'm not really a graduate, if I was I'd have less trouble finding a decent job lol thank you for replying though, I just want to know if I'm wasting my time or not since I'm not getting much luck due to the "online" way of applying that most companies prefer.

Are these jobs that you mentioned retail jobs?

[Deleted User]

How about applying to the more independent recruitment agencies to help find a basic/starter accounts job?

I'm the same, credit controller is kinda on my wish list but I'm not sure on spec letter approach really does it anymore : (

akelly90

Deleted%20User wrote: »

How about applying to the more independent recruitment agencies to help find a basic/starter accounts job?

I'm the same, credit controller is kinda on my wish list but I'm not sure on spec letter approach really does it anymore : (

I haven't really looked into accounts job that much since I don't think I have the right skills for it math wise lol it could be an option but I just have to look into it a bit more but I'm sure you're right about the spec letter approach not working since everything is done electronically these days

Starlet

Definitely do it! I secured 4 jobs by sending speculative letters (3 retail roles; 1 office role). The office role was a graduate role, but I have since left that role and moved on to pastures new.

Just try to refine a fantastic covering letter and if you have the time to, go to the library and look at careers books. They should have examples of speculative letters. That's what I done!

Best of luck!

akelly90

Starlet wrote: »

Definitely do it! I secured 4 jobs by sending speculative letters (3 retail roles; 1 office role). The office role was a graduate role, but I have since left that role and moved on to pastures new.

Just try to refine a fantastic covering letter and if you have the time to, go to the library and look at careers books. They should have examples of speculative letters. That's what I done!

Best of luck!

Were any of those roles you got recently? I only ask as it seems more than likely speculative letters worked better before everything became more online.

I already have my speculative letter sorted and post my CV along with it but so far I have had 2 of them sent back to me

Starlet

akelly90 wrote: »

Were any of those roles you got recently? I only ask as it seems more than likely speculative letters worked better before everything became more online.

I already have my speculative letter sorted and post my CV along with it but so far I have had 2 of them sent back to me

Yes - 2014 was the last time I was offered a job as a result of sending a speculative CV and covering letter.

pathtofreedom

It might just depend how big these companies are you're writing too. If they have global or a national hr office at one site, they might only accept applications online, they might still have a register your cv section even if there isn't a specific role available, which is the equivalent of your letter. They might have preferred suppliers for job agencies that all candidates need to go through as they pay them to do some prevetting for them.

If it is a smaller company, or they only have a couple of sites, then they might be more open to such letters as it might help save their recruitment costs.

akelly90

Starlet wrote: »

Yes - 2014 was the last time I was offered a job as a result of sending a speculative CV and covering letter.

Thank you for letting me know. I really appreciated getting another opinion on this as I'm just so close to losing hope on this but I will continue to send these letters out and hope for the best

akelly90

pathtofreedom wrote: »

It might just depend how big these companies are you're writing too. If they have global or a national hr office at one site, they might only accept applications online, they might still have a register your cv section even if there isn't a specific role available, which is the equivalent of your letter. They might have preferred suppliers for job agencies that all candidates need to go through as they pay them to do some prevetting for them.

If it is a smaller company, or they only have a couple of sites, then they might be more open to such letters as it might help save their recruitment costs.

You're definitely right there, most of these companies are quite big companies (the more popular retailers). I just had hopes that to save them the time in advertising, my letter could be recognized but I realize now that's not the case I'll just always be on the lookout on the company's career website from the ones I either don't hear back from or the ones that refuse my letter :wall: