Speculative or cold call letters
This is an option for finding employment which is sometimes successful. The approach is to write to an employer, or employers, and recruitment agents who operate in your field of career interest, either to enquire about employment opportunities, or to offer your services.
This type of letter is often called a speculative or cold call letter because you are not responding to an advertisement, and you may not know if the employer is looking to hire staff.
Some suggested approaches for preparing this type of letter are:
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If you know the organisation recruits graduates for various types of employment, work experience or project work, explain the arrangement you are seeking. This could be for example to seek full time employment, undertake casual, contract or voluntary work, vacation employment, or as part of a university assignment or project which has application to the organisation or industry.
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If, as a result of your research into the organisation, you are aware that they have a need that you are able to help them meet, outline in the letter your understanding of their need. Then explain how, through your specific skills, knowledge or experience, you can assist.
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Outline your action plan in your closing paragraph. For example, explain that you will make a follow up phone call seeking an interview and give a time frame for when you will be doing this. Do not expect the employer to contact you.
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Address your letter to a person. Identify who appropriate person/s might be through research and through networking. You can then ask for this person by name when you make your follow up phone call.