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How to Write a Cover Letter for an Unadvertised Job

Job Application Letter Sample and Writing Tips for a Role That's Not Advertised

• Tips for Writing Your Cover Letter

What to Include in Your Cover Letter

• Cover Letter Example and Template

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How to send your letter.

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How do you write a job application letter for a role that isn't listed? Not all companies advertise job openings. Some companies get plenty of applicants without advertising. Other companies may not be in hiring mode but will consider applications from qualified candidates if they anticipate an opening in the near future.

Sending a resume and cover letter to an employer, even though you aren't sure if there are available jobs, is a way to get your candidacy noticed. It may also get you advance consideration for positions that have just opened up. If you have the skills the company needs, it may even get you considered for a brand-new position.

When you know an employer has an opening, don't hesitate to apply.

If you have a company you'd love to work for , consider taking the time to reach out and connect regardless of whether the organization is currently hiring.

Tips for Writing a Cover Letter for an Unadvertised Job

What's the best way to apply for unadvertised job openings? It depends on whether you know there is a position available, but the company hasn't listed it, or if there's a company you want to work for and you don't know if there are open jobs.

Kelly Miller / The Balance

When You Know There Is a Job Opening

If you know the company is hiring but hasn't advertised the position, write a traditional   cover letter  expressing your interest in the open position at the company. Be sure to specifically relate your qualifications for the job.

When You Don't Know If the Company Is Hiring

Writing a cover letter for an unadvertised opening (also known as a   cold contact cover letter  or  letter of interest ) is a little different than writing a cover letter for a job that you know is available.

With this type of letter, you will need to make a strong pitch for yourself and how you can help the company. Below are some tips on how to write a cover letter for an unadvertised opening.

• Mention your contacts.  If you know someone at the organization, mention this at the beginning of the cover letter. Having a contact at the company is a great way to get your foot in the door, even if the company isn’t actively hiring.
• Use paper or email.  You can send your letter via paper or  email . Sending an old-fashioned paper letter works well  for this type of letter , because it may have a better chance of being read than an email, which could be deleted without even being opened.
• Include a resume.  Whether you send your cover letter via paper or email, be sure to include a copy of your resume. Make sure you  tailor your resume  to the company and type of job you are looking for.

Below is detailed information on what to include in your cover letter, along with links to example cover letters.

Your Contact Information Name Address City, State Zip Code Phone Number Email Address

• Cover Letter Contact Section Examples

Greeting If you can find a contact person at the company, direct your letter or email message to them. Here's how to find  contacts at companies .

If you can't locate a contact person, address your letter to "Dear Hiring Manager" or leave out this section and start with the first  paragraph  of your letter.

• Cover Letter Greeting Examples

Body of Cover Letter The goal of your letter is to get noticed as a prospective employee even if the company isn't hiring immediately. Your letter should explain the reason for your interest in the organization, identify your most relevant skills or experiences, and explain why you would be an asset to the company.

First Paragraph: The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. If you know someone at the company, mention it now. Be specific as to why you are interested in this particular company.

Middle Paragraph(s): The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Again, be specific as to how you can help the organization.

Final Paragraph:  Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for employment.

• What to Include in the Body Section of a Cover Letter

Closing Best Regards,  (or choose another closing from the examples below)

• Cover Letter Closing Examples

Signature Handwritten Signature  (for a mailed letter)

Typed Signature When you are   sending an email letter,  be sure to include all your contact information in your signature.

• Signature Examples

Cover Letter Example for a Job That's Not Advertised

You can use this sample as a model to write a cover letter. Download the template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or read the text version below.

Cover Letter for a Job That's Not Advertised (Text Version)

Your Name Your Address City, State Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email Address

Contact Name Title Company Address City, State Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. LastName,

As an Information Technology professional with high-level management experience in the IT industry, I learned that the best way to achieve success was to motivate the resources I had with well-defined objectives and empowerment.

A management belief based on integrity, quality, and service, along with a positive attitude, an aptitude for strategic thought and planning, and the ability to adapt quickly to new ideas and situations allows me to achieve consistent and significant successes in multiple industries.

My personality profile says:

• A confident, driven individual who reacts quickly to change.
• A self-starter with a strong sense of urgency who responds positively to challenge and pressure.
• A fast learner who is a practical and ingenious problem solver.
• A fluent and articulate communicator, flexible and responsive. A self-directed, goal-oriented doer.

My former managers say:

"The Information Technology Analysis will serve as a guideline for making positive contributions... Your management style provided a footprint for younger members of our organization... a very positive impression of the contributions you made to our business and its growth." Gregory Hines, President and CEO, Information Data Technology.

"The most important source of growth in our data technology business ... able to focus the team and manage the product to a successful introduction ... due in large part to his own personal commitment ... excellent IT project management and operational management skills." Pauline Hallenback, CTO at Information Systems.

"Your strengths as a manager are many and varied... all issues are confronted in a timely manner ... management by objectives comes as a second nature to you." Jackson Brownell, Director of Operations, Denver Technologies.

ABC Company is a company that would provide me with the opportunity to put my personality, skills, and successes to work. At a personal meeting, I would like to discuss with you how I will contribute to the continued growth of your company.

Best regards,

Carefully proofread both your resume and cover letter before you send them. Here are proofreading tips for job seekers.

When sending your letter via email, write your letter in the email message and attach your resume to the message. In the subject line, put your name and the reason for writing (Your Name - Introduction).

• Email Subject Lines

How to Send Your Resume With Your Cover Letter

Here's how to send your resume with your cover letter:

• How to Email Your Resume
• How to Send Your Resume as an Attachment
• How to Mail a Resume and Cover Letter

Key Takeaways

Take initiative. Not all companies immediately advertise opening positions. Taking the initiative to send a cover letter of introduction “on spec” may garner you an interview for either an existing or a newly developed job role.

Apply to your dream company. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If there is a company you’ve always wanted to work for, reach out to their hiring department with a strategic letter that presents your qualifications and interest in their organization.

Build upon your contacts. A good way to get your foot into the door at a company is to begin your letter of introduction by mentioning the contacts you know who work there. Take this to the next level by proactively asking these contacts—before you send your cover letter—if they would be willing to put in a good word on your behalf with their employer. 

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• Resumes & CV's
• Job Applications

minute read

How to apply for unadvertised jobs: the cover letter that opens doors

Found your perfect company but they are not currently hiring? Apply for unadvertised jobs with this cover letter so you can land your dream role.

When you find that rare company that you really want to work for its a big deal. Whether it is perfect for your first big break or its the ideal organisation to take you up that next rung in your career, the right company can ignite a passion for your future and motivate you to be the best you can be.

But this can all come crashing down when you find that all their positions are filled and there are no current job openings.

So what should you do about this? Sit tight and wait for a position to come available or something else?

In this post we will explore that ‘something else’ you need to do – plus how to make it happen.

Let’s start by tackling the first big question.

Is it worth your time reaching out to an organisation when they don't have any job postings?

The answer to this is a resounding yes and there are three main reasons for this.

Most positions aren’t advertised

It is estimated that 70% of positions are never advertised . This may seem hard to believe at first but when you think a little deeper it becomes obvious why this is the case.

To the outside world it may look like there are no opportunities within a company if their vacancies page is empty but on the inside any or all of these things will actually be happening.

• People are taking retirement or resigning due to factors such as taking a new job elsewhere, moving to another location, or making a career change.
• Some will unfortunately be struggling with their role and are about to lose their job or be deployed elsewhere in the organisation.
• Others will be flying high and are about to be promoted, leaving a gap to be filled behind them.
• Then there is organisational change that will involve recruitment such as new projects and business being won, products ready to be taken to market, services that need developing, or restructuring of departments and or teams.

Can you see how a timely application from a qualified candidate could be warmly welcomed, eliminating the need to advertise or instruct recruitment consultants and pay their high fees? 

There’s far less competition when you apply for unadvertised jobs

Despite the fact that most jobs never get advertised, most people don’t send speculative applications to companies.

Think about that for a minute.

Your application could be the only one or just one of a handful for a particular opening.

You won’t get lost in the crowd and you will have a much better chance of being considered in the absence of high competition.

You can bypass Applicant Tracking Systems

Most advertised positions will involve adding your details to a company’s Applicant Tracking System.

Whilst these are necessary due to the high volume of applications companies receive today, they can cause serious issues for both the jobseeker and the employer.

Jobseekers need to ensure they submit an ATS friendly resume so they don’t get rejected. If they don’t, employers and recruiters can miss out the best talent just because of design issues.

A speculative application bypasses this and gets straight to the decision makers instead.

Before you rush off though and start reaching out to loads of companies directly, I do have a word of caution.

Don’t apply for unadvertised jobs until you have done this

Whilst a timely application from a qualified candidate will be warmly welcomed, the reverse is also true.

Sending out generic approaches with little thought or research will not get the results that you want and will definitely work against  you.

At best you will be ignored but at worst, they may get irritated which will not help you when there is an advertised vacancy in the future.

Remember, you’re being proactive and trying to ‘sell yourself’ to the company.

To do this effectively you will need to have a good understanding of what the company needs now and provide an answer for a problem they might not currently have (or know they have), but are likely to have in the future.

This all comes down to putting in some research.  Check out their company website, their LinkedIn page, and set up Google alerts for their latest press releases. And don’t forget to reach out to your contacts that may have inside knowledge or even better, a name of someone that could be a mutual acquaintance.

Once you have completed your research, you will be ready to put your killer cover letter together.

The 7 sentence cover letter to use when you apply for unadvertised jobs

The trick to getting this right is having a great balance between selling yourself and using the right tone.

This can be achieved if you follow this formula.

Start with why you are writing to them

These are busy people so you need to get straight to the point to enable them to speed read your application.

Tell them why you want to work specifically for their company 

You need to let them know that you are not desperately sending your resume out to ‘anyone that will have you. ’

“The reasons I want to work here are…” This is where your research is crucial because it proves that you are serious about their company.

Explain what you can offer and why you’re a great fit.

"I offer X years of experience in this particular industry/sector, performing these particular jobs which makes me a great fit to support your organisation and the products/services it delivers."

Give a significant relevant achievement

Be careful to keep this relevant. It doesn't matter how impressive an achievement is, it will have little impact if they can’t see how it could benefit their organisation.

“In particular, one of my biggest achievements to date has been ….. [explain] and I would relish the opportunity to deliver the same results for [their company name].

Point them to your resume

“To gain a quick overview of what my contribution could be, please take a look at my profile on my attached resume.”

You are telling them that your resume has a profile they can speed read plus it will make them curious to take a look.

Add a call to action

“I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about any current or upcoming positions that may be a great fit for my experience.”

Thank them 

“Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to talking with you soon.”

Cover letter sample for how to apply to a company when they are not hiring

So what does this look like in practice then?

To help you put yours together, here is an example of what this looks like as a complete cover letter.

This is based on a Project Manager but you can see how easy it is to adapt to any industry or skill set.

Dear [hiring manager/recruiter’s name]  - you will have gleaned this from your research.

I am writing to enquire about any potential opportunities at [company name] that may fit my skills and experience.

The reason for contacting you specifically is that my research showed that you mainly deal with X projects, which is my main area of interest and expertise.

I offer [insert number of years] years of experience within [name your industry/sector] underpinned by [name specific skills or qualifications].

For example, one of my biggest achievements to date has been the X project where I successfully ….. [explain] and I would relish the opportunity to deliver the same results for [their company name].

To gain a quick overview of what my contribution could be, please take a look at the profile on my attached resume.

I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about any current or upcoming positions that I could make a positive contribution to.

I appreciate how busy you must be so thank you so much for your time and consideration and I look forward to talking with you soon.

Key Takeaways

Companies are constantly recruiting but typically just a few positions actually make it out on to their career pages or get promoted on job sites.

This means that it is a great idea to reach out to potential employers and apply for unadvertised jobs.

However, you must put in the research so that you can explain why you want to work for them and why you would be a great fit, otherwise you may come across as looking desperate.

If you use this cover letter formula, they will want to snap you up before their competition gets the chance to hire you

Mark Daniel

About the Author

A global resume writer and career coach, Mark is known for his honest, direct, and hard-hitting advice, helping people manage job applications and succeed at interviews. Now based on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, he is the co-founder of Real Life Career Advice and a prolific publisher, contributing to several industry magazines and his daily career advice blog to his 45,000 LinkedIn followers.

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Crafting a compelling cover letter for hidden job opportunities

Jan 07, 2020

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The company is perfect. The team members are experienced and dynamic. You agree with the company mission and can see yourself sitting behind a desk in the office, putting your expertise to terrific use and helping the business to succeed. But there’s no job for you there. At least, not yet.

Unfortunately, this is often the reality of job hunting. But if you feel strongly drawn towards a particular company, and you believe that you could be a great employee there, don’t give up and move on. You can, and should get in touch to express your passion, your experience, and how you believe you can contribute. Submit a spontaneous application. While it’s unlikely to result in a job straight away, a spontaneous application is a strong way to make yourself known, either for positions that may be available but not advertised, or for any future openings.

When you’re sending a spontaneous application, how you present yourself is more important than ever. And that means customizing your cover letter and resume for the occasion. But before we get to that…

Why bother with a spontaneous application?

The odds that a perfect role for you is just an email away are slim but a spontaneous application can be well worth your while.

The number of job vacancies never publicly advertised makes up such a large percentage of openings that there is even a name for this sector: the hidden job market . Certain companies, and even entire industries, are more likely to lean on private networks or referrals to fill available roles quickly, rather than going through a public job posting process. So there’s a high likelihood that the perfect role for you is out there, but not advertised.

More significantly, a spontaneous application is useful for making a positive introduction to a hiring manager for potential roles in the future. It gets your foot in the door, so to speak. It may also be an opportunity for you to sell yourself, your experience, and your knowledge of the company and its vision by suggesting to an employer that they need a role they simply haven’t yet thought of.

When should you send one?

If you’re applying for a position that is unlikely to exist yet, consider sending a spontaneous application in the discovery phase of a job search . This is when you’re interested in a new position but not actively in need of one. This way, you’re not placing too much faith in the application, and have plenty of time to create a long-lead introduction to the company .

It can also be helpful to pay attention to tech and business news , noting startup companies that have recently completed fundraising rounds. This is likely to mean that they will be hiring very soon.

How to write an accompanying cover letter

When you’re writing a cover letter for a spontaneous application, you won’t have a specific job description to guide you. This can be frustrating because it’s more difficult to clearly explain how your experience and skills fit a particular set of requirements without a framework. However, it can also be liberating, allowing you to be broader in your personal pitch.

The main idea, as with any cover letter, is to sell your expertise, your knowledge of the company and your belief that you have what it takes to help their business succeed. While the body of your email should be crisp and digestible, your cover letter is where you can make the most compelling case for your candidacy.

Even though there is no bullet list of job duties that you can reference, you can infer from the company’s products and services what your work there might involve. After, you can elaborate on how you would excel by using specific examples from your past experience as a reference.

Here are a few tips specific to spontaneous cover letters:

Be as concise as possible while still clearly detailing your experience and ambitions. Because your application is spontaneous, a manager’s attention span when reviewing it will probably be even shorter than normal.

Be specific in describing how you could help the company, and what kind of position you would like. The narrower your goal, the more convincing it will be that you are a focused applicant, and not someone fishing for any available job.

Include examples of your past work , if relevant to your industry. Do this either in the form of a link to a professional portfolio website or as a separate attachment that you can reference in your email.

Email a specific person by searching through Welcome to the Jungle, or other recruitment websites and tools such as LinkedIn. This will make sure that your message reaches the right person and is (hopefully) read.

Ask for a recommendation , if you happen to have anyone in your social or professional networks who works, has worked, or knows anyone at the company to which you’re applying. Having a personal introduction can make all the difference, especially if said person is able to vouch for your abilities and your work ethic.

The waiting game

Next comes the hard part: being patient . It’s best not to expect any news, and certainly not straight away. You may not hear back after sending a spontaneous 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 on 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.

Photo: Welcome to the Jungle

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How to Write a Cover Letter Without a Job in Mind

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How to Write a Cover Letter to a Previous Employer

How to write a letter requesting a future job opening, how to write a sample letter accepting an interview opportunity.

• How to Describe Focus & Customer Skills on a Resume
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When you're getting a jump-start on the job-seeking process, crafting a detailed, persuasive resume and cover letter is likely the No. 1 item on your agenda. While it's fine to draft a generic cover letter that doesn't pertain to just one specific job, ideally, you'll eventually want to customize and tailor the letter to the employer you're sending it to.

All-Purpose Introduction

The introductory portion of your cover letter should indicate the type of job you're applying for, where you heard about the company and why you think you'd be a good fit. Example:

I was very excited to learn that COMPANY NAME is hiring for the position of BLANK. I became aware of your opening from BLANK, and I feel I’d be a great fit, as I’ve been working in BLANK industry for five years.

All-Purpose Credentials

The next section of your cover letter should detail your work experience, using care to reference the key elements of the job description, and touch on the main hiring criteria the employer lays out in the listing. These will vary from job to job, but your all-purpose cover letter template should follow this basic format. Here are some things to include:

• Your experience
• Specialized skills
• Significant achievements

I've worked as a department store manager for 15 years. I have experience in merchandising, handling vendors, hiring and training and overall operational functions. In my last role, I oversaw an expansion effort that doubled the size of our company.

Soft Skills

Regardless of the type of job you’re applying for, many of the same soft skills will apply. These include your ability to collaborate, think critically, make decisions and be detail oriented. Use this type of verbiage:

I consider myself to have exceptional time management skills, and I enjoy working both independently and as part of a team. I have a good temperament for management, and I strive to ensure my staff is happy, trained and fulfilled in their roles.

Again, reference individual job listings to tweak this verbiage based on the requirements of the particular position you eventually use it for.

Finish Strong

One of the key ways to customize your all-purpose cover letter to an individual employer is to close with a strong statement that outlines why you want the job and why you’re the right candidate.

I've always held this organization in high regard and would love the chance to be part of such a respected business. I believe you'll find my dedication, work ethic and loyalty is well in line with the high standards you’ve established for your company.

When you're drafting a somewhat generic cover letter to alter and use in different circumstances, use extra care in proofreading it before you send. You don’t want to inadvertently reference Company A in a letter you’re sending to Company B.

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• Use your word processing application's mail merge feature to create letters for several different addressees. Include the name of the company, the recruiter's name if you have access to it, and the street address, city, state and zip for each letter. Don't address letters "to whom it may concern." It's an impersonal greeting that tells the reader right away that it's probably just a form letter. If you cannot access the name of the recruiter or hiring manager, address the letter to "Dear XYZ Corporation Recruiter."

Lisa McQuerrey has been an award-winning writer and author for more than 25 years. She specializes in business, finance, workplace/career and education. Publications she’s written for include Southwest Exchange and InBusiness Las Vegas.

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How to write a simple application cover letter, how to make a good application letter, how to write a letter looking for work, how to create a resume for a current employer, how to write a generic cover letter for multiple purposes, example of a cover letter for an hr generalist, how to write a cover letter to a company that does not have a job opening, email format for a follow-up resume, how to write a letter of appreciation for a job offer, most popular.

• 1 How to Write a Simple Application Cover Letter
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How to write a cover letter to a company that does not have a job opening.

Searching for a job takes time and planning. When looking for a new job, you may find that some companies you are interested in working for do not have openings. Instead of avoiding those companies, introduce yourself by writing and sending a cover letter of inquiry along with your resume. Before you write your letter, take time to learn about the company. Write your letter carefully to present your skills and experience in the best light.

Set up your letter using the proper business format. If you are sending a hard copy of the cover letter, put your name and contact information on the top of the stationary. Include your e-mail address and a phone number where the employer can reach you.

If emailing a letter, begin the letter by greeting the person using a formal greeting. For example, do not begin the letter with “Dear John,” but instead use “Dear Mr. Smith.” Close your letter using “Sincerely.” Remember to physically sign your letter if sending a hard copy.

Send your letter to a specific person within the organization. Check online or call the company and ask who manages the department you would like to work in. Ask for the proper spelling.

If you cannot find the information, address your cover letter to the Human Resources Director of the company. Avoid sending a generic cover letter addressed to “Dear Sir or Madam” when writing a letter of interest. Taking the time to find out whom to send the letter to shows the employer you are serious about your job search.

State the reason for your letter in the first paragraph. Begin your letter with a phrase similar to, “The purpose of this letter is to express my interest in working for your organization.” Change the wording to be specific to the organization or company you are writing.

Continue the first paragraph by communicating why you are interested in the company. Mention something that you admire about the organization. For example, mention its level of commitment to the environment, its innovative products or its reputation for excellent customer service.

Summarize your skills and experience in the middle paragraph. Keep your sentences short and focused. Let the reader know why you would be a good fit for the company by focusing on your strengths. Include any supervisory experience you have.

If you are willing to relocate, let the potential employer know. Do not be shy about highlighting your accomplishments, as this may be your only communication with the employer.

Close your cover letter by thanking the person for taking the time to read your letter. Continue the last paragraph by telling the person to whom you addressed the letter that you will be calling in the next week to follow-up. If you are going to be in the area, tell the employer you are planning on visiting the office and would like to meet. Indicate that you are looking forward to hearing back from the company.

Include your resume in the body of the e-mail message and as an attachment. Many companies will not open attachments from unknown senders.

In the subject line of an e-mail correspondence, write “Job Inquiry.”

Send letters of interest to every employer on your list. Do not wait for a response from one company before sending out another letter.

Stay positive during your job hunt.

Ask friends and family members to introduce you to potential employers.

Respect a company who states “no phone calls” in an ad or on a website.

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Diane Lynn began writing in 1998 as a guest columnist for the "Tallahassee Democrat." After losing 158 pounds, she wrote her own weight-loss curriculum and now teaches classes on diet and fitness. Lynn also writes for The Oz Blog and her own blog, Fit to the Finish. She has a Bachelor of Science in finance from Florida State University.

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Writing a letter asking for a job that's not advertised

I'm in a position where I am about to write a company asking for a job, and basically describing my own job position. This company is aching for people and is looking for smart people, but at the same time they don't have a lot of posted jobs on their site - recruitment appears to go through a lot of word of mouth. One of the VPs from this company spoke with my advisor and recommended I write her.

Thus in my email cover letter I have to basically sell myself, but also I have to sell a position. I'm in Usability/HCI and I have a Ph.D in computer science, but I want to lean more toward prototyping and user experience design work rather than software development work.

The typical advice for this type of cover letter is to aim your letter to address all of the qualities they ask for in the position posting. Since there's no position posting, is there a typical style or way to try to effectively "sell your own position" or get them to create a position that is basically for you?

• cover-letter
• job-description

• 2 I've done this a few times. The rule of thumb is to be self-confident and offer yourself the same way as you would if the position you apply to was open and published. Just imagine those people are craving for a professional but haven't come up with a job description yet. In the end, you either get rejected because the company isn't hiring for this position (which isn't a negative outcome, after all), or because you somehow don't fit (not a completely negative outcome, either). –  rishat Commented Apr 22, 2015 at 5:11
• 1 Here's a related question that may provide additional insight: workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/52345/… –  Careerasaurus.com Commented Oct 2, 2015 at 13:07

3 Answers 3

I have done this once or twice (the second time they had a position but they didn't know what they really wanted, so I shaped it). The key for me was to point out their need first and my skills second . If your approach sounds too much like "give me a job that you don't list" they'll probably punt, but if you can hook them with an insight about a need that they actually have, you can get somewhere.

In the first case I reviewed all their job postings, the "our people" section of their web site, and their product descriptions, and from all that it appeared they did not have anyone with my (relevant) specialties. So I said that, as diplomatically as I could (I worked at that :-) ) -- you're doing cool stuff, it looks like you could do even cooler stuff if you had someone who could bring these skills, I have those skills, and I'd like to discuss opportunities for us to work together. That was enough to get me to the phone call with the team lead, which allowed me to ask probing questions and sell myself. Do it in that order -- you're making an unsolicited pitch, so you have to evaluate their needs, not yours.

In the second case I had a contact who was able to take me straight to the phone call, so I didn't have to write a cover letter, but the rest of the conversation played out the same way.

I also learned from both of these that the more quickly you can get to a synchronous conversation, the better. You're asking them to rethink their set of roles; try not to do that by email for too long. You need to be able to interact and brainstorm together.

• Who did you send/address the email to? Was it HR, or was it someone else? –  Devdatta Tengshe Commented May 22, 2013 at 9:55
• 1 @DevdattaTengshe, I contacted the person I thought most likely to be the hiring manager. Formal HR stuff can come later, in my experience. –  Monica Cellio Commented May 22, 2013 at 12:51
• 4 +1 to jumping past HR if at all possible. HR can only say no. If you can get someone inside the company to ask them to bring you for an interview, you have mostly bypassed that step. This is one of the techniques Executive Outplacement firms teach their clients, actually, since executive positions are almost always unadvertised. –  keshlam Commented Jan 2, 2015 at 17:28
• It's also worth investigating companies that interest you've. I've taken more than one job where I reached out to various people such as IT directors, CTOs, etc. And said "give me 30 minutes of your time, and I'll make you money" I've had some just ignore me, but more often than not being so bold has earned me my 30 minutes to "sell myself". Typically I would spot companies that just exploded in growth and finding gaps in their rosters like no QA people, Business analysts, etc. Then just go in ready to demonstrate a problem they are facing and how I could fix it by filling said gap. –  Eric J Fisher Commented Jan 2, 2015 at 22:29

It needs to be unique and reflect you and your aspirations. The format should be that of a professional business letter and should avoid any form of humor or profanity. The use of any business letter template should be fine as there is no fixed format that you have to use. If you company has a specific business letter format however use that.

You need to write clearly and concisely and show how you are going to be a success within the new position. Ensure that you cover all of the points mentioned in the section above; but do not write more than a paragraph for each section unless there is a real need to write more. Long letters tend to be skimmed or not read at all.

You can use the following template to help guide you to create your Cover Letter.

Dear Mr. or Ms. Last Name, I would like to formally apply for the a Position in the Following Department. As you may have been made aware, I have been working doing the following work for said amount of time. Since then I have held positions where I have gained skills that will allow me to contribute to the company on a wide scale. I have worked on the following projects that show I can bring knowledge and experiance to the Company. I have a demonstrated ability to work collegially with leaders across business units and lines of business. In addition, I have been responsible for various tasks and staff where I have had to do the following job roles to maintain the high standards expected. These are just a few examples of my accomplishments. I hope that you will find that this brief view, in combination with the attached resume, describe a dedicated employee of ABCD with the experience and skills to meet or exceed the requirements of the position of This Job. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to discussing this opportunity with you at your convenience. Best Regards, Your Name

• Thanks for this insight. I am not currently inside the company but your template provides some concrete structure around that I can begin working with. –  Irwin Commented May 21, 2013 at 18:10
• @irwin I have made the changes to reflect this. Don't know where I thought it was internal sorry. One of those nights.. –  Michael Grubey Commented May 21, 2013 at 19:34
• 2 I've had someone else I've talked to for advice mention that going the very formal route seems unnatural and that instead I should make the initial contact more conversational. Thoughts? –  Irwin Commented May 22, 2013 at 1:00
• @Irwin, I agree with your friend, but it really depends on the location. Even if the word "experiance" was spelled correctly. In Silicon Valley, the formal nature of this letter would imply you're a foreigner who has not yet adapted to the local culture yet. –  Stephan Branczyk Commented Oct 5, 2015 at 0:46

If you're truly driven to work at that firm, consider using your UX/HCI expertise to create an in-depth usability analysis of or prototype for one small element of their or a major competitor's product, service, app or web page.

Attach a clear and succinct summary of your analysis and recommendations to your cover letter.

It's a significant investment of time, but if your analysis, recommendations and communication are all exceptional, they should convince anyone of your capability.

Of course you'll be able to share this case study with other firms, as well as related Meetups, etc. Good luck!

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Sample Cover Letter With No Experience in Field (And How to Write Yours)

By Biron Clark

Published: November 10, 2023

Cover Letters | Recent Grads

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

Writing an articulate cover letter is challenging for all job seekers. But if you have little or no work experience in a field, the stakes are higher. It’s more challenging to prove your value when you don’t have a series of professional accomplishments to back up your assertions. On the bright side, you probably have more to offer an employer than you realize. You just have to package your strengths the right way.

In this article, you’re going to learn how to write a cover letter for a job with no experience in that field. And we’ll look at a full sample after going through the steps.

Let’s get started…

How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience

1. the main purpose of your cover letter with no experience.

The purpose of a cover letter is to complement your resume and convince more employers to interview you. You may refer to your resume when writing a cover letter for a job application, but you must expand upon points made in the resume when writing the cover letter.

The cover letter should breathe life into the points made in the resume, and create a compelling—or even emotional—narrative around your career hopes and aspirations . It’s your chance to tell your story and show that you have the passion and the drive to come into a job and make a difference.

And at the end, it should ASK for the interview. We’ll talk about that coming up. Let’s get started by going through how to write a cover letter with no experience, step-by-step…

2. Cover Letter Contact Information

When beginning a cover letter for a job application, start with your contact details in the top left-hand corner of the page. Include your name, city of residence, phone number, and email address. (To preserve your privacy, do not include your physical address). You should also include your LinkedIn URL. Next, write the name of the company you’re applying to, and its city of residence.

3. Your Salutation

Ideally, you address your reader by name in your salutation. Internet sleuthing may reveal the name of the hiring manager. If you can’t find a name, you have two options: call the organization and ask to learn more about the position, or write “Dear ” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”

This isn’t ideal, though. You should really only be sending a cover letter if you know the hiring manager’s name and have some specific information about the position. So if you know nothing specific about the hiring manager or job, and the company hasn’t asked for a cover letter specifically, then you probably don’t need to send it .

4. Cover Letter Introduction

Use this section of your cover letter to introduce yourself and share your enthusiasm and why you applied for the position .

Start with your name and provide some background on your strengths. Always identify the position you’re seeking and how you learned about it. If someone at the company told you about the job, then mention that person’s name (only after asking their permission, though). Aim for one to two sentences in your Introduction—keep it short, sweet, and precise.

Example Cover Letter Introduction with No Experience in the Field:

“Hello, my name is Grace Addington, and I’m a goal- and detail-oriented civil engineering graduate from Petaluma College. I was excited to learn about the Junior Engineer internship at Bay Area Rapid Transportation through my former classmate Katie Heinz.”

5. Body Paragraphs

Here comes the most critical part of writing a cover letter with no experience. The purpose of your body paragraphs (one to two brief paragraphs, tops) is to prove that you’re the best candidate for the position. Seeing as how you have little or no previous professional work experience to fall back on, you’ll want to place emphasis on soft skills —attributes of a personal nature that say a lot about your work ethic and ability to work in sync with others. Or, if you have job-related skills (AKA hard skills) from another type of role, point out how those skills will help you transition into this next job and succeed quickly.

That’s what hiring managers are looking for! So while it’s great to write about soft skills and put together a cover letter talking about how you’re willing to learn their job… it’s much better to point out any hands-on experience that you have. So if you’re able, always highlight that first and foremost.

For example, if you had an internship, worked in an unrelated field, did a few academic projects while studying, gave a presentation, etc., those are still valuable pieces to put on your resume AND in your cover letter.

Your resume likely already consists of part-time jobs or school activities or memberships in school associations that maybe aren’t 100% related to the job you’re going after.

Look closer, though—you’ve probably garnered skills in these experiences that can carry over to the job you’re applying for. Below are two examples of cover letter body paragraphs that hone in on two key phrases noted in a job advertisement as requirements: “strong interpersonal skills” and “positive work ethic.” You should be able to figure out pretty quickly which example hits the mark.

Let’s look at two sample paragraphs now from cover letters with no experience in a field:

“I am Twig & Twine’s ideal office manager. As my resume states, I served as an RA at my dorm. I know how to manage an array of things.”

“You’re looking for a candidate with strong interpersonal skills and a positive work ethic. While serving as an RA at Porter College’s main dormitory, I planned monthly social events for over 200 students, settled two to five student disputes per week, and mentored a select group of students in Composition. The experience taught me, rather quickly, how to efficiently multi-task, and how to effectively settle conflicts of all types in a calm, level-headed manner. I feel confident stating that I can bring these talents to Twig & Twine’s office manager position.”

The second example takes the duties that likely appeared in the RA position on the resume and then digs deep, illustrating how the tackling of those duties turned into accomplishments, and led the applicant to grow the crucial skills needed for the office manager position.

One last thing about body paragraphs—remember to frame your message around the employer’s needs, and not yours. Focus on what you can bring to the job, and how your talents will translate into success for the company. That’s important in any cover letter, and becomes even more crucial in a cover letter with no previous work experience.

6. Concluding Your Cover Letter

End your cover letter by reiterating why you’re the best candidate and express your interest once again in the position. And ask them for the interview! It’s surprising but most job seekers don’t do this, and it’s been shown to improve your chances of getting a call to come in for an interview!

So conclude your cover letter by thanking the reader for the time they took to review your application, and tell them you’d like to find a time to meet for an interview to see if it might be a good fit to work together. To close, sign off formally. Try “Respectfully yours” or “Sincerely.”

7. Proofread Everything

Before sending out your new cover letter, read it out loud to catch errors quickly. Ask a trustworthy person to read it as well. Nothing stops you from getting interviews faster than an obvious typo or error in your cover letter or resume, and you only have to check once, but make sure you’re checking it thoroughly!

8. Save it as a PDF

Once the content is finalized, save it as a PDF and title it “ Cover Letter” to prevent confusion. Voila! You’re done. If you follow the tips above, you’ll have a great cover letter with no experience so you can get interviews and job offers in this new field!

Sample Cover Letter With No Experience in Field:

Next, let’s look at a full sample of a cover letter that explains why you’d fit well in a role ( and why you chose to apply for this type of role ):

Dear Name, I’m writing to you regarding the Sales Associate job posting, which I believe reports to you. I can offer 5+ years of experience working directly with customers over the phone and in person, primarily in customer support. Although I haven’t worked directly in sales, my customer support experience has helped me build skills in communication, persuasion, and problem-solving, which I believe will translate well into selling software subscriptions for your firm. I’m motivated to transition into sales to continue challenging myself and growing in my career, and I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, which I think working in sales will provide me. I’ve attached my resume for your review. If any of the above sounds interesting, I’d welcome the chance to talk on the phone this week. Thanks for considering my note today. Best regards, Your Name

This cover letter is upfront and clear that you have no experience in the field of sales, but shows that you’re willing to learn and excited to learn this new job. That’s essential!

You don’t JUST want to say you’re willing to learn, though. You want to PROVE that you’ll be able to learn. That’s why this letter also mentions the experience you have that is most similar. In the case of the example above, it’s the customer service experience and communication skills.

While this person may not have sold anything to customers, they still interacted with customers directly, which will be seen as a plus.

One other thing you should always point out if possible: Experience working in the same industry. So if you’ve never done sales, but you did customer support in the exact same industry as the employer, that’s a huge plus… because it means you’ll have less learning needed on the job!

Other Articles That May Help You:

• 3 more tips for writing a cover letter that stands out.
• General tips for how to get a job with no experience.
• How to write the perfect resume “Summary” section with no experience.

About the Author

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This really helped me

Thanks for this! Really helpful for me as a new graduate and non native English speaker. I’ve started using the steps here and am planning on sending a lot of applications this week to see how it works.

Thank you for the examples. I hav ea little bit of experience so I’m not writing the cover letter with absolutely no work experience but this still is helpful and seems to work for me.

One hiring manager told me that the reason they chose to call me was my cover letter.

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How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience (Examples Included!)

Writing a cover letter with no experience might feel like an intimidating task. The anxiety of facing a blank page—often with that inner voice whispering you may not be qualified enough—can indeed be paralyzing. But guess what? We’ve all been there, and trust me, you can do it too.

Everyone who has a job today started with no experience and had to write their first cover letter . Some of us even did it in a time when technology wasn’t around to help out (thankfully, things have changed!).

Need some guidance on writing yours? Here is everything you need to know to craft a cover letter with no experience, plus examples to guide you through the process.

What is a cover letter?

First things first: A cover letter is a document that you send to introduce yourself when applying for a job or internship. It complements your resume, providing more insight into who you are and the skills and qualifications that make you perfect for the role.

Think of it like a virtual handshake with the hiring manager. It’s your first interaction and your chance to quickly introduce yourself to secure an interview. Together with your resume , the cover letter is your opportunity to make a strong impression.

Why should you write a cover letter

Writing a cover letter, even if you lack experience, can set you apart from other candidates. It gives you space to delve more deeply into the skills and qualifications mentioned on your resume.

“Rather than focusing on what you have not accomplished yet in your career, focus on what you bring to the table: your skills, competencies, personality traits, and the values that you have developed in your life and education,” says Eloïse Eonnet , career coach and communication skills expert.

How to write a cover letter with no experience: 7 tips

When writing your cover letter, keep in mind your goal: leaving a positive first impression on the reader. It should include relevant information for the position you're applying for and maintain a professional yet engaging tone.

That’s your chance to convince the recruiter that you are the right person for the job and schedule an interview. “So, make sure you are clear on what skills and competencies you bring, and what personality traits make you a great fit,” says Eonnet.

If you still feel stuck and don’t know where to start, here's our seven-step guide on how to write a cover letter with no experience:

1. Check the company and job description

The first step in crafting a well-written cover letter is to research the company where you want to work. Carefully review what the organization shares about its values and culture on social media or its website to understand how you can relate to it in your letter.

The job description should also be examined closely because it typically includes keywords that you can incorporate into your cover letter when explaining your skills and competencies.

2. Include contact details

Mastering the cover letter format is as important as the content itself. Traditionally, a cover letter begins with your name and contact details—ensuring that if the recruiter decides to interview you, the information will be visible and easy to find.

And below your information, right before your opening paragraph, should be the hiring manager contact details. This format is considered more professional and is what is typically expected from candidates.

For example:

[Your First and Last Name]

[Phone number]

[Optional, unless it’s asked for: Your address]

[Date you're sending the letter]

[Hiring managers First and Last Name]

3. Begin with a friendly yet professional greeting

Remember, a cover letter is your initial interaction with the hiring manager, but in a virtual setting. Like in the real world, you begin with a greeting and then proceed to introduce yourself.

Choose a formal greeting such as “ Dear First and Last Name” , avoiding casual words like “ Hi” or “ Hey” to keep a professional tone. After that, you can start your first paragraph by introducing yourself and stating the position you are applying for.

Dear Lucia Carter,

My name is Alana Reeves, and I’m excited to apply for the Copywriter position at ABC Agency, which I discovered on LinkedIn. As a recent graduate from Columbia University, I’d be thrilled to work for a company that aligns with [Company’s values and/or culture].

4. Highlight relevant qualifications

Now, it’s time to showcase that you have what it takes to fulfill the desired position. When writing a cover letter with no experience, the key is to emphasize any relevant skills and competencies, detailing how they were developed.

“If a candidate has no work experience to pull from, I suggest that they talk about projects they completed at school, courses they took, extracurricular activities and community based projects they focused on, and even personal life events and projects they have experienced,” says Eonnet.

Filter what’s most relevant to the role you’re applying for and create a link between your skills and the job description.

“ Since my first semester at school, I’ve cultivated a passion for producing digital content for companies and institutions. I acted on this by creating a blog for the Mass Communication's website, where I wrote stories that captured the daily lives of the students on campus and the Columbia University culture. I also created a series providing recommendations of books, websites, films and TV shows relevant to a Mass Communication graduate.”

5. Showcase hard and soft skills

At this point, you’ve probably heard about hard and soft skills , right? Hard skills are technical abilities or knowledge that you can acquire through education, work experience, or training, whereas soft skills are linked to behavior and interpersonal relationships.

Recruiters seek candidates with a good mix of both types of skills, and the second and third paragraphs of your cover letter are perfect to show that you have what they are looking for.

“Show, do’’t tell! Rather than list your traits, they need to be in context of your past experience, even if it’s not official ’work experience,’” says Eonnet. So, use what you know about the company to show why you’re a good fit—be sure to explain how your skills match their needs.

“ During my four years as a blog content creator, I developed a strong understanding of SEO strategy, creative copywriting, and data analysis using Google Analytics, attracting approximately 1000 monthly visitors to the blog. I also applied my communication and self-management skills by interviewing students and managing the content by myself.”

If you have any top accomplishments, whether personal or academic, you can also include them in this section of your cover letter.

6. Close professionally

Wrap up your cover letter by reiterating your interest in the position and closing with a professional sign-off . You can use an engaging and friendly tone—and even ask for an interview—but don’t go overboard. Avoid overly casual language like “See you soon” or “Cheers”.

“I’m impressed by ABC Agency’s culture and creative approach to copywriting. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further in an interview.

Thank you for considering my application.

Best regards,

Alana Reeves”

7. Proofread carefully

This should go without saying, but make sure to submit a flawless letter free from grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. Unfortunately, even great candidates can be overlooked if their cover letter or resume has too many mistakes.

To avoid this, take time to proofread your writing before submission. Remember, you’re not the only one job hunting, and recruiters probably go through tons of cover letters and resumes daily. Anything less than impeccable could be a deal-breaker.

Cover letter examples with no experience (but willing to learn!)

Ready to see these tips in action? Check out two examples of cover letters with no experience to guide you.

1# Sample cover letter for internship with no experience

Alana Reeves

123-456-7890

[email protected]

February 26, 2024

Lucia Carter

123 Payne St.

[email protected]

I’m excited to apply for the marketing internship position at ABC Agency. As a recent graduate from Columbia University, I’m eager to delve deeper into marketing strategies and their role in the business world.

In addition to my commitment to college studies, over the past year, I’ve completed courses in digital marketing essentials and inbound marketing. I’ve also been actively involved in extracurricular activities, creating content and promoting student events across multiple platforms. These experiences have not only expanded my creativity but also enhanced my teamwork skills.

I’m enthusiastic about the prospect of joining your marketing team, as I’m an admirer of your creative marketing campaigns and ABC Agency’s commitment to social responsibility. I'm confident in my ability to contribute to your growth by offering innovative solutions and fresh perspectives for the business.

I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further.

2# Sample cover letter for job with no experience

My name is Alana Reeves, and I’m writing to express my interest in the entry-level social media management position at ABC Agency, which I discovered on LinkedIn. As a recent graduate with a major in Mass Communication from Columbia University, I am eager to apply my education in a dynamic and innovative company like yours.

During my four years of undergraduate studies, I initiated and managed a TikTok and Instagram page to share my study routine. I was successful in creating a community of 5,000 followers, including students from Columbia University and other universities nationwide.

This experience equipped me with a robust understanding of content creation, image and video editing, community management, and social media analytics. I strengthened my self-management and organization skills, effectively balancing my academic responsibilities with this project.

Being an admirer of ABC Agency’s creative and humorous content, I am enthusiastic about the prospect of contributing to your team. I believe I can bring fresh ideas and an innovative approach to enhance your social media presence.

What to avoid when writing your cover letter

Understanding what not to say is also helpful when crafting a cover letter without experience. Here are two things to steer clear of:

Don’t be too apologetic

It’s easy to fall into the trap of downplaying your past experiences just because they weren’t formal jobs. However, you should—or at least try to—avoid this negative and overly apologetic approach at all costs.

“I would definitely avoid qualifying any past experience (school projects, odd jobs, internships, community service, personal projects) as ’not work experience.’ I see candidates use an apologetic tone sometimes, which is counterproductive.” says Eonnet.

Don’t focus on your lack of experience

If you’re searching for tips on how to write a cover letter with no experience, examples and such, chances are you're applying for an entry level position. In this case, avoid dedicating too much space in your letter to the fact that you haven’t had a traditional job.

“Recruiters who are looking to fill an entry-level role do not expect you to have a bunch of full-time work experience. Rather, they’re looking for candidates who are self-aware, ready to work, and interested in the position.” says Eonnet.

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• How to write a speculative...

How to write a speculative application for a job that isn't advertised

8 min read · Updated on October 25, 2022

A company may not be hiring, but you could still land yourself a job. Here's how.

The best-kept secret in finding a new role is the hidden job market . This means that while not all jobs are advertised, you can still apply for them by writing a speculative application.

In this article, learn all about the speculative job application - including what it is and how to write one.

What is a speculative application?

A speculative application, also known as a speculative CV, involves reaching out to a company and putting yourself forward for jobs that have not been advertised or do not exist right now. It usually involves sending a CV and cover letter via email or an online portal.

Applying “on spec” is the term used to describe sending a speculative job application. It's common practice for many industries too. If you're solely looking for job adverts to respond to, you could be missing out on opportunities in the charity, design, environmental, and media sectors, where applying on spec is commonplace.

Sending a speculative CV isn't limited to full-time roles either. Applying on spec can pave a direct route into a company that may reveal temporary or permanent work, contract work, internships, and graduate positions. 

Do speculative job applications work?

Speculative applications are worthwhile. They work particularly well for a variety of industries where applying on spec is commonplace, particularly in media, including journalism, broadcasting, publishing, TV, and film. However, they can be advantageous regardless of the field you wish to pursue. 

Sending speculative applications can grant you access to a wider pool of roles that you otherwise wouldn't have discovered. Taking a proactive approach can therefore increase your chances of job-hunt success.

And at the very least, you will have increased your business connections that may inform you of future work opportunities. 

How do you write a speculative application?

Writing a speculative job application takes a healthy pinch of creativity, logic, and determination. It's a little trickier than your usual application, as you have to assume the details of an imaginary job spec. However, it's not impossible. Here are five steps to follow:

1. Identify what your ideal job looks like

Before you start a speculative job application, reflect on what your current employment needs are and the type of job you are looking for. Remember, just because the job isn't advertised, it doesn't mean you can aim for a “dream job” you're not qualified to do. Consider a role that aligns with your experience, skill set, and career goals.

Once you have pulled together a vision of your ideal job, hunt for vacancies online and peruse the requirements. This will help to verify whether your abilities align with the type of job you're looking for.

2. Curate a shortlist of prospective employers

The next step involves drawing up a shortlist of employers to target. Start by considering the companies that interest you the most. This might be based on a bucket list of dream companies to work for, recommendations from friends or old colleagues, or even brand mentions in industry-related publications that have sparked your interest.

Then move on to look for companies based on their sector and location, to whittle down a shortlist of potential targets. While a simple Google search should reveal “marketing agencies in Bristol” and the like, you can also take to job boards, employer review sites, and professional bodies, which host company profiles to peruse with ease. 

3. Conduct background research

Once you've found the companies that meet your sector and location requirements, the next step is background research. This is to ensure that you're well informed about the company and get a feel for the type of work they do.

Start with the company's website. Look through the “About Us” pages, which will highlight the organisation's aims, employees, and values. Also, review the product and services pages and the blog to get a deeper understanding of how they make money, who their customers are, and the topics they care about. 

Most importantly, review the careers section of the website which should reveal details about life at the company and the current vacancies. This section should signal the areas where they are currently investing in headcount and at what level. Don't let it deter you if you can't find a vacancy for yourself. Instead, use them for inspiration. 

By reading through live job adverts, you'll pick up on keywords that are used in the company's recruitment drive, in addition to desirable traits they are looking for in applicants.

4. Find and establish a suitable contact at the company

It's essential that you find a personal contact at the company before making a speculative application. While an organisation may advertise on their website that they will welcome speculative applications, the email address will probably be related to a group inbox rather than a personal inbox, meaning it may be deprioritised. 

LinkedIn will likely be your best friend in this instance. Find out who the hiring manager is, or even the head of the relevant department. Browse their profile to gain an insight into their professional interests and position at work. If their work email isn't listed on their profile, send a short message to say you're looking to reach out and discuss potential work opportunities at the company and ask for the best email address.

Failing that, call the company to find out the name of the person in charge of recruiting and the best email address to reach them on.

5. Tailor your CV and cover letter to an assumed job spec

A tailored CV is a job-search essential. Even though you do not have a job description to reference, this shouldn't stop you from writing a bespoke CV. By using your research about the company, the sought-after traits listed in their live vacancies, and job specs from your earlier research related to your ideal job, you can craft a customised CV.

Pull out organisational values to subtly reference throughout your personal statement . Then, identify industry- and role-relevant keywords to add throughout your CV to highlight where your skill set lies and your relevant achievements. This will make it clear to the employer what you can do, the value you can bring to the company, and that you know what type of job you want.

Mirror the same level of personalisation and detail throughout your cover letter. The first paragraph of a speculative cover letter is slightly different to the standard cover letter for an advertised vacancy . In your introduction, instead of stating the role you're applying for, reference why you're approaching the employer. This is especially pertinent if you have an existing relationship with someone there. 

In addition, make it clear what type of role you're looking for by providing a concise and snappy description. If the employer believes you don't know what you're looking for, you may come across as disingenuous.

How do you send and follow up on a speculative job application?

When emailing your speculative application, use your cover letter as the body of the email and attach your CV. This is rather than writing a short email and attaching the cover letter and CV. Be sure to name the file of your CV with something descriptive, so that they can tie the file back to you. Your full name and ideal job title, followed by “speculative CV application” or similar should do the trick. 

Follow the same logic with the subject line, but note that you don't need to include your name as the recipient will see it in your email address.

Depending on the size of the company, it could take anywhere from a few days to a few months to respond. Some may not respond at all. As a rule of thumb, send a follow-up email no sooner than a week later to check in and see if they've had a chance to review your speculative application. Keep it light and friendly - after all, this could be your future employer. 

Speculative applications are tricky in comparison to applying to live vacancies, but you may hit the jackpot of jobs if it pays off. Be patient, open-minded, and proactive, and remember that, even if there isn't a role available right now, keep all doors open so you'll be in the front of their mind when there is.

Submit your CV for a free review to check that you've portrayed your abilities and achievements in the right way for a particular employer as part of your speculative application.

Recommended reading

Are a CV and cover letter the same?

How to use LinkedIn for your job search

How to sell yourself on a CV without sounding arrogant

Related Articles:

How to write a job application email: a 5-step guide

Listing professional experience on your CV: a 5-step guide

How to get a job with a criminal record: restart your career

See how your CV stacks up.

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How to Apply when there is No Opening: 7 Sentence Cover Letter

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Listen to Podcast Now:

Want to join a company, but can’t find a job opening? Join career expert and award-winning author Andrew LaCivita as he covers how to apply when there is no opening: 7 sentence cover letter!

You want to work for an organization, but you can’t seem to find a public job posting. You’re not sure if there’s an opening.

You’re not sure if they’ll welcome you. You’re wondering should I apply ? If I apply, how should I apply?

First things first…

Should you apply or reach out to an organization when they don’t have a job posting? Heck Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Three reasons:

• Great organizations are always, always combing the world for the greatest talent. They’re always in hiring mode, whether they have a budget for a new position or don’t have a budget for a new position.

They are constantly looking for the greatest resources because they know the greatest resources don’t always come along or are available when they need them.

• They’ll trade up. If there are ten people in an organization, there’s at least one or two of them the company would be willing to trade out for a better performer. It’s just simple math.

Now start adding a zero to those numbers. If there are 100 people in the company, that’s ten to 20 people they’d likely trade out.

What about a 1,000 people in the company? That’s 200 openings, even if they don’t have extra budget to hire additional resources. There is still 10-20% of their organization they feel they can improve with better resources.

• Less competition . There’ll be a lot less competition. If there’s no job posting, it’s a deterrent for well more than 90% of the people. So most of them won’t even try it.

The ones who do, unless they’re sitting next to you watching this video, they’re not going to know exactly how to do that.

This is going to give the recruiters and the HR people and the hiring officials more time to give your submittal more care and consideration.

Now, how should I do it?

There are seven areas to address in your introduction or your cover letter.

Before I get into what those seven topics are, I want to talk about a couple of other ways you can introduce yourself:

FREE DOWNLOAD:  4-Sentence Cover Letter : For changing companies when you know there’s a job opening. It’s quality over quantity.

FREE DOWNLOAD:  Boss-Hunting Cover Letters : For targeting a particular person or higher-up in a company (whether there exists an opening or not).

When you want to target a company and don’t see a job positing, reach out with this cover letter (introduction, email, etc.):

• Why you’re writing to them.

The reason I’m writing to you is because I want to join your company. But, you can’t leave them there. You need to give them some context and some rationale as to why you want to work at that organization.

• Your rationale for wanting to work there.

The reasons I want to work here are…based on my research…and then insert your rationale.

• What you offer and why you’re a great fit.

I offer X years of experience in this particular industry, doing these particular jobs which makes me a great fit to support your organization and the products and services it delivers. But you can’t leave them there. You’ve got to drive a little nail into this one. That’s number four…

• Home run accomplishment.

Tell them about a significant accomplishment you know is going to be enticing and a great match for that company.

A particular accomplishment I’m proud of or a significant accomplishment or a major accomplishment is…and then tell them specifically what it is.

• Pointing them in the direction of more evidence of why you’re a great fit.

I want you to tell them exactly where in the resume you want them to look for more evidence that greatly aligns you with what they need for their organization.

• Welcome the opportunity to speak with them.

I’d welcome the opportunity to speak with you…

• Thank them for their consideration.

I want to thank you for your consideration…

To see the exact language for my No-Job-Opening Cover Letter (AKA The 7-Sentence Cover Letter), get that here !

If you enjoyed this video, give me a LIKE, COMMENT, and, of course SHARE with your friends. Expanding is what it’s all about!

Like this episode?  Please share it via social media and review it on  iTunes ! I can keep this blog and all future podcasts and videos ad-free and sponsor-free ONLY because you share my work! Please share or subscribe to  my podcast  and  YouTube channel  too!

Want more advanced material?  Join the  milewalk Academy  and grab some of the free offerings that support the instruction in this post!

Related Posts

Great tips Andrew

Thanks Rajeev! Glad you liked them!

Can u send me a sample 7 sentence cover letter by mail? Thanks

Simply download it using the proper link!

Andrew, Thank you for your wisdom and generosity. You are truly a “class act” sir.

Thanks much Jim!

Hi Andrew. I didn’ get an email.

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

FREE DOWNLOAD

Today’s Line to Live By®

Andrew LaCivita is a world-leading career and leadership coach and award-winning author of Interview Intervention and The Hiring Prophecies. Throughout his career, he has helped 350 companies and over 60,000 individuals across 100 countries realize their potential. He frequently serves as a trusted media resource for outlets such as ABC, Fox Business, and Business Insider. You can join him at the milewalk Academy and catch him weekly for free Live Office Hours on his YouTube Channel.

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Cover letter when no resume is needed - no paid work experience

Sometimes an employer will want a one-page cover letter without a resume. When this happens it's important to use your cover letter to link your experience and skills to the requirements of the job, even when you don't have paid work experience.

Our Sample Cover Letters pages  have information on cover letters needed for other situations. 

Cover letter: Cover letter only + no paid work experience

Use this sample cover letter if: 

• you're applying for a job that's been advertised
• you have no formal (paid) work experience
• you've been asked to apply with a cover letter only without submitting your resume.

Download this sample cover letter:

• Sample Cover Letter: Cover Letter Only + No Paid Work Experience - Word (82.66 KB)

NOTE: DON'T SUBMIT YOUR COVER LETTER AS A .PDF. Always submit your cover letter as a .doc, .docx or .rtf. If you have trouble with this sample cover letter, contact us at  [email protected] .

Cover letter only and no paid work experience 

When writing a letter like this you should include:

• your name, email address and phone number at the top of the page on the right
• the name of the business and the contact person's full name on the left
• the date you wrote the letter on the right
• a reference line (e.g., "Re: Application for Administrative Assistant position")
• an address to the reviewer directly (e.g., "Dear Mr. Moyle" - try to avoid using "To whom it may concern" if you can)
• an opening statement that briefly introduces you to the reader
• a paragraph that summarises your experience and skills
• a list that clearly outlines how you meet each job requirement (use one bullet point per requirement and make sure each point is no longer than two lines)
• a closing paragraph asking to arrange an interview.

Things to include on your cover letter when you don’t have paid work experience

When you don't have any paid work experience, things you can mention in your cover letter include:

• teamwork skills that show you can work with other people
• qualities that show you can learn on the job
• your strengths and contributions that show you are a stand-out applicant
• school work experience or volunteer work that demonstrates your strengths and contributions
• involvement in sporting or community clubs
• hobbies or interests that are relevant to the job, or that show you are mature and professional.

Key points of this cover letter are that it:

• introduces you to the reader
• responds to the requirements of the job
• doesn't include too many “I” statements, which can run the risk of disengaging the reader

The focus of this kind of cover letter is to prove that your personal qualities and characteristics are a good fit with the requirements of the job. You also need to show how you will make a positive contribution to the organisation or business.

Our other pages have more information about resumes and cover letters:

• Sample resumes
• Sample Cover Letters
• How to Write a Resume
• How to Write a Cover Letter

A sample cover letter with no paid work experience

Joanne Tint

Email:  [email protected] Mobile: XXXX XXX XXX

Mr Allan Moyle Pride Family Jewellers Phone: XXX XXX XXXX Email: [email protected]

7 December 2018

RE: Application for Retail Assistant position

Dear Mr. Moyle,

As a young, motivated individual I am extremely interested in submitting an application for the Retail Assistant role currently advertised at Pride Family Jewellers.

In responding to the specific requirements of this position I would like to highlight how my experience can demonstrate my ability to meet each of these.

• previous experience in retail – I volunteer at the annual school sausage sizzle fundraiser; helping to take orders, handle money and respond to customer enquiries
• exceptional communication skills – I am a confident communicator who understands the different communication styles required when working with fellow volunteers and customers
• great attention to detail – my teachers have complimented me on the attention to detail I demonstrate in my school assignments and presentations.

In November 2018 I completed my VCE studies and also obtained a Certificate II in Business Administration. 

Above and beyond my experience and capabilities I have been commended for my high level of interpersonal skills and my naturally engaging personality. My motivations include learning new things, the challenge of meeting the needs of an organisation, and ensuring high-quality outcomes.

I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my application and this position in more detail at an interview. I can be contacted at all times on the details provided above.

Thanking you in advance for your time,

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Free cover letter templates

Stand out and get hired faster with our collection of free professional cover letter templates expertly-designed to land you the perfect position.

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General cover letter template.

A general cover letter template is the perfect starting point for writing your next job-winning cover letter. In the example below, you’ll find a cover letter that can be modified to suit just about any position or industry. 

Make sure to update it to include key examples from your own experience and education. Each cover letter is a chance to convince the employer that you’re the best candidate for their role, so make it count!

You’ve developed an excellent resume. What a relief! But you’re not finished with your job application package. It’s time to write a stellar cover letter. That blank page can be scary, but the tips below will help you grab that interview.

Why use our cover letter templates

Resume.io’s cover letter templates offer several advantages when it comes to completing your application and landing your next great position. We take pride in creating fresh and professional designs that stand out and make a positive first impression in today’s competitive job market. 

Here are a few reasons why our free cover letter templates are a cut above the rest:

• Expertly crafted templates: Our team of professional graphic designers is constantly creating and updating our templates to make sure they meet the needs of today’s job seekers. Our collection of templates ranges from minimalist and modern to bold and creative to ensure that we offer the perfect cover letter template for every candidate.
• Approved by recruiters: We work with career HR and recruitment professionals to make sure our cover letter templates meet the strict standards of today’s employers. We follow the latest hiring trends to update and adapt our cover letter templates for the needs of modern job seekers.
• Customize with ease: Not only do we provide expertly designed free cover letter templates, but we also offer an intuitive cover letter builder to help job seekers customize their application letters with ease. Our cover letter builder is easy-to-use and full of helpful features and advice to help you craft a cover letter that’s a cut above the rest.
• AI-powered tools: Even the best writers could use a hand sometimes. That’s why we’ve introduced AI-powered sample sentences that can be inserted directly within the cover letter builder and updated for your own experience. Our powerful spelling and grammar checker also helps to eliminate costly cover letter errors.

Most job applications specify whether they’d like to receive your cover letter as a PDF or Word Docx format. We’ve made it easy to download either option within our cover letter builder.

Choosing the right cover letter template

Every candidate and every position is unique, meaning the same cover letter won’t work for everyone. That’s why we’ve created an extensive collection of cover letter templates with designs ranging from clean and classic to modern and attention-grabbing. 

Within our cover letter builder, you can also easily switch from one template to another, meaning the perfect cover letter design is always within reach. Our free cover letter templates are divided into four categories:

• Simple: Our simple cover letter templates are go-to classics that can work for a wide variety of positions and applicants. These templates are best-suited for students and first-time job seekers, along with applicants working in fields like hospitality, transportation, logistics, and retail. Our simple templates are highly versatile and can serve as a great starting point for any cover letter.
• Modern: If fresh ideas and innovation are the keys to your industry, our modern cover letter templates are the right choice. These designs feature minimalistic lines, clean fonts, and a refreshing balance of white space to text. Our modern cover letter templates are perfect for candidates in IT, marketing, administration, and sales.
• Creative: If your industry or job title calls for a bold approach, look no further than our collection of creative cover letter templates . These designs feature bright colors, striking fonts, and larger-than-life headers to draw attention to your cover letter. Our creative cover letter templates are perfect for candidates in fields like film and television, design, photography, art, architecture, content creation, and any job where your personality should be in the spotlight.
• Professional: Sometimes, tried-and-true is the only option, and that’s where our professional templates come into play. These are classic designs with traditional font choices and the organized sections recruiters expect to see. When in doubt, a professional cover letter template is the way to go, especially in fields like business, medicine, education, engineering, accounting, and finance.

What makes a good cover letter template?

A good cover letter template is a combination of elements that work together to highlight and emphasize a candidate’s experience and qualifications for the role. 

Here are a few factors that make a good cover letter template:

Header: An excellent cover letter template features a header that draws attention to the applicant’s name and contact information. The header may be located at the top or on the side of the page, but it must contain key details like a phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile or portfolio website.

Balance of white space to text: A great cover letter template is easy to read and carefully balances the amount of white space in the text to avoid visual fatigue for the reader. Paragraphs should be divided in a logical way, and margins should not be shrunk to cram in more text.

Font choice: The best cover letters use font styles and sizes that are both legible and appropriate for the industry or job title. A good cover letter builder eliminates the guesswork by automatically choosing the right font and size for the cover letter template.

Color or design elements: While not appropriate for every industry, a touch of color or a dividing line can help create a more attractive page design and make the candidate stand out in a crowded applicant pool. Resume.io’s cover letter templates that feature color give several options so that you can choose the hue that works best for your application.

Different jobs can require different cover letter formats , which is why we’ve made it easy to switch colors, line spacing, or even whole templates directly inside our cover letter builder.

Cover letter template frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is a good format for a cover letter.

A good format for a cover letter is one that catches the hiring manager’s attention with an attractive layout, easy-to-read font, and clear and concise information about the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

What are the three parts of a cover letter?

The four parts of a cover letter are as follows:

• The greeting: The way the hiring manager is addressed at the start of the cover letter.  
• Introduction: The first one or two sentences that introduce the candidate and the role they are applying for.  
• Body: The main paragraphs of the cover letter where the candidate discusses their experience and the reasons why they’re right for the job.  
• Conclusion and sign-off: The final sentences that express interest for the role and include the candidate’s full name as a signature.

How long should a cover letter be?

A good cover letter should be around 300 words or within the range of 250-350 words. This equals roughly three paragraphs. Any shorter and the reader may not fully understand why you are qualified for the role. Any longer, and you risk losing the reader’s attention before they get to the end of your letter.

What are three do’s and three don’ts with a cover letter ?

• Include a header that aligns with the design and information on your resume
• Use numbers and concrete information to show your accomplishments
• Leave a balance of white space to text to increase readability
• Change the document margins to cram in more text or make your cover letter appear longer
• Add a full street address to your cover letter
• Go overboard with images, design elements, or colors

What are two things that should always be in a cover letter?

Two things that should always be in a cover letter are the name of the company and the role you are applying to. Hiring managers often look for candidates for multiple openings at once, so this helps the employer identify who you are and the job you are looking for.

Are cover letters necessary?

Cover letters are one of the best ways to increase your chances of landing your desired position. That’s because they give you the opportunity to expand on key experiences from your resume. 

While not every hiring manager reads cover letters, the ones that do can often use them to determine who is on the shortlist for an interview. We recommend every applicant write a cover letter to show their interest and qualifications for the position.

How to end a cover letter

We recommend always ending your cover letter with a call to action. This sentence expresses your enthusiasm for the position and politely suggests that the hiring manager get in touch with you for an interview. 

You can also leave your name and contact information in this section once again, space permitting. Then, sign off with a phrase like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and your full name.

How do you address a cover letter without a name?

While using the hiring manager’s name on your cover letter is the best way to establish a personal connection, some companies do not share information about who will be reading your cover letter. In that case, a more general greeting like “Dear (Company Name) Hiring Team” or “Dear (Department Name) Team Lead” can do the trick.

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10 Advertising Cover Letter Examples

Advertisers are experts at creating captivating campaigns that grab attention and persuade audiences to take action. Similarly, your cover letter is your personal marketing campaign, designed to capture the interest of recruiters and convince them of your value. In this guide, we'll explore top-notch Advertising cover letter examples, demonstrating how to effectively sell your skills, experience, and passion for the industry.

Cover Letter Examples

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The best way to start an Advertising cover letter is by grabbing the reader's attention immediately. This could be achieved by mentioning a recent successful campaign you've worked on, or by expressing your passion for a campaign the company has recently run. It's also important to address the hiring manager by name if possible, showing that you've done your research. For example, "When I saw your recent campaign for X, I was impressed by its creativity and impact. As a seasoned advertising professional with a track record of creating successful campaigns, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team." This approach shows your enthusiasm for the company and your relevant experience.

Advertises should end a cover letter by summarizing their interest in the position and the unique skills they bring. They should reiterate their enthusiasm for the role and the company, and express a desire for further discussion. A strong closing might be: "I am excited about the opportunity to bring my unique blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and data-driven decision making to your team. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my application further." Always remember to thank the reader for their time and consideration. The closing should be professional and positive, leaving a lasting impression. Sign off with a professional closing like "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name.

An Advertising cover letter should ideally be about one page in length. This is because hiring managers often have to go through numerous applications, so a concise, one-page cover letter ensures your key points are easily digestible. It's enough space to highlight your most relevant experiences, skills, and achievements without overwhelming the reader. Remember, in advertising, being able to communicate effectively and succinctly is a valued skill, and your cover letter is a great place to demonstrate this.

Writing a cover letter with no experience in Advertising can seem daunting, but it's important to remember that everyone starts somewhere. Here's a step-by-step guide on how you can approach this: 1. Contact Information: Start with your contact information - your name, address, phone number, and email address. 2. Salutation: Address the letter to the hiring manager. If you don't know their name, use a general salutation like "Dear Hiring Manager". 3. Introduction: Begin your letter by introducing yourself and stating the position you're applying for. Mention where you found the job posting. 4. Highlight Relevant Skills: Even if you don't have direct experience in advertising, you likely have skills that are relevant. Maybe you've taken courses in marketing or communication, or perhaps you've worked in sales or customer service. Highlight these skills and explain how they're relevant to the role you're applying for. 5. Show Enthusiasm: Show your passion for the industry. Maybe you've always been fascinated by how advertisements can influence consumer behavior, or perhaps you love the creativity involved in developing ad campaigns. Whatever it is, make sure to convey your enthusiasm. 6. Provide Examples: Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills. For instance, if you've taken a marketing course, talk about a project where you had to develop a marketing plan. If you've worked in sales, discuss how you used persuasion techniques to convince customers to buy a product. 7. Show You've Done Your Homework: Research the company and mention something you admire about it in your cover letter. This shows you're serious about wanting to work there. 8. Closing: In your closing paragraph, thank the hiring manager for considering your application. Express your interest in the opportunity to discuss your qualifications further. 9. Signature: End with a professional closing like "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name. Remember, the goal of a cover letter is to show the hiring manager why you'd be a good fit for the role, even if you don't have direct experience. Highlight your transferable skills, show your passion for the industry, and demonstrate that you've taken the time to research the company.

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