While much of the labour market information reported in the media has painted a somewhat bleak picture and might have dampened the enthusiasm of even the most optimistic job seekers, it is important to look closely how this impacts on different sectors within the economy and the situation for graduates in particular. Graduate labour market ‘guru’ Charlie Ball has highlighted in a recent update that the labour market for graduates seems to have stabilised and that most businesses say they can get back to work quickly once restrictions are eased. Making speculative applications now, while the job market may be weaker, is a great way of ensuring that you are at the forefront of recruiters’ minds when they are in a position to hire new staff again. It’s also a great way of showing prospective employers that you are proactive, while helping you stay positive and take steps to move yourself forward.

Specul-what?
If you’ve never heard of speculative applications, don’t worry – it simply means contacting an organisation proactively to ask whether they have any job opportunities of interest to you, and usually involves sending them a copy of your CV alongside a cover letter/email to explain the kind of roles you’d be interested in and what you can offer the organisation. In some industries, like the charity, design/creative, and media sectors, applying speculatively is common practice, but it can also form part of your job-hunting strategy for any industry, particularly if the labour market is experiencing a period of slowdown.

The proactive approach a speculative application demonstrates is likely to impress prospective employers – particularly if your covering letter illustrates a good understanding of the organisation and how your skills, experience and personality would fit their culture and working environment – so even if they cannot offer you a job at the moment, they’re likely to bear you in mind for future opportunities or maybe even recommend you to some of their own contacts in the sector.

In contrast to advertised vacancies, the employer doesn’t expect to hear from you, so don’t worry if your speculative application initially goes unanswered. A polite follow-up after a week or two might yield a response, but if not, don’t be put off making speculative applications altogether. This approach might take some persistence, but it can help you to uncover opportunities in ‘the hidden jobs market’ and allows you to take charge of your job search.

How can I make a speculative application?
First of all, you need to generate a list of companies and potential employers of interest to you. This might include companies you have met at careers fairs/employer events at LJMU or networking events you have attended. Do you regularly read updates in trade publications or online? Which companies have you come across in these that might offer the type of jobs you’re interested in? Where do your family and friends work? Might any of their employers also be of interest to you? Have you struggled to find graduate-level jobs in your industry but seen vacancies for more experienced professionals? Make a note of companies that are recruiting, even if not at your level. They might have graduate opportunities in the pipeline, but might not want to advertise them before restrictions are eased because they don’t want to induct junior staff remotely.

If you would like to work in a particular location, you can also identify potential employers by searching for key words like ‘social media manager Liverpool’ or ‘software developer Manchester’ on LinkedIn and setting the results to ‘People’. This gives you a list of members who work in Manchester as software developers and who they are employed by. (NB: If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile yet or would like some further information about how to make the most of your LinkedIn presence, download a copy of our guide)

Next, you’ve got to think about how best to get your speculative application sent to the company. Some organisations have a section on their careers website for candidates to upload speculative applications, so always check this first (and in the process, check if they are advertising any suitable vacancies at the moment!). Also take advantage of your personal and professional network. Who do you know that works in sectors and companies of interest to you? Could you ask them to pass on a copy of your CV to a manager or colleague at work? That kind of personal recommendation can give your application additional impact.

If you don’t have a contact in the organisation, try to identify an appropriate individual to send your application to, rather than just emailing it to a general address like contact@company.co.uk Phone the company to ask for the right contact or get in touch with someone from their HR team or the department you’d like to work in on LinkedIn. You can then refer to them in your cover letter/email, e.g. I am contacting you on the recommendation of Adam Smith, who I approached on LinkedIn to ask about job opportunities within your social media team.

Make sure you have a strong CV and covering letter to send to your new contact within the company. This should illustrate that you have researched the organisation and showcase the relevant skills, experience and knowledge you can offer. If you’re not sure what they’re looking for, job profiles can help you identify some suitable key words to use in your application. Be clear what type of roles interest you, but also show that you’re open-minded about other opportunities they might have available instead. Finish your letter on a positive note, highlighting that you would love to discuss any potential current or future openings with them in more detail.

Finally, please note that some employers do not accept speculative applications, for example public sector organisations like the NHS or local authorities. Major graduate employers are also likely to signpost you towards their advertised graduate schemes instead. Contacting someone in the organisation is therefore useful not just to make sure you are sending your application to the right individual, but also to avoid wasting time on unwanted speculative applications.

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Further advice and information

The Careers, Employability and Enterprise Team is available to help from 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday.

The Careers Team is offering remote appointments by telephone, video or email; call 0151 231 8740, email careers@ljmu.ac.uk or visit the Careers Team website.  Also, check out our programme of webinars (online classes) which can help you navigate the current graduate recruitment landscape.

For advice on starting your own business or freelancing, contact LJMU’s Centre for Entrepreneurship at: startup@ljmu.ac.uk.