How to Stand Out Through a Speculative Application

Written by Valentine Fabre

Job boards such as LinkedIn and Indeed are flooded with listings, sometimes leading you to compete against a thousand other candidates for a single role. Rather than vying for the attention of recruiters and hiring managers, you may want to consider sending speculative applications. These are particularly effective if you are looking to work for a specific brand or company, as they demonstrate your motivation and proactivity.

Here are a few tips to strengthen your search and ensure that your candidature will be seen. 

Map the Market

The advantage of sending out speculative applications is that it gives you agency to choose who you reach out to, which can play in your favour. Start by mapping out the job market, whether on platforms like LinkedIn or through word of mouth to establish an exhaustive list of companies and brands that spark your interest. Feel free to include the brand of your dream, however do not overlook smaller or adjacent organisations, as they might offer great growth opportunities. 

Be sure to send your application to the right person. Research listed employees on LinkedIn and find those most relevant, whether it is the hiring manager, a member of the team in question or even the founder, if it is a small company or if they are known to be hands-on. 

Update Your Information

Although time-consuming, it is essential to keep your cover letter, CV and portfolio (if applicable) up to date. This entails adapting them to the specific company you are applying for as well as the position. Keeping a chronological order where your most recent qualification is listed first, highlight the relevant skills and past experiences that make you a good fit for the role to ensure that the person reading it instantly understands why you would make a good addition to the team.

The easier you make it for them to envision your success in the role, the more likely you are to hear back.

Make a Clear Ask

Another advantage of a speculative application is that it is open-ended, meaning that you can apply for any function or role you can think of within the existing remit of a given organisation. Conduct preliminary research into the company structure to help you define your desired position and growth areas within the business. To do so, make sure that your career goals are well-defined and attainable.

This may become a highly introspective part of your job search, but it is essential for you to understand your aims, personal preferences and conditions to help you thrive professionally. By conveying those clearly and aligning them with the aims and mission of your company of interest, you can demonstrate the person reading your information the full extent of your motivation and stand out from competition.

Follow Up

Once you send your application, go ahead and connect with the person you contacted on LinkedIn to show your interest in the company and the people working there. It will also be a great way to get in touch with them in the future. 

If you have not received an answer after about one or two weeks, consider sending a polite follow-up email. This way, you will demonstrate your motivation as well as initiative, which will very likely be appreciated by the interviewer.

Ready to send out your first spontaneous candidature? Gain some time by using our ready-to-send templates and learn how to market mapping directly on The Glowth Academy.

Written by Valentine Fabre