One strategy for career success is to target the employer rather than the position. Think about what your dream company to work for would be. Is there an organization that has products or services you'd be proud to represent, a mission you can believe in, a sweet location, great perks, or a stellar reputation as an employer of choice?
Landing a job with such a company would be a great career move. But what if they never seem to be hiring? There are no job postings available on their website. Are you completely out of luck?
Not necessarily. Top-tier employers like this have their pick of candidates and don't usually have to do a lot of advertising to fill their open positions. So, the fact that they aren't posting jobs doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't hiring or won't be soon. And since they have their pick of candidates, you need to take some steps to put yourself on their radar as a valuable potential asset to their team.
One way to do this is, of course, networking. Talk to anyone you know who may have a connection to the company. Check your LinkedIn or other social media networks for a potential contact on the inside. Companies value employee referrals for new hires, and having a source who works at the organization can also give you a heads-up when new positions become available.
If the company isn't actively hiring, and you can't find a connection in your network, you can still attract their attention by reaching out with a letter of interest. These are also commonly referred to as an introductory letter or a letter of enquiry.
Whatever you choose to call it, it's a letter that you send to an employer you would like to work for, but who doesn't seem to have a specific job opening that you could apply for. This is how it differs from a traditional cover letter. A cover letter serves as an introduction to your resume, presenting your application for a particular job. Employers expect to receive applications for their job postings that include cover letters.
When you are approaching a company cold with your letter of interest, you have to catch their attention, introduce yourself, explain why you are writing to them, and leave a positive impression on the reader that you would be a great potential hire. That's a tall order for one letter. Here's how you do it.
Writing your letter of interest
Research. The first step in any successful job search campaign is information gathering. You need to do your homework before anything else. Since you are particularly interested in getting hired for a job with this specific employer, you probably already know a great deal about the company.
Make sure that your letter reflects this knowledge. You want to clearly demonstrate that you are interested in this particular employer and that you would be a good fit for the company. Showcasing your knowledge of the company’s culture, history, products, and services assures the employer that you are not just spamming companies with your letter. Hiring professionals prefer candidates who are motivated to work for them specifically, and not just trying to land any gig they can find.
Hopefully, in your research of the company you will have found the name of the person responsible for hiring or who is the head of the team that you want to join. Starting off with a greeting such as "To Whom It May Concern" would likely result in your letter not even being read. Getting your introduction in front of the right person will go a long way toward boosting its chances of success. Here is how you can find the name of the person to whom you should address your letter of interest.
Introduce yourself. Your opening paragraph should let the employer know who you are and why you are writing to them. It would be best if your first sentence could be something about the company, rather than about you. This showcases the knowledge gained in your research and encourages the recipient to read on.
For example:
Hello Dylan Jones,
It was great to see ACME Corp. honoured at the recent industry awards. The recognition was well deserved. I've been a fan of your company's products and brand since you first launched the DCE Model. I am a marketing specialist, and I am writing to enquire if you might have any openings for a marketing, advertising, or communications contributor on your team.
Market yourself. Use the next paragraph to highlight your key selling point. What experience, skills, or accomplishments do you have that could be beneficial to this particular employer? This is what you want them to know about you if they are currently hiring or remember about you the next time that they are. Make sure these credentials are specifically relevant to the company and industry.
For example:
I have a Bachelor's degree in Online Communications from ABC University and a Master's in Public Relations from EFG. I oversaw the product launch of Product A for Company B. Our social media campaign earned us over 100,000 new followers and won the CMA Award in our category.
Close with your interest and availability. Having introduced yourself, shown your knowledge of the company, and highlighted the top attributes you can bring to the job, sign off by reiterating your interest in working there. Let the employer know that you are available for a phone call or meeting should they want to discuss your candidacy further. And of course, thank them for their time.
For example:
I would be very excited to contribute my industry knowledge and communications savvy to helping ACME Corp.'s products reach an even bigger audience. I have a few ideas for an online campaign that I would love to share with you when you have a moment. I'm available after 4:00pm weekdays if you'd like to set up a time to chat, and of course, you can always reach me by email.
In the meantime, thank you very much for taking the time to read my letter and hopefully consider me as a potential candidate for your current or future marketing roles.
Best regards,
Joe Candidate
Your letter of job interest is the beginning of a networking conversation with a potential employer when you have no one to introduce you. It is how you introduce yourself. Since this is your first impression – and you want it to be a positive, professional one – be sure to proofread your letter carefully. Don't just check it for typos or spelling mistakes, but also read it aloud to ensure that it flows, that it sounds good.
Whether or not you include your resume along with your letter is optional. On the one hand, it might make your polite inquiry look too much like an unsolicited job application. This could lessen the impact of your professional letter of interest. On the other hand, if the employer is hiring for an unadvertised position, landing your resume on their desk at the right time can give you a leg up.
Mention it either way. Say something like this:
With this letter, I have included a copy of my resume, so that you can have it on file for any future marketing roles you might be hiring for.
Or
If you would like to know any more details about my professional background or experience, just let me know. I'd be happy to provide you with a copy of my resume at any time.
When you put it all together, your professional introduction letter reads like this:
Joe Candidate
207 Stanley Avenue
St. Lambert, QC
[email protected]
450-555-1234
March 26, 2022
Dylan Jones
Marketing Director
ACME Corp.
Montreal, QC
Hello Dylan Jones,
It was great to see ACME Corp. honoured at the recent industry awards. The recognition was well deserved. I've been a fan of your company's products and brand since you first launched the DCE Model. I am a marketing specialist, and I am writing to enquire if you might have any openings for a marketing, advertising, or communications contributor on your team.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Online Communications from ABC University and a Master's in Public Relations from EFG. I oversaw the product launch of Product A for Company B. Our recent social media campaign earned us over 100,000 new followers and won the CMA Award in our category.
I would be very excited to contribute my industry knowledge and communications savvy to helping ACME Corp.'s products reach an even bigger audience. I have a few ideas for an online campaign that I would love to share with you when you have a moment. I'm available after 4:00pm weekdays if you'd like to set up a time to chat, and of course, you can always reach me by email.
In the meantime, thank you very much for taking the time to read my letter and hopefully consider me as a potential candidate for your current or future marketing roles.
If you would like to know any more details about my professional background or experience, just let me know. I'd be happy to provide you with a copy of my resume at any time.
Best regards,
Joe Candidate
