Speculative approach to a Graduate Job

So you've graduated and you've looked amongst the latest graduate vacancies job boards and in all honesty, your not impressed are you?! You want your dream graduate job or you'll happily continue to work your part time shelf stacking job....

Although we can't recommend that you sit and wait for your ideal job or employer to advertise, many graduates do take a speculative approach to getting on a companies payroll.

Speculative approaches can be more affective than responding to an advertisement, in many industries it can prove to be the only way of getting your foot in the door.

However, there needs to be logic behind your decision to approach companies, otherwise you are simply wasting your time and it's unlikely that you'll make the impression that you want to, as your application wont be read in any case!

You need to identify potential employers (companies and organisations) who certainly do, or at least appear to dabble in graduate recruitment. If they do, then make sure that you recruit graduates in the discipline or your degree.

If you believe you have found a potential graduate employer in your subject area, it's advisable that you begin to work on a general CV. Your CV needs to be of a high standard, but your cover letter is what is more likely to earn you an interview in this case.
Your covering letter should be geared towards the industry that the company operates within as well as being company specific. If you completed a dissertation or large project, you can also discuss that in the letter.

When writing your cover letter, make sure that you actually state what you are looking for! A lot of speculative letters aren't focused enough to be successful, so if your looking for a job, say so! If it's work experience, shadowing or project work your after - make sure you say so!

Before you send of your speculative application, you should do some research about the recruitment department. Find out the name of their recruitment manager or human resources personnel and address the letter to them, generic letters won't make the impact that you need.
You can also ask your former lecturers or head of school for contact information or to gain further advice, it's more than likely that a past student has tried to get a foot in the door with the company that you are trying to. They will be more than happy to help you out!

Once you have sent your application, make a follow up call a few days later to reconfirm your interest and try to arrange a meeting to discuss job possibilities or even to gain further contacts.

Speculative applications aren't always successful, but if you approach it in a constructive and well prepared manor, you have a much higher chance of success.

Good Luck