unsolicited application

Unsolicited cover letter

With an unsolicited application, there's no job posting to tell you what the employer is looking for. So you have to provide that yourself: which role, on which team, and what it delivers. That makes the cover letter more important than in a regular application, and shorter. Below is a letter that works, along with tips and an FAQ.

Sample unsolicited cover letter

Dear Ms. Kok,

You don't currently have a job opening for a project manager in installation engineering, and yet I'm writing to you. I read in the trade press that this year you took on maintenance for three hospitals in the region. Contracts like that call for project managers who can work with clients in healthcare, and that's exactly what I've been doing for the past six years.

At my current employer, I lead the maintenance contracts for two healthcare institutions: fourteen employees, an annual budget of 2.4 million euros, and a customer satisfaction score that hit 8.4 two years in a row. I know the demands a hospital places on planning, safety, and communication, and I know how to handle breakdowns without shutting down a department.

I'm looking for an employer that's growing in the healthcare market, where I can put that experience to use more broadly than with two fixed clients. If an opening arises in the coming months, I'd welcome the chance to discuss what I can offer your new contracts.

I will call you next week to ask whether it makes sense to meet. My resume is attached.

Sincerely,

Thomas Hendriks

The names, company, and figures in this example are made up. The letter you have written here will use your resume and your goal.

How to write a cold cover letter that gets read

  • Mention a concrete reason: a new contract, an expansion, a piece of news. That makes clear why you're writing now.
  • Choose the role yourself. "I can do all kinds of things" means nothing to an employer; "project lead for your healthcare clients" is a proposal they can say yes or no to.
  • Address the letter to a person, not to the HR department. Find the manager of the team you want to work with.
  • Announce that you will call, and then do it. A cold cover letter with no follow-up disappears into a folder.

Frequently asked questions about a cold cover letter

Does a cold cover letter actually work?
Yes, if the letter is concrete and lands on the right desk. Many positions are filled before a job posting ever appears, and a good cold cover letter puts you at the top of the pile when an opening comes up.
How long should a cold cover letter be?
Shorter than a regular cover letter: half a page to three-quarters of a page. Someone with no job opening won't read two pages.
What if I don't get a response?
Call after a week. Ask whether the letter arrived and whether it makes sense to meet. If it stays quiet, you can write again after a few months with a new reason.

Tell us what role you're looking for and at which company, and provide your resume. You'll get a letter with a concrete proposal, free to view on your screen at first.

Have your cold cover letter written

Other situations

reviews

What users say about their new resume

5/5review translated

β€œThis tool is perfect! I quickly got my old CV looking new again, received a matching cover letter and practical tips for the conversation with my future boss. Really recommend it.”

Anoniem
HealthcareAugust 2026
5/5review translated

β€œMy CV hadn't been updated in a while. CV-Refresher turned it into a much stronger and more modern CV in a short amount of time. I especially liked the link with the job advert. Because of that, the cover letter really matched the role. I also liked that I could set the tone myself with four sliders, for example more formal or a bit more relaxed and warm. Because of that, the final letter really felt like my own story.”

Lisa van D.
August 2026
4/5review translated

β€œHandy tool if you don't really know where to start. My CV became clearer and the job vacancy analysis gave me some good insights. I also found the salary advice interesting. Sometimes I thought the texts were a bit too formal and I adjusted them myself a bit. But as a basis, this is really a nice tool.”

Jeroen de V.
August 2026
5/5review translated

β€œThe cover letter writer in particular surprised me. I'd always struggled to write a good letter myself. CV-Refresher used my experience and the job vacancy in a really logical way. In the end I was invited for an interview. The whole combination of CV, letter and salary advice makes it really complete.”

Amina El A.
August 2026
5/5review translated

β€œI was applying for jobs again after a few years and didn't really know what my CV should look like these days. CV-Refresher gave me a clear starting point straight away. The combination with the job posting analysis works well. My CV became much more specific and I ended up getting invited for an interview. Very positive about the whole experience.”

Sophie ten H.
August 2026
4/5review translated

β€œCV-Refresher helped me present my work experience much better. Some of the phrasing wasn't quite my own style, so I adjusted that. But content-wise the suggestions were strong. I especially found the analysis of my salary position valuable. I would definitely use the tool again for a future job application.”

Daniel P.
August 2026
5/5review translated

β€œReally handy when you want to apply for a specific job. What I liked most was that the tool didn't just churn out a standard cover letter, but actually looked at my CV and the job listing. That made the letter feel much more personal. The salary report also gave me more confidence during the interview.”

Femke van den B.
August 2026
4/5review translated

β€œI've recently moved to the Netherlands and wanted to adapt my Polish CV for Dutch employers. CV-Refresher was particularly helpful with the structure and highlighting my relevant experience. The cover letter was also a good starting point. I still had to check some Dutch phrasing, but it saved me a lot of time.”

Piotr K.
August 2026

Follow us

LinkedIn

Can we use analytics and advertising cookies, including those from our partner Google? Learn more