speculative application

Speculative cover letter

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

Example of a speculative cover letter

Dear Mrs Kok,

You don't currently have a vacancy open for an installation technology project manager, and yet I'm writing to you. I read in the trade press that this year you've taken on the maintenance of 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 done for the past six years.

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

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. Should room arise in the coming months, I'd welcome the chance to discuss what I could contribute to your new contracts.

I'll call you next week to ask whether it's worth meeting. My CV is enclosed.

Yours sincerely,

Thomas Hendriks

The names, company and figures in this example are made up. The letter you have written here uses your own CV and your own goal.

How to write a speculative application that gets read

  • Mention a concrete reason: a new contract, an expansion, something you saw in the news. That makes it clear why you're writing now.
  • Choose the role yourself. "I can do anything" means nothing to an employer; "project leader 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 in.
  • Say that you'll call, and then do it. A speculative application with no follow-up ends up in a file.

Frequently asked questions about speculative applications

Is a speculative application worth it?
Yes, if the letter is concrete and reaches the right desk. Many roles are filled before a job advert ever appears, and a good speculative letter puts you at the top of the pile when a space opens up.
How long should a speculative cover letter be?
Shorter than an ordinary cover letter: half a page to three-quarters of a page. Someone with no vacancy won't read two pages.
What if I don't get a reply?
Call after a week. Ask whether the letter arrived and whether it's worth meeting. If it stays quiet, you can write again after a few months with a new reason.

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

Have your speculative application written

Other situations

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What people say about their new CV

5/5review translated

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Anoniem
HealthcareAugust 2026
5/5review translated

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August 2026
4/5review translated

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August 2026
5/5review translated

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August 2026
4/5review translated

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