Have you heard the term ‘speculative application’ thrown about a lot but you’re not entirely sure what it means? Or are you not finding the sort of roles that interest you, but know which organisations you would like to work for? Hopefully, this guide to speculative applications will help you understand the term, and start finding the roles of your placement dreams!
Not all placement year vacancies are advertised. Some organisations don’t have a structured placement year opportunity readily available, but that’s not to say that they wouldn’t create one. Speculative approaches are all about you contacting an employer to inform them of your skills and abilities and ask if there is a possibility of you undertaking a placement year with them. Bear in mind, that the placement year can be broken down into shorter periods- as long as you cover ten to thirteen months, we don’t mind if that five months with two employers, four months with three employers… whatever works for you!
Here are our top tips for securing a placement opportunity via speculative application…
Identify the employers you wish to approach
Create a list of employers that you are interested in working for (who don’t already offer placement year vacancies)- or identify particular sectors that you are interested in gaining some experience with and research organisations within that area. Make sure to consider the location of their offices too- is it feasible for you to spend ten to thirteen months there? Research these organisations and the sector for up to date news and make sure to reference this research when it comes to writing your cover letter. Identify a member of staff- perhaps the Human Resources manager- to contact- research via LinkedIn, or call their offices to ask for a name! Try to limit your employer ‘wish list’ to between five and ten employers initially; so as not to overwhelm yourself early on. We would always advise writing fewer, stronger applications!
Prepare a tailored Cover Letter and CV to send to each employer
Although you aren’t applying for a specific vacancy, you can still tailor your CV and cover letter based on the skills you know will be required for a particular post. For example, if you speculatively approached a marketing organisation looking for a marketing placement year, you know you need to talk about any social media experience, project delivery experience or communication skills that you possess. Use the research you have completed from step one of the process to demonstrate your interest in the organisation and the sector. Make sure to be clear in your cover letter about what you are looking for- ten to thirteen months of work experience, and clearly explain your skills and experience to date and why this experience would be of value and interest to them.
Visit the Placements team to check over your applications before you submit them
Come and see us at either at drop-in or via an appointment to read through your applications to make sure that you are submitting the strongest application possible to these organisations before you send them! We are available Monday afternoons from 13:30-15:30 in FASS Meeting Room A11A, alternatively you can book an appointment with Lucy Hutchinson here or email us to book an appointment with Kat Price Edwards. You can also email your applications for a check via fassplacements@lancaster.ac.uk
Follow up on your application
Contact the employer a week following you submitted your application- preferably give them a call. Ask if they had received and read your application and if there was an update on the status of your application. If there isn’t anything available at the moment, ask if it would be worth you following up in a short while, or if it’s a clear no ask if they have any feedback for future reference. This step is really important as it hammers home to the employer that you are keen to work for them- also you will be better prepared for this phone call, than if they called you out of the blue!
Good luck with your speculative applications and get in touch with us if you need any help at any stage!