to ask you what you think of my "asking for a job email"

[User778]

I have namechanged for this. Also blanking out some details as I think some friends might be on here. Hope it still makes sense though.
Appriciate any constructive advice and comments.

I am writing to ask if you have, or are likely to have, any vacancies at your business.

I am currently studying for a Diploma at xxx. I am an xxx enthusiast and have a great interest in cutting edge modern brands like x, y and z to name a few. I have been manufacturing various soft furnishings and homeware accessories using contemporary fabrics and materials.

As you will see in my curriculum vitae, I have considerable experience in xx. My roles and responsibilities gained through working with various x and y has allowed me to gain valuable experiences including accurate record keeping, time management, organisation and planning.

Whilst I enjoyed working in x in the past years I am now looking forward to challenge myself in a new work environment. My interest towards xxx showed me the way to change career path and pursue my dream of working in the xxx. I also have some experience working for x as a x consultant. I thoroughly enjoyed working with such a prestigious brand and by completing some of their x training I feel even more confident giving advice to clients about x.

I have enclosed my CV and a small portfolio of my xxx work.

It would be a sincere pleasure to hear back from you.

Sincerely ,

Right I am very sorry if it's difficult to read but I am a tad bit paranoid that certain people find out that I am searching for jobs

I would think you're better off just applying for jobs when you see them at the businesses rather than sending a letter asking about vacancies

The chances of this working are really slight. I’d only do it in addition to a job search, if it didn’t cost any money to do it.

I would say CV rather than curriculum vitae (the latter sounds a bit forced)

Should be 'I look forward to challenging myself' not 'challenge myself'

Otherwise I think it's good and can't possibly hurt and is proactive which employers like. Good luck!

We just delete emails like that if we're not actively hiring, sorry :(

Also, you don't need to write Curriculum Vitae in full. We know what CV stands for and, to me, it came off a bit pretentious (which is saying something because I'm quite pretentious!).

Oh, and it's "yours faithfully" if you don't know the person you are writing to. Just a little tip for future letter writing :)

I agree with the previous posters. I work in a different area but I don't really pay much attention to cvs that get handed in or emailed outwith periods when we're recruiting.

If I was to pay attention, it would be because there was something special about the covering letter or CV. I'd try and personalise it (wrong word but my brain hasn't quite switched on yet) to the company and why you'd love to work for them specifically, otherwise it just feels like you're mail shotting everyone.

Thanks so much for the tips. The truth is that I am struggling with this whole job search and want to make sure I do my best to get a good job. It does not cost me a penny and makes me feel good about myself so I don't see the harm.

Try a job site like Indeed and if you have a Linkdin account, make sure that’s up to date.
Best of luck.

I think it sounds flowery, sorry. They dont want to know your dream. Save this as a cover letter for actual applications but make it less conversational and more to the point.

Also an email would be more current if you are simply seeking vacancies.

Have a look at the what colour is your parachute book and website for a different approach to job hunting- finding a different way in. And certainly use LinkedIn.

@User183737 do you have any tips on what youd put in it? and I am not sure if I understand what you mean. This meant to be an email...

@thesandwich thanks I will check out the book

You need to get on LinkedIn and start nerworking.
I work for a homewares retailer and we are cutting back and not
Hiring so wouldn't take heed of a letter like this.
But we may see talent on LinkedIn and contact those people.

Another grammar mistake: it should be "My roles and responsibilities gained through working with various x and y have allowed me..."

We just delete emails like this too. Large companies will have dedicated careers pages, so emails like this are just a waste of your time, and theirs. I don't know if it is just my experience but it comes across as childish/naïve. I worked with students and would encourage them to send similar emails to apply for work experience/placements, something that wouldn't be advertised online. I'm fully aware this may just be my experience/opinion though.

If you're emailing smaller companies that don't have a dedicated careers portal / online presence to that extent, then it might be worth a shot, but I'd dedicate more time to applying for actual jobs.

Good luck with your search.

You need a bit that targets the company you're writing to - why you want to work for them in particular, and why you would be a good fit for that organisation ...PPs are right in that some places won't look at these, but in those that would, boilerplate letters could get binned ..

You should say something about why you want to work for them specifically - and exactly what you have that would be if benefit to the organisation.

Thanks for the comments. This is a small family run compan. I have got jobs previously by just emailing the company, business hence of giving it a go again.I know it!s very unlikely I get a job like this butat least I am trying?! Got a bit put off about after this thread but heyhoo whats the worst that can happen. I really appreciate everyone's advice and I make sure I update my LinkdIn profile and will be looking there too.

This is a very dated way of applying for a job. I'd think you were lazy and couldn't be bothered to look at the vacancies board on the website! This would go straight in the bin - sorry!

The modern approach is to develop your LinkedIn profile and network and to put in your title 'seeking new opportunities' or such like.

Ensure your network includes people who have the same skill set you have or want to work in as that's how the searches work.

This has worked for me 3 times but i’m in a very creative industry and include photos of my work etc. I agree it could be seen as naive etc but... I was! As I say I have got 3 jobs this way and would probably do the same again. Just a friendly email enquiring seems to be received ok in the industry I’m in 🤷🏻‍♀️

I work in recruitment and would say check the vacancies website before sending off a speculative application, but if nothing is being advertised then there is absolutely no harm in being proactive, and it's a good covering letter (a few points to note above), certainly better than most that I have seen.

Good luck!

It does not cost me a penny and makes me feel good about myself so I don't see the harm.

I absolutely agree that speculative applications can be great, but i would expect a lot more individualisation in order to really make them sit up and take notice. The cost of a 'vanilla' application like this one, is that if they hear about you again, they might remember that they have already rejected you once so would be less likely to be interested.

By all means get going on Linked In and any other networking you can muster. Start by asking people for anyone they can suggest, to spare you ten minutes to talk about their industry and where they see it going. I would very seldom agree to talk to anyone about jobs, but might well talk about the industry. This is a much smaller ask than gissa job, and you are much more likely to be given some time.

Use it very wisely, have some open questions prepared about what the hot topics are in their industry and their business and listen out furiously for places where you might make a contribution. Then, perhaps on the stop, or if you need to do some research, in a follow up email, thank them for their time a d ask them whether the contribution you think you could make would be useful...

This is v v time consuming but can reap great results. I got my first corporate role in a technology company through someone i met on a make up course and kept in touch with. As around, everyone you know, not for a job but for people to talk to.

And do the standard search the adverts and agents too. Many of those roles will be general, to attract the kind of people they want to employ, so you are right not to rely upon them. All the best.

Stop -> spot

If you do go this route - and cold approaches can still work in the right company (I worked in recruitment for years) - then I'd cut that first line: "I am writing to ask if you have, or are likely to have, any vacancies at your business." It renders the rest of the letter superfluous as they'll just delete it, rather than get lured in. So cut that and amend the last line to:

"I attach my CV, a small portfolio, and would love to discuss any potential opportunities you may have that would suit my skills."

Something like that. Good luck!

Mmmm. Different field, but we're regularly looking to recruit. I do get mildly irritated when I read applications that clearly don't have any diea what we do. Things like wanting to further develop skills in X, when we do less of X than where they're currently working, and the regulators would never let us expand that area. Applicants who have tailored it to us tend to stand out.