Is it still acceptable to write on-spec to employers?

[HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer]

Is this still acceptable? I haven't worked in several years but would like to go into sales (have worked in sales before, in a carpet store and for a telesales firm) and would like to work in sales in a store, such as a mobile phone store or electrical store. I'd eventually like to work in car sales I think. Anyway, I can only really work weekends until my youngest DC is at school, so do you think it would be acceptable to write to some companies asking if they have any vacancies? I assume weekends would be their busiest times.

I remember writing loads of letters to shops as a teenager and getting offered several saturday jobs, but didn't know if it was the done thing these days. Thanks in advance.

Hi,

I think showing initiative never goes out of fashion; especially if you follow it up with a phone call. I am friends with a lot of recruitment consultants who always say this is the very best way to generate interviews --- but only if you ring up to follow up. Try not to over think what they might ask you on the phone but at the same time, think about why you want to work for them. HR people are unlikely to start interviewing you over the phone (if they do, gently suggest an interview) but do be prepared to say why you applied and called (eg why you are interested in working for them).

hth :-)