HR Advice on style of speculative email

[Everythingsgroovy]

DS has been drafting his CV and covering letter for applications for an industrial placement for the 3rd year of his MEng degree (currently in 2nd year).

He’s found a few small companies he’d like to send a speculative email to asking if they’d consider taking on a placement student. These are companies that are growing and do say in their careers section that they’d like to hear from people interested in working for them

He feels that his personality doesn’t really come across in the drafts he’s written.

Does anyone have any advice about the balance between formality and originality/getting his personality across to be in with a chance of a small company being interested in talking to him further?

Should he write more of a narrative as opposed to a generic formal email?

I don’t know that industry but as an SME owner who recruits and takes placements I look for personality and points that make a candidate interesting from the way they write. It’s how they stand out from other generic applications.

He'd get an interview from me by letting me see he is a human and not a bot or copy and paste person.

also, if they say no or he doesn’t get it post interview, a warm friendly thank you email will go a long way in regard to a future opportunity or even reconsidering.

@Tortephant thank you- this is exactly the kind of advice that will be helpful to him.

What about a 2 minute video attached to the email?

@WeightLossGoal2024 thank you. That could be a good idea but I think he’d find it too awkward! I showed him @Tortephant‘s comments and he’s made his covering letter a bit more personal now 🤞

If you want to stand out, send it by post. So little actual mail is delivered these days, it’s more likely to be read and seen.