Speculative Applications: A Different Approach, Not a Lesser One

A speculative application means contacting a company that hasn't posted a role matching your profile — or hasn't posted anything at all. It's a proactive move, sometimes perceived as risky, but one that opens doors that traditional applications can't.

Why? Because the majority of positions are never publicly advertised. Multiple studies on job markets suggest that between 50 and 70% of hires happen outside posted listings: internal referrals, cooptation, speculative applications, or roles created around an interesting candidate.

But for a speculative application to work, your CV needs to be built differently than a response to a job posting.

The Core Difference From Responding to a Listed Role

When you respond to a posting, you have a precise brief. You know what the recruiter wants, and you tailor your CV accordingly — see our guide on how to tailor your CV to each job offer.

In a speculative application, you don't know:

Whether the company is even hiring in your field
Which role might suit you
Which skills are currently a priority for them

Your CV therefore needs to be targeted enough to signal your value clearly, and open enough not to close off opportunities you haven't anticipated.

Finding the Right Target Before Building the CV

A speculative application starts with targeting. A generic CV sent to 50 companies will yield almost nothing. A well-prepared application to a well-chosen company has real potential.

Choose Target Companies With Intention

Sector and role type: be clear about the industry and job family you're targeting. You're not approaching competitors at random — you're choosing companies where your profile has a genuine chance of creating value.
Size and culture: a SME and a multinational operate very differently. Adjust your angle accordingly.
Company news: a company that just raised funds, opened a new market, or won a major contract — they're probably hiring. That's the right moment to reach out.

Find the Right Person to Contact

Don't send to a generic address like "info@company.com." Find the name of the relevant department head — marketing director, head of product, HR director, CFO, technical lead. LinkedIn is your best tool here.

A CV sent directly to the right person is ten times more likely to be read than one sent to a generic address.

Adapting Your CV for Speculative Applications

A Very Targeted Title and Profile Summary

Your profile summary is even more critical in a speculative application than in a response to a posting. It needs to say immediately:

Who you are (profile, specialization)
What you bring (your value angle)
What you're looking for (role type, level)

Example: "B2B Digital Marketing Manager — 6 years in acquisition and automation, SaaS specialization. Looking for a lead or management position in a high-growth tech company."

Not: "I'm passionate about marketing and looking for a stimulating position."

Tailor the CV to the Company, Not a Role

Since there's no defined role, tailor your CV to what this company values:

If the company is internationally focused → highlight your international experience and languages
If it's a tech startup → lead with concrete projects, technical stack, measurable results
If it's an industrial group → lead with process rigor, certifications, systematic approaches

Read their website carefully, look at their published job listings (even for other roles), their blog posts, and public communications. These sources tell you what they value. Adjust your keywords accordingly — see our guide on how to find the right CV keywords for your sector.

Select Your Experiences With a Filter

You don't have to include everything. Read our article on what to include on your CV — and what to leave out. For a speculative application, choose the 3 or 4 experiences most relevant to the target company and develop them fully. The rest can be condensed.

Mention Your Availability and Flexibility

In a speculative application, clearly state in your profile summary or header:

Your availability (immediate, 3-month notice period, etc.)
Whether you're open to different engagement types (permanent, freelance, consulting) if that's the case

This removes an uncertainty that the recruiter won't take the time to ask about if they're not yet in active hiring mode.

The Accompanying Message: More Important Than a Cover Letter

In speculative applications, your email or message matters as much as your CV. This isn't a cover letter — it's a short, direct message.

Effective 4-point structure:

Who you are (one sentence)
Why this company — something specific, not "I admire your culture"
What you bring — your most relevant value angle for them
The call to action — an invitation for a 20-minute call, not a formal interview request

Example:

"Hi [First name], I'm a Product Manager with 5 years in B2B SaaS (Aircall, Pennylane). I followed [Company]'s Series B and your European expansion focus resonates directly — that's exactly the territory I've been working on for the past two years. I'd be curious to learn more about your 2026 product roadmap. Happy to chat for 20 minutes if you have a slot."

Do You Need a Cover Letter?

In speculative applications, a formal letter is often counterproductive. A short, personal message performs far better — for more on this question, read our article do you need a cover letter with your CV?

Channels for Sending a Speculative Application

Direct Email

The most effective channel if you've found the right person's email. Clear subject line: "Speculative application — [Your role] / [Your name]" or more targeted: "B2B Marketing Manager profile — available September 2026."

LinkedIn Message

LinkedIn is ideal for reaching someone without their email. InMail or direct message (if connected). Same logic as email: short, targeted, personalized. Reference a specific touchpoint (a post they published, a company announcement, an article).

See our article on CV and LinkedIn profile: how to align them — a strong LinkedIn profile significantly amplifies the impact of a speculative application.

Via a Mutual Connection

The best channel remains a referral. If you have a mutual connection at the company, ask them to introduce you before sending your CV.

Follow-Up and Chasing

If you haven't heard back after 7–10 days, a brief follow-up is entirely appropriate. One sentence, no pressure:

"Hi [First name], following up on my message from [date]. Happy to connect if the timing works."

Not two follow-ups. After the second with no response, move on to another target.

Classic Mistakes in Speculative Applications

Sending a Generic CV

An unadapted CV generates nothing in speculative applications. It signals that you haven't done any research. Personalizing takes 15 minutes and multiplies your chances.

Targeting the Generic Company Email

"info@company.com" or "careers@company.com": your response rate drops to near zero. Find the relevant person's name.

Applying to Companies With No Hiring Signals

Check for recruitment signals: posted listings (even for other roles), growth news, recent hires visible on LinkedIn. A company in a total hiring freeze will follow up on nothing.

Not Adapting the Profile Summary

The same CV with a generic summary sent to 30 companies generates no interviews. A summary adapted to each company (1 hour of work for 5 companies) delivers results.

Speculative Applications: An Underestimated Lever

In a market where everyone responds to the same listings on the same platforms, speculative applications take you out of direct competition. They position you as someone who does research, knows what they want, and takes initiative.

That positioning — provided your CV and message are strong — is worth more than being the 200th applicant responding to the same posting.

Create Your CV Tailored to Each Target Company

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Speculative Applications: What CV to Send When There's No Job Posting?