Learn how to reach out to employers with a speculative application, and how to start your own business or become a freelancer. What is a speculative application? It’s when you directly contact an employer to ask whether they have a suitable opportunity. As not all jobs and internships are advertised, adopting a proactive approach may be the key to securing your next opportunity. A speculative application will usually include your CV and cover letter, or a brief email outlining your interest in the organisation, the type of opportunity you’re looking for and what you have to offer. In sectors such as marketing, journalism, film and TV, charities, and the environment, it’s common practice for companies not to advertise opportunities. Companies are often approached by keen individuals who have targeted them, researched their opportunities and made a speculative application. How to improve your chances of success Do your research Draw up a list of potential employers and organisations in your area of interest and research them as much as you can. Before you start your research, think about what kind of employer you want to work for. Consider values, growth opportunities, benefits and anything else that might be important to you. When making speculative applications, it pays to reach out to organisations that you’re passionate about. Our sector information advice will get you started: Sector information | Careers Service Tailor your application Before you draft your application, carefully consider what it is about their organisation that aligns with your career goals and what you can offer them. Track down the appropriate person to contact. Call the organisation and ask for a named contact; a name is more likely to catch the reader’s attention than ‘Dear Sir/Madam’. Read the advice on writing an effective CV and cover letter to help you draft your application. Write CVs and applications | Careers Service Consider an informational interview Sometimes organisations are not able to offer any opportunities. Perhaps your goal is to expand your knowledge and learn what it is like to work in that organisation and sector, rather than any formal work experience. In this case, it may be more effective to ask for an informational interview. Informational interviews | Careers Service Networking and making connections By doing your research and reaching out to organisations you are making important connections that may be helpful beyond your immediate search for your next opportunity. Making connections is a key element of career planning and professional development. LinkedIn is great not only for connecting to organisations, but also for exploring alumni career paths and progression routes. The University of Edinburgh Alumni LinkedIn group gives you access to over 20,000 members of the community. Linked In Alumni Group There is also a LinkedIn Alumni tool where you can search all University of Edinburgh Alumni on LinkedIn. Click on the University of Edinburgh page from your profile and select ‘Alumni’. Making the most of LinkedIn (Media Hopper – UoE login required) Creating a LinkedIn profile Keeping track of your progress Find a way to keep track of all your research and applications or approaches you make. Follow up with a polite and concise email if you don’t get a response after two weeks. Persevere – setbacks are normal and all part of the process. An element of luck is involved, and it may not happen right away. The aim is to put yourself in a position where you will be considered if an opportunity opens. Starting your own business or going freelance An increasing number of students are considering self-employment after graduation or starting up their own business. It might appeal if you have a strong interest or skills in a certain business area or want to be your own boss. Self-employed opportunities are common in sports coaching, fitness instruction, private tuition, journalism, creative industries, food-related businesses, web development and design. Prospects - Is self-employment right for you? Edinburgh Innovations (EI) is the commercialisation service at the University. They offer a free service which is open to students and recent graduates. They can offer support with freelancing or starting your own business. EI can help whether you want a taste of entrepreneurship, have an idea you want to work on or have a running business you want to develop. Their services are open to students and alumni from all Schools, at all levels of study. They offer one-on-one advice, online resources, networking opportunities, workshops and events, funding support and access to the Student Enterprise Hub at Appleton Tower. Edinburgh Innovations Freelancing, contracting and start-ups Freelancing Freelancers are self-employed. They offer a service to businesses, which employ them for projects or for set lengths of time. They may be given office space or work from home, delivering work to deadlines. Freelancers can be independent, actively marketing themselves and managing their work, or represented by an agency that sells their skills and offers a full range of financial and other support services. Edinburgh Innovations provide a comprehensive list of freelancer resources. They also run workshops aimed at those interested in freelancing: Edinburgh Innovations – Freelancer's Workshops Contracting Contractors can be self-employed or work for an agency on a contract. They may be seen either as employees or self-employed by the organisation they work for. Where to look for freelancing and contracting work: Some of the websites and companies below enable freelancers to communicate with employers, raise invoices, and track their jobs and financial interactions. Some have a UK focus, but as many of the jobs can be carried out remotely, there are opportunities for freelancers to get work from all over the world. E4S includes a section for online freelancing work with useful information and links to freelancing job sites. E4S Contractor UK provides a service for the UK's IT contracting community, where freelancers can not only find job adverts, but also get daily news, market information and an active forum with members sharing experiences and willing to help new freelancers. There is also a series of First Timer guides, covering all aspects of freelancing, including CV advice and how to find work. Contractor UK Upwork is an international website with many UK jobs listed. As the work is being done online, clients can take jobs from anywhere in the world. Upwork People per hour has a wide range of jobs on offer, with a good selection in creative arts. Freelancers can also sell their services for either an hourly rate or a fixed price for the entire project. People per hour Start-ups Start-ups are emerging businesses started by entrepreneurs. They are often in the early stages of development, focus on growth, fill a gap in the market, have few employees and work toward an innovative common goal. Edinburgh Innovations run a range of start-up events. They also provide a collection of free online resources on "how to start up" and "managing your start-up": Edinburgh Innovations – Start-up basics Edinburgh Innovations - Events Edinburgh Innovations - Enterprise Portal Edinburgh Innovations - Start-up visa What skills do you need? Besides the commitment, initiative, drive, enthusiasm and hard work necessary to get a venture off the ground, you’ll need: basic business skills - combine your specific subject knowledge with some business or marketing courses market research skills - research your business sector so you know your market, and produce a realistic business plan if you want to get financial backing social media skills – to promote your business and showcase your work networking skills - in some sectors, for example creative arts, a high proportion of freelance work comes via the hidden jobs market rather than being advertised, and a well-developed network will give you access to this Professional bodies Joining a professional body provides opportunities to network and access resources. Professional bodies can be especially important if you’re self-employed, as they can offer advice on the rates you should be charging for your skills, continuous professional development opportunities (CPD), and support for issues that may arise. Membership shows your professionalism and commitment and will give potential clients confidence in you. This article was published on 2024-05-14
