Speculative application – starting a conversation when no position is advertised

Many people wait for the right job listing. That is understandable – but in specialised markets such as filtration and process engineering, it is often not the only sensible application strategy. A proportion of positions are never publicly advertised. They arise from conversations, from networks and the right timing. Anyone who only waits for job listings simply doesn't see this part of the market.

Why many positions are never advertised at all

In technical niche markets, many placements happen discreetly. Companies search through personal networks, through recruitment consultants or through direct approaches before a position ever becomes official. There are many reasons for this: the position has not yet been approved, the succession is to be handled confidentially, or the company does not want to launch a public search.

This means: anyone who only responds to advertised positions is applying for just a fraction of the actual job market.

What a speculative application needs to achieve

A speculative application is a targeted approach – with a clear reason, a clear profile and a clear idea of what you are looking for. The crucial difference from a traditional application: there is no job listing text to use as a guide. The focus is therefore not on the position, but on the value you can add. What can this person do that is relevant to the company? What problems can they solve? What gap could they fill?

This requires genuinely engaging with the company. Which markets does it serve? Where is the company currently growing? Where might support be needed? Anyone who demonstrates this stands out – even when no position is currently open. A good speculative application ensures that you are the first person who comes to mind when the next opportunity arises.

Routes for a speculative application:

Directly to the company

Many company websites have a contact form or a general email address. This is the most direct route – but also the one where you have the least idea of where the message or application ends up. A brief phone call beforehand to ask for the right contact person significantly increases your chances.

For those creating their CV from scratch, we have prepared a CV template here.

Via LinkedIn

A personal message to the relevant person – management, HR or the specialist department – is in many cases more effective than an email. Important: keep it short and specific.

Here is our article on building and designing your own LinkedIn profile.

Via a specialist recruitment consultancy

Anyone who is unsure which companies are actually hiring right now can also take this route. A specialist recruitment consultancy knows the market, knows which positions are currently developing and can assess whether and where a speculative application makes sense. And sometimes there is already a suitable mandate that has not yet been made public.

What you should not do

A speculative application that has obviously been sent to twenty companies at once is immediately noticeable – and ends up in the bin accordingly. Better five targeted approaches than fifty generic messages. Also important: if no response comes, that is not a definitive no. A friendly follow-up after two to three weeks is perfectly fine and shows genuine interest.

When the timing is right

A speculative application makes particular sense when you have a specific company in mind that you have been following for a while. Or when you notice that your market is changing and you want to become proactive before a position is officially created. Or simply because you are open and want to know what might currently be possible. You don't need to be actively job hunting to reach out. Many of the best career moves start from conversations that began without any commitment.

In closing

Anyone who waits for the perfect position to be advertised sometimes waits a long time. Anyone who seeks the conversation finds out sooner what is possible. You can contact us at any time – even without a specific open position. We listen to what someone is looking for and continuously match it with what we see in the market. Confidentially and without pressure.

💡 By the way: Anyone thinking about a change after long tenure will find practical tips for preparation in our article "Changing after long tenure – how to prepare your next step well".

Connectima GmbH – specialist recruitment consultancy for process engineering & filtration