Sample Letter Asking About Job Openings

You’ve found your dream employer, but there’s just one problem: they don’t have any job openings (or at least, any job openings that fit your qualifications).

Before you resign yourself to waiting for a suitable opening to appear on their corporate jobs site, get proactive. By sending a letter of interest, you can make a good impression on the hiring manager, learn more about the organization and the candidates they seek, and maybe even find a job that never made it to the listings phase.

The Unadvertised Job Market

It’s not as crazy as it sounds: nearly 50% of jobs are learned about through word of mouth from friends, and 37% are discovered via professional networking. Many positions aren't advertised, and this hidden job market may yield a role that’s a better fit than anything you would have found through searching job boards.

What to Include in Your Letter

Simply put, this message expresses your desire to meet with a hiring manager in order to learn about opportunities that might be available to you. In your letter of interest, you should include the type of job you are seeking, and how your skills and experience make you an excellent candidate.

You should also include the reasons you feel you would be a great fit for the company, and any pertinent references or recommendations you may have.

Sample Letter Asking About Job Openings

This is an example of a letter asking about job openings. Download the job opening letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or review the text version below.

Sending an Email Job Inquiry

There are some clear advantages of sending your letter via email instead of through the regular mail. For one thing, it’s easier for your contact person to respond to you. For another, they may be more likely to do so: while a physical letter has undeniable charm, most business correspondence takes place electronically these days.

However, there are a few differences to keep in mind when you send your message via email:

• Skip address paragraphs and the date. Jump right to the salutation.
• Choose a subject line that will get the reader’s attention (and that stands a chance of getting through an email filter). Sample subject lines: “Referred by Peter Smith – Informational Interview Request” or “Interested in Opportunities at XYZ Corp – [Your Name].”
• Don’t be too casual – e.g., “What’s up?” or “Hi!” – and don’t leave the subject line blank.
• Keep your message brief and to the point. Attention spans are short where email is involved. A few paragraphs should suffice.
• Send your letter from a professional-sounding email address, ideally one containing your name. Skip the cutesy handles and steer clear of anything NSFW.
• Use your email signature to display links to your website, social media accounts, and/or online portfolio, so that the contact person can dig deeper into your qualifications more easily.