What is a job inquiry?

A job inquiry is a letter sent to a company that may be hiring but hasn’t advertised its job
openings. A well-written and compelling job inquiry letter can help you gain the attention
of an employer who isn’t actively recruiting. 

An inquiry for a job opportunity is also sometimes called an inquiry cover letter because
it’s similar to a cover letter in terms of content and structure. The main difference is that
it’s sent uninvited or as a form of cold-calling to an employer. When you learn how to
compose a great cover letter, you can greatly increase your chances of getting called
for an interview.

Related: How to Write a Cover Letter (With Tips and Examples)

How to write a job inquiry

If you know how to write a job inquiry cover letter properly, you can greatly increase
your chances of getting a job with an employer of your choice. Nevertheless, writing to
ask about job opportunities is a more sensitive process than responding to a job
posting, and it requires careful planning and consideration. Follow these steps to write a
polite and engaging job inquiry letter.

1. Research the company.

2. Find the right person to contact.
3. Tailor the subject line.
4. Offer your expertise.
5. Write a short and concise letter.
6. Close with a compelling call to action.

1. Research the company

Before you start writing a job inquiry letter, you should thoroughly research the company
you’re contacting. This is the only way to craft a credible letter to a stranger.
Researching helps you accomplish several things. First, it enables you to get a sense of
the company’s mission, activities and goals so that you’ll know whether it has a suitable
role for you. Additionally, becoming familiar with its public persona will help you
determine the right voice and style for your employment inquiry letter.

Almost every established company has a website, social media accounts and other web
properties that provide a vast amount of information about their products, operations
and cultures. You can get all the information you need about the company you want to
work with by researching its web presence.
You may also want to look into the employees who currently work at the company
you’re interested in. Try visiting one of the company’s social media pages and looking at
the profiles of its employees. This will give you an idea of what kind of skills and
experience you’ll need for the job. Take note of the common qualities they share. All the
information you collect will help you form the basis of your job inquiry letter.

2. Find the right person to contact

Before writing your letter, you should also consider finding the right person to contact.
It’s better to address your job query email to someone specific instead of using a
generic greeting such as “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam.”

Check with your family members, friends and professional contacts to see if they know
anybody in the company. If they don’t, you may need to do some research on the
company’s website or social media. A company often displays the name of its hiring
manager, recruiter or staff member who’s involved in team building on its website.

While you can send the human resources department an email to ask about job
opportunities, you may have to wait before you get a response. You can speed up the
process by sending an employment inquiry email to the person you’ll be working directly
with if you’re hired.

3. Tailor the subject line

After you’ve identified the best person to contact, you can start writing your letter.
Writing an effective email to inquire about job opportunities begins with an appropriate
subject line. The subject line should reflect your understanding of the company’s
culture.

If you come across casual and creative employee bios while you were researching,
writing a more conversational email will show that you’re a good fit for the company.
When you’re writing conversationally, you have the freedom to add a bit of personality
to help yourself stand out and make a deeper impression. One great way to start your
email regarding a job opportunity is to incorporate the recipient’s first name and a quick
mention of the purpose of the letter in the subject line.

If you’re sending an email about a job opening to a company with a more professional
and conservative culture, your subject line should be more traditional. It should also be
concise, discussing the purpose of your letter immediately.

Related: How to Write a Professional Email 

4. Offer your expertise

Since you’re cold-emailing a company about job opportunities, you should make a
conscious effort to prevent the communication from becoming one-sided. In the body of
your email inquiring about job opportunities, you should make it seem like you’re
offering your expertise rather than asking for a job.
You can begin the letter by introducing yourself and explaining how you came to know
about the company. Then, provide a clear description of your expertise and how you
can add value to the company. You can also mention that you’ve been keeping up with
the company’s progress recently, and you’re impressed with its growth. If through your
research you found that the company has been facing some problems that you may be
able to solve, offer to share your insights with the reader.

When it comes to a cold email inquiring about job openings, frame your offer carefully. If
you’re unsure whether you’ve crafted the right message, replace the recipient’s name
with your name and imagine that you’ve received the same email from a prospective
employee. Ask yourself if the letter clearly emphasizes what the person has to offer and
whether you’ll finish reading it.

Related: 7 Powerful Ways to Start a Cover Letter (With Examples)

5. Write a short and concise letter

Another essential tip on how to write an email regarding a job opportunity is to keep
your message short and concise. The recipient of your job opportunity email is probably
a busy person who will appreciate a short and easily readable email.

The reader may also view your message on a smartphone or tablet. Try to keep the
entire letter within the main reading space by using short and simple phrases to
describe your expertise and accomplishments. Limit paragraphs to no more than three
sentences to avoid large chunks of text, which will improve readability. The idea is to
introduce yourself quickly, present your value statements, explain how you can help the
company solve a problem and close politely.

6. Close with a compelling call to action

At the end of your cover letter inquiry about employment possibilities, you should
include a strong call to action, which can be a request for an informational interview or a
meeting to discuss potential employment. You can also add something to make yourself
more memorable. If you’re trying to secure a specific position, consider submitting a
previous project sample that’s related to the position, along with a few notes explaining
how it can be adapted to the company.

Example of a job inquiry

To learn how to write a job inquiry email, you need to know what information to include
and how to properly format the letter. This can mean the difference between getting a
quick response from the recipient and having your email deleted or marked as spam.
You won’t be making a good first impression if your email is a mess or difficult to read.
Take a look at the following example of a job inquiry:
Rowan Murray
4480 San Carlos Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85013
(520) 461-8890
r.murray@gmail.com
November 18, 2019
Nia Peralta
Hiring Manager
InPress Design
725 Myers Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Dear Ms. Peralta,
I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read this letter. I have recently
completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona, and I am
now looking for a suitable position in the Phoenix area.
I hope to be considered for an entry-level position with the accounting
department at InPress Design. I can contribute to your operations by
leveraging my corporate accounting knowledge and GAAP best practices. I
have heard that InPress is a great company to work for, and I am interested in
becoming a part of your esteemed organization.
If you have questions concerning my qualifications and credentials, please do
not hesitate to call or email me.
Again, thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you shortly.
Best regards,
Rowan Murray