Cold Contact Letters
When you are engaged in a job search, you aren't limited to sending your resume only to employers who have advertised job openings. You can send your resume to companies that interest you as well, even if there is no indication that they have any opening right now. This is referred to as making a “cold contact” and the cover letter you send to accompany your unsolicited resume is called a “cold contact letter.”
When you send a cold contact letter it is important that you always specify the position for which you are applying. It doesn't matter that they aren't currently seeking someone to fill that position. If you don't specify a position, you will come across as seeming unfocused about your goals.
Many companies maintain files of resumes they receive that aren't in response to an announced opening. Some put these unsolicited resumes in a database that the employer will eventually search to find matches for open positions.
Just as you would do when sending a cover letter in response to an advertised job opening, highlight your attributes. You want to tell the employer why you are the best person to fill the position in which you're interested. Use keywords associated with the skills required for that position. Should your resume end up in a database, the employer will easily find it when searching for those words.
Before you close your letter, indicate the action you want the recipient to take. Do you want him to call you when an opening comes up or do you want to arrange for a meeting so you can discuss possible future openings? Also tell him what you plan to do next — for example, call in a week to follow up.
