I came across an interesting idea from Effective Business Communications about job application. I’m like most people, I would only apply for a job from an advertisement, and would never thought of sending out an unsolicited application letter in fear that the company might think it’s a waste of time, and kind of surprised to read that it’s the other way around.
It’s actually a good idea to send out an unsolicited application letter, for several reasons, firms like to receive applications for jobs that they have not advertised. With a file of unsolicited applications, a firm can achieve several objectives such as save advertising costs; fill jobs more quickly because the personnel department can look in the file and be in touch with an applicant in a short time; save personnel department time because the department may find a suitable worker from a small file of unsolicited letters, otherwise an advertisement may bring fifty or a hundred invited applications, all of which require some attention; avoid possible goodwill-losing situations because some who have applied may be embittered when they are not employed; get applicants who possess the qualities of initiative and foresight, and be fairly certain that any present employee who may not be measuring up to performance standards can be replaced.
As from the applicant’s point of view, the unsolicited application letter also has advantages that it increases the number of jobs from which you can select. It meets with less competition than it would have if it were sent in response to an advertisement. It could create a job if it persuaded the employer to believe that a worker was needed to do something that is not now being done. It may assist in getting a better job because the highly preferred jobs are often filled before any applications are invited. It may also suggest initiative on your part.
Basically, the unsolicited letter of application is a sales letter that sells you. Its goal is to secure an interview in which you can continue to sell yourself, so it’s best to try to get attention, arousing interest, presenting convincing evidence, and asking for action.
Nye Noona 
Some how I don’t see company like Avaya, Cisco or Fujitsu doing that. I can see their HR department people type a keyword search for applicants on their server base on what experience or training you have to fill an opening in some department. Letter is good but I think a good resume will do just the same. I read that HR don’t have time to read letter. It will only get us in the door but we still need to go through several layers of interview. So, what all of us really need in the end is a good communication skills which I have to admit that I am too lacking. (…but working on that) ^_^
Dallas, this is not a traditional way of doing things, the idea is that if you wrote an interesting letter enough and attached your resume with your credential that they’d want to call you in for an interview. I think it’s like being your own head hunter, and some big companies will use the head hunter to fill certain positions for them, and I’ve had head hunters contacting me in the past, some positions required me to move, and there was one interesting one, the company was looking for an Asian female and certain age range and qualification, which fits my profile, but it was kind of weird, and this made me think that the person was looking for a wife, but I guess they wanted someone that is mature.
With this unsolicited application letter, you’ve to have a position in mind and have a special skill just for that position, and also be able to convince them that they need you, of course great communication skill can get that message across.
If I was to be in charge of HR department, I probably bring back the gal that I like back for few more times to interview her one on one session. hahahhahhaha Most likely will ending up getting fired and bunch of law suits against me.
seeharhed, I don’t think you would do that. On my first job, I worked there part-time until I finished school and came on full time. They gave me a promotion and I had to hire a part time person to help and they preferred college student. I worked in Manhattan on the West side Hwy and there were many truckers and pr0stitutes there at the time, so all the female applicants shied away, and we only had male applicants. There was one guy that was real good looking, and I had a hard time interviewing him and he ended up interviewing me instead, Lol, it was too funny, and I kept thinking to myself that I can’t hire him. My co-worker recently had the same experience, we hired a part time help and she had one good looking applicants and she kept thinking he can’t work here. I find it difficult to talk to really good looking people.