In Dutch, an open application is called an open sollicitatie. It is a speculative application: a letter to a company that has no vacancy open. You apply on the basis of your interest and your experience, and ask whether there are any opportunities. This does not always work. Sometimes it leads to an interview, or to a place on the list for the next vacancy.
The difference from a regular application is the preparation. Without a job advert, you have to show for yourself what you would add. That takes more research, but it also produces a letter that is genuinely about that company.
When should you send an open application?
An open application makes sense when you know a company where you want to work, and you know which role there suits your experience. It can also be worthwhile if you are changing career, or if you want to work in a region where vacancies are hard to find.
Do not send ten at once. Choose a limited number of companies and give each the time it deserves. Write a short note for each company about what appeals to you, so that you can use it later in an interview. Five companies you know well will get you further than fifty you only know from a job site. An open application sent in a hurry will also be read in a hurry.
Research the company first
Before you write, find out what the company does, who works there and what challenges it faces. Use the website, the annual report and posts on social media. Look out for details you can pick up in your letter, such as a project, a customer group or a way of working.
Also look for the right name. A recruiter, a team leader or the head of the department where you want to work is a better addressee than ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ (Geachte heer/mevrouw). If the name is not given, you can often find it on LinkedIn or on the website.
How to structure the letter
An open application has three core parts: why this company, what you can offer and what you are asking for.
- Opening: say why this company appeals to you. Refer to something concrete that you have seen.
- Core: describe your experience and the type of role you are looking for. Give one or two examples that fit the company’s work.
- Request: make a clear request, such as an introductory meeting or a short reply about possibilities.
- Closing: mention that your CV is attached and thank the reader for their time.
Sample open application
The sample is an open application to a logistics company. Replace the company name, the facts and the experience with your own details.
Dear Mr Van Dijk, In [source, for example the regional newspaper] I read that [company name] is expanding its distribution centre in [place]. An expansion calls for people who pick up new ways of working quickly. That is why I am sending you this open application. I have worked as a warehouse operative for [number] years, mainly in goods-in and stock control. I work with [name of the warehouse system] and take my share of the peak weeks without the quality suffering. I also train new colleagues. There is currently no vacancy that suits me. Even so, I would very much like to meet you for twenty minutes, at your office or by phone. I would also like to hear which roles come with the expansion. My CV is attached. Thank you in advance for your time. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number] · [Email address]
Following up without pestering
Send the letter, then wait a reasonable time. Two to three weeks is reasonable. After that you can follow up once, briefly, for example by email with a reference to your first message. Do not keep repeating yourself after that. No answer, or a no, is also an answer, and you are better off putting your energy into other companies.
Do this
- Mention one concrete detail about the company that you have found.
- Keep the request small and concrete: an introductory meeting of twenty minutes is easier to accept than ‘can we discuss something’.
- Send the letter to one named person, not to the general info address.
Avoid this
- The same letter sent to ten companies, with only the name changed.
- A letter that asks for ‘anything that might be possible’ without saying what you are looking for.
- A long letter. With an open application, the reader is not yet used to your story.
What to say about the company
Mention one or two things you have really seen: a project, a new branch, a way of working you read about in an interview, or a way of dealing with customers that stands out. Avoid general compliments such as ‘a great company with a good name’. That sentence could be about any organisation.
Also watch the balance. A letter that says a lot about the organisation and little about you reads like a homework assignment. Keep it balanced: one sentence about the company, then two sentences about your own experience.
A sample follow-up email
Use this email if you have had no reply after three weeks. It is short, refers to your first message and leaves the recipient free to respond or not.
Dear Mr Van Dijk, I recently sent you a letter about an open application as a warehouse operative at [company name]. I wanted to ask briefly whether you were able to read it, and whether there is room for an introductory meeting of twenty minutes. If there is no opening at the moment, I would be glad to hear that too. I can then adjust my search accordingly. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number]
When it is better not to apply
An open application does not suit every company. If the organisation has recently withdrawn vacancies, or there is news of a major reorganisation, first find out what is going on. If you are unsure whether you really want the job, it is better to wait. A letter you cannot live up to later costs more than it gains.
An open application works best when you have one clear goal. If you do not yet know what you are looking for, start with a conversation with someone in your network who works in that sector.
Frequently asked questions
Is an open application worth it if there is no vacancy?
Yes, if you know a company that suits you and you can make clear what you would add. It sometimes leads to an interview, even when no position is open at that moment. It is about the quality of your letter, not the number of letters you send.
Who should I send an open application to?
Preferably to a person who has something to do with your role, such as a team leader or a recruiter. If you cannot find one, send the letter to the company’s general email address and ask for it to be passed on.
How long should I wait for a reply?
Two to three weeks is reasonable. After that you can follow up once, briefly. Then let it go and move on with other steps.
Should I send an open application by post or by email?
Email is the most common and the quickest. If you have a named person with a postal address, you can also send a letter, but that is rarely necessary.
What do I put in the subject line?
Make it clear in the subject line that this is an open application, and for what type of role. For example: ‘Open application warehouse operative [your name]’. That way the recipient knows straight away whether to deal with the email themselves or pass it on.
Make your CV and cover letter
You start without an account. Make your CV first; editing and the preview are free. You pay a one-off €12.95 to unlock your CV. The AI then writes up to five letters for that CV, which you edit yourself and download as a PDF.
Read also
- Short cover letterA five-paragraph letter that takes a few minutes to read. With an example and a step-by-step plan.
- Motivation letterWhat makes a motivation letter different, how to support your motivation and an example to learn from.
- Internship letterYour first application as a student: what a host organisation looks for, how to use limited work experience, and a sample.
- By occupationExamples by profession: nurse, doctor’s assistant, warehouse operative, production operative, sales assistant, content marketer and customer service.
- English cover letterA cover letter in English for a job in the Netherlands: when to use it, how to structure it and a full sample.
- Salutation and closingHow to address the reader and how to open and close a Dutch cover letter, with examples for every situation.