Sending out speculative CV... Motorsport.

[Conor D]

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice.. I'm currently studying and will be graduating in September 2016. I would like to try and move into the Motorsport/Automotive industry when I graduate. I have recently revised my CV and want to get it out to a few companies which I would be very interested in working with, but they don't necessarily have a relevant job advertised - or if they do it's for immediate start, rather than starting in 10 months time.

Are there any things to avoid if doing this - am I wasting my time even trying? I don't intend on sending the same CV to 100+ different employers. In particular there are less than five (Small-Medium sized) companies which I wish to express interest in.. all would require relocation and travel, which again I am interested in.

I have attempted in the past to send out a speculative CV and the response has either been "Sorry, we don't have any vacancies. Please check our website closer to the time for any new vacancies." or "This is something which is possible, but in this case it is not possible because of X, Y and Z".

Is a cover letter really enough to get across any interest? I can't help but think that a CV/Cover Letter through an email about a job 10 months down the line that currently doesn't exist is a one way ticket to the shredder.

So I ask is this sort of thing possible - without knowing anyone at the company? I imagine all correspondence will be with someone in HR.

[edc]

In your position and if you are aiming for a handful of specific companies then the best thing you can do is cultivate a more on-going long-term relationship rather than just a once in a year spec CV. Ring them, see if they have an open day for suppliers etc and see if perhaps you can get a tour of the facility off the back of that. Map out who some of their employees maybe and search them out via LinkedIn or industry speaking events. Discretely stalk and research them and take an opportunity to engage with them on a topical discussion whether that is through a LinkedIn group, industry forum or Q&A at an open/speaker event. Either through the line or through the relevant function find out what their hiring process and calender is, what planned roles they may have in the next year, availability of junior roles etc.

[marked1]

PM me, i might be able to help you out.

[ChasW]

You could always ask if they do internships. Then if you have captured their interest with your initial approach they could always employ you for a short spell during a holiday period allowing both parties to assess each other. Although not in automotive my daughter did a 5 week internship (travel expenses only) with a company the summer before she graduated. When she finished the period the HR director just said "get in touch a few months before you leave Uni and we'll see how things stand". She did and was re-hired and is now soaring ahead in her career.

By the way most of the big manufacturers have graduate schemes. She interviewed with Porsche, BMW and Lexus before taking the job I referred to.