You've found the perfect company. Maybe you saw a vague post on LinkedIn, or perhaps a friend-of-a-friend mentioned they’re hiring, but there’s no formal listing. Now you're staring at a blank email draft. You want to look proactive, not desperate. You want to know how to inquire about a job opening without ending up in the digital trash bin.
Honestly? Most people blow it because they make the inquiry all about them.
They send a generic "Are you hiring?" and attach a PDF resume that hasn't been updated since 2022. That is the fastest way to be ignored. Hiring managers are drowning in emails. If you want a response, you have to offer value before you ask for a paycheck. It’s about the "speculative inquiry," a tactic used by career pivots and high-level executives alike to bypass the crowded front door of Job Boards.
The Psychology of the Unadvertised Role
Hidden jobs are real.
According to data often cited by career experts like those at Forbes or the Harvard Business Review, a massive chunk of roles—some estimate up to 70 or 80 percent—are never even posted publicly. They are filled through referrals or, more interestingly, by people who showed up at the right time with the right questions. When you inquire about a job opening that doesn't "exist" yet, you aren't competing with 500 other applicants. You're competing with the hiring manager's busy schedule.
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Think about it from their side. Recruiting is a nightmare. It's expensive. It's time-consuming. If a capable human appears in their inbox saying, "I see you're expanding your operations in the Northeast, and I happen to have five years of logistics experience there," you’ve just solved a problem they were probably going to pay a headhunter $20k to fix next month.
Finding the Right Person (Don't Email "Info@")
Sending an inquiry to a general company inbox is basically shouting into a void. Don't do it. You need a name.
Use LinkedIn. Use the company's "About Us" page. If you're looking for a marketing role, find the Marketing Director or the Creative Lead. If it’s a small startup, maybe it’s the founder. Tools like Hunter.io or RocketReach can help you find direct email addresses, though you should use them ethically.
Why the "Who" Matters
If you email a recruiter, they might just tell you to check the portal. If you email a peer or a potential manager, they might actually have a conversation with you. It’s a different vibe. You’re looking for an informational bridge, not a gatekeeper.
The Art of the Subject Line
Your subject line is 90% of the battle. If it's boring, it’s dead.
- Bad: Question about jobs.
- Bad: Job Inquiry - [Your Name].
- Better: Inquiry: Marketing expansion and [Company Name].
- The "Pro" Move: Referral from [Common Connection] / Question about your team's growth.
Use something specific. If you saw a recent news article about the company's Series B funding, mention it. "Congrats on the Series B + a quick question" is almost a guaranteed open. People love talking about their wins.
How to Inquire About a Job Opening: The Draft
Let’s look at how to actually structure this thing. You want to be brief. I mean really brief. Nobody is reading four paragraphs from a stranger.
"Hi [Name],
I’ve been following [Company Name]’s work on the [Specific Project] and was really impressed by the approach you took with the user interface. It’s rare to see that kind of detail in this industry.
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I’m currently a [Your Current Role] and I’m looking to transition into a team that prioritizes [Value]. I noticed you don’t have any active listings for [Role Type] right now, but I wanted to reach out and see if you’re planning any growth in that area for the coming quarter.
I’ve attached my portfolio just in case. Regardless, keep up the great work with [Project]—looking forward to seeing where it goes.
Best,
[Your Name]"
See what happened there? You complimented them. You showed you did your homework. You didn't demand a job; you asked about "growth." It’s a softer, more professional way to inquire about a job opening.
Timing is Everything (And Nothing)
There’s a lot of lore about the "best time" to send an email. Some say Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM. Some say Sunday night so it's at the top of the pile on Monday.
The truth is, if your message is good, the timing matters less. However, avoid Friday afternoons. Everyone is mentally checked out and your email will be buried by Monday. Mid-week is usually the safest bet for getting a thoughtful look.
Handling the "No" or the Silence
You're going to get ignored sometimes. Or you’ll get the "Check our careers page" brush-off.
Don't take it personally.
If they say they aren't hiring, thank them. Ask if you can stay in touch. Then—and this is the part people miss—actually stay in touch. Every three months, send them a relevant article or a quick note about a milestone they hit. You’re building a relationship, not just hunting for a paycheck.
Common Blunders to Avoid
- The Mass CC: Never, ever CC multiple people at the same company. It looks like spam and makes you look lazy.
- The "Help Me" Energy: You aren't asking for a favor. You are offering a service. If you sound like a supplicant, you won't be treated like an expert.
- The Attachment Overload: Don't send five different files. One clean PDF resume or a single link to a portfolio is plenty. High-resolution images that clog up their inbox will get you blocked.
- Typos in the Company Name: It sounds obvious, but it happens constantly. Double-check the spelling. Then check it again.
Real-World Nuance: The Recruiter vs. The Manager
Recruiters are looking for keywords and "fit" based on specific criteria given to them. Hiring managers are looking for people who can make their lives easier.
When you inquire about a job opening with a recruiter, talk about your credentials, your years of experience, and your certifications. When you talk to a manager, talk about problems and solutions. Tell them how you saved your last company money or how you streamlined a messy process.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Move
So, you’re ready to hit send. Before you do, run through this checklist. It isn't a "perfect" formula, because humans aren't formulas, but it’ll keep you from looking like a bot.
- Identify three companies you actually care about. Not just any company—places where you actually know what they do.
- Find the specific human who would be your boss's boss or your direct supervisor.
- Look for a "hook." Did they just win an award? Did they launch a new product? Did the CEO just give a podcast interview? Use that in your first sentence.
- Keep the email under 150 words. If they have to scroll on their phone to read the whole thing, it’s too long.
- Wait one week. If you don't hear back, send one polite follow-up. "Hi [Name], just wanted to bubble this up in case it got lost in the shuffle. Would love to chat if there's any future alignment. Best, [Your Name]." If they don't reply to that, move on.
The goal of learning how to inquire about a job opening isn't just to get an interview today. It's to plant a seed. Even if they aren't hiring this morning, you’re now a "known entity." When a role does open up in three weeks, you’re the person who already reached out with a smart, professional note. That’s how you beat the algorithm. That's how you get hired in a tough market.