Open application in Norway: how to write one that gets read

When an open application makes sense

An open application works best when you know where you want to work but cannot find a vacancy there. Many smaller businesses hire without advertising, because they would rather take on someone they have already heard of than go through a hundred applications. If your message arrives at the right time, you may be the person they think of.

Look for signs that the company needs people: they have won a new contract, are opening a new department or shop, have advertised similar jobs before or are growing quickly. The run-up to the season is also a good time in industries such as tourism, retail and construction, when employers are planning their staffing.

An open application achieves less at large corporations with fixed recruitment processes. Many of them have a talent pool or a form for open applications on their website, and if so, use it. In the Norwegian public sector, vacancies must as a rule be advertised, so an open application there rarely leads straight to a job. It can still mean someone remembers your name when the next position comes up.

Find the right person to send it to

An open application that lands in a shared inbox often goes nowhere. Send it to the person who has the need instead: the manager of the department you want to work in, or the managing director of a small company. They are the ones who notice when the team has too much to do, and who can ask to hire.

You can often find the name on the company website, under “About us” or “Contact”. On LinkedIn you can look up the company and see who works there and in what roles. The public business register at brreg.no shows who the managing director is. If you are unsure, call the switchboard and ask who runs the department. It is a completely normal question.

Expect the recipient to look you up before replying. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and tells the same story as your CV.

How to structure an open application

An open application should be shorter than a normal one, ideally 150 to 250 words. Write it in the body of the email and attach your CV as a PDF. The recipient has not asked for it, so it must be readable in a minute. Structure it like this:

• A subject line that says what you offer, for example “Experienced accounts assistant, of interest to you?”.
• An opening with the reason you are getting in touch now: something you have read, heard or seen about the company.
• What you can contribute, linked to something they are likely to need.
• One or two pieces of evidence from your experience, with concrete examples.
• A small, concrete suggestion for the next step, such as a 15-minute chat.

Write about them, not about you

The most common mistake in an open application is asking for something without offering anything. “I was wondering whether you have anything available for me” gives the recipient a task. “I see you are opening a new shop in Sandvika, and I have experience training new staff during a launch” gives them a possible solution.

Take time to understand the company before you write. Read the website, their news and their LinkedIn posts. Look at which jobs they have advertised over the past year, as that says something about the roles they need. If you know someone who works there, ask what a normal day is like and what is busy right now.

Be specific about the kind of role you have in mind, but not so narrow that you close the door. “I am thinking of a role in customer service or sales” is easier to respond to than “I am open to anything”. If you are new to Norway, it also helps to say briefly whether you can work in Norwegian or only in English.

Open application example

Here is an example of an open application sent by email. The person and the company are made up.

Subject: Warehouse coordinator with five years of experience, of interest for your new terminal?

Hi Kristian,

I read in the local paper that Nordvik Transport is opening a new terminal in the spring and will be hiring more warehouse staff. I have worked as a warehouse coordinator for five years, and I believe I could be useful to you during the start-up.

In my current job I am responsible for the flow of goods in a warehouse with 14 employees. I draw up the shift plans, follow up deviations, and I led the training when we switched to a new warehouse management system last year. That changeover taught me what needs to be in place before the first lorry arrives.

I do not know whether you have decided which roles you need yet, but I would be glad to have a 15-minute chat to hear more about your plans. My CV is attached.

Kind regards, Sofie Lien

Why the example works:

• The subject line says what she offers, so the recipient knows what the email is about before opening it.
• She explains why she is getting in touch now and shows that she follows the company.
• Her experience is linked directly to what they are about to do: open a new terminal.
• She asks for a short chat, not a job. That is easier to say yes to.
• The whole email can be read in under a minute.

Follow up after a week or two

No reply rarely means no. Many managers read the email, find it interesting and forget to answer. Get in touch again after a week or two, ideally by phone. Say who you are, that you sent an email, and ask whether they have time for a short chat.

A simple script: “Hi, this is Sofie Lien. I sent you an email last week about the new terminal. Have you had a chance to look at it?” If the answer is that they have no need right now, ask whether you can get back in touch in a few months, and whether they know of others in the industry who are hiring.

Follow up once or twice, no more. Write down who you have contacted and when, so you keep track. Our guide on how to follow up on a job application has more advice and an email template.

Get your CV ready before you send

An open application is never better than the CV attached to it. The recipient has no job ad to compare you with, so your CV has to show clearly what you can do and which direction you want to go in. Put your most important results near the top, and remove anything that is not relevant to the industry.

If you want to know how your CV comes across to a recruiter, you can get one free assessment with CV score in Selja. You get an honest assessment of the whole CV and what to improve. If you find an ad for a similar job, at the same company or elsewhere, you can paste it into Create CV and cover letter and get a CV and a draft letter tailored to that type of job, built only on your own information. Then rewrite the opening so it suits an open application. You can also see more cover letter examples.