Here's a question I hear regularly, especially in this economy -- "There's a company I want to work for that's not advertising any job openings. What kind of cover letter can I write and send to them?"

The good news is, you don't have to wait for a company to advertise openings before applying to them. In fact, simply identifying a target company puts you ahead of most job seekers, who only know that they want a job ... and not much else.

Use this to your advantage.

Start by defining what you want to do for your desired company. What department do you want to work in? Sales? Information Systems? Customer Service?

Next, find out the name of the person you'd be working for. You can look through the company's Web site for organizational charts, often found under "About Us" or a similar link. Or, just pick up the phone and call to get that manager's name.

Once you have the name of your potential boss, it's time to write your cover letter.

The more customized and specific your letter is, the better. Be sure to research the firm and learn as much as possible about THEIR problems, which are YOUR opportunities. This will help you propose solutions that make employers sit up and take notice.

Here's an sample cover letter for the position of Customer Service Manager, sent unsolicited to a targeted employer.

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Dear Mr. Jenkins,

How often have breakdowns in your customer service resulted in lost business and costly headaches?

I can help you.

I've been following your firm, Best Electronics, for some time. As you will see from my enclosed resume, I know how to manage teams of customer service reps for maximum productivity.

My experience has shown me how to train and motivate staff to identify and meet the needs of even the most demanding customers. This will greatly increase loyalty among your RU-233 customers in particular, given the fact that your competitor, Spiffy Systems, has recently introduced a lower-priced, similar product.

Because you will undoubtedly need expertise of this kind, I hope you will be able to take my call next Tuesday at 10:00 to discuss your needs and how I might benefit Best Electronics.

Sincerely,

I.M. Hipp

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Print your prospecting cover letters on plain white typing paper. Sign at the bottom, neatly. Then, mail them and follow up by phone, email or fax. That's it.

Best of luck to you!