How to Write a Letter of Interest
- A letter of interest can help you find jobs at companies that aren’t explicitly hiring.
- These letters should be short and get to the point quickly.
- A letter of interest should describe your skills, accomplishments, and work experience.
Writing a letter of interest can be the key to landing a job. With a well-crafted letter of interest, you may be able to get your foot in the door at a company that doesn’t list jobs publicly.
In this guide, we break down the purpose of these letters. We also provide tips on how to write a great letter of interest and offer a four-paragraph sample letter.
What Is the Purpose of a Letter of Interest?
A letter of interest expresses your desire to work for a company that is not advertising open positions. This letter should convince someone within the company, usually a hiring manager, that you would be a good fit for the organization when roles become available. To do this, you should provide details about your background and qualifications.
A letter of interest differs from a cover letter in that job candidates send cover letters for publicly listed positions. You should send a letter of interest to companies you want to work for that haven’t posted jobs that you want.
What Should You Include in a Letter of Interest?
A letter of interest usually follows a standard format and should include several elements. We delve into each of those elements below.
- Contact Information: If your cover letter is convincing, companies may want to contact you when jobs become available. As such, you should provide your phone number and email address so they can get in touch.
- Introduction: In the introduction, you should describe your background and your intent for writing this letter. Explain which job(s) you’re seeking within the company.
- Relevant Skills and Accomplishments: Describe your relevant skills and accomplishments to demonstrate why the company should hire you. Now isn’t the time to be humble. Stick to quantifiable accomplishments, such as how much money you have raised or units you have sold in past roles. Focus on your strongest skills.
- Relevant Work Experience: Mention prior work experience for any similar companies and highlight any tasks you’ve performed that could translate to a job at this organization. Many companies prefer experience over education.
- Your Fit for the Job: Ultimately, the goal of a letter of interest is to show a company that you would fit in well on the team. Clearly explain why this is the case.
4 Tips for Writing a Letter of Interest for a Job
Many of the best letters of interest rely on the same strategies. These four tips can help you create a strong letter.
1. Know the Company You’re Applying To
To convince a company it should hire you, you need to understand what it does and how it works. Research the company’s goals, products, services, values, and culture. This information can help you make the best case for yourself.
Furthermore, try to find out the name of the employee who will read your letter. Hiring managers review many applications each week. Ideally, you should strive for a more personal touch.
2. Seek Out Network Connections
Sending a letter of interest to a network connection can help you land a position. Maybe you met your connection at an event or through volunteer work. Perhaps you share a mutual friend or acquaintance. Hiring managers are more likely to read your letter of interest if they feel some sort of personal connection with you, no matter how tangential or thin.
3. Avoid Simply Reusing a Cover Letter
A letter of interest is not the same as a cover letter. They serve different purposes, as job candidates usually write cover letters for publicly listed positions. In a letter of interest, which does not specifically apply to one job, you should articulate your skills, passion, and work experience more generally. You should also demonstrate your fit for the company as a whole, not just for a specific position.
4. Keep Your Letter Short and Professional
Make sure your letter is concise and direct. It should be one page maximum, or about four paragraphs. Hiring managers often receive many letters and appreciate job candidates who respect their time.
Additionally, check that your letter is polished and professional. Many hiring managers immediately discard letters that don’t strike the right tone or include grammatical mistakes. Use a neutral font that doesn’t distract from your message.
Letter of Interest Sample
Darren Batesmith
(555) 555-5555
darren.batesmith31@gmail.com
October 28, 2021
Dear Mr. Anderson,
I am writing to express my interest in podcast producer positions at StrongSound Media. For the past few years, I have produced the TitanUp Weekly podcast. I admire your company’s forward-thinking shows and formats and would love to work for StrongSound as a producer.
I started TitanUp Weekly with a friend in my garage. Over the past three years, our podcast has grown considerably, and we now average 100,000 listeners per episode. Recently, TitanUp Weekly was named the best original sports podcast by the Nashville Scene.
Previously, I worked at WALT 1610 — the campus radio station at Davidson College — throughout my undergraduate education. Since then, I have launched three successful podcasts, including TitanUp Weekly. I’ve also completed four separate Transom bootcamps, each one focusing on different production tools.
I admire StrongSound’s commitment to professional development. I have spoken with Steve Bruce, a current producer, and he emphasized how committed each employee is to bettering their craft. I’ve spent the past decade trying to become the best audio producer and content creator I can be. I would love to bring that drive to StrongSound.
I would be thrilled to speak with you about what else I can contribute to the StrongSound team. I am available to meet at your convenience over Zoom.
Sincerely,
Darren Batesmith
Frequently Asked Questions About Letters of Interest
A job candidate usually submits a cover letter when applying for a publicly listed position. A job seeker may send a letter of interest to a company that isn’t currently hiring. Through a letter of interest, a candidate can express a general interest in working for that organization whenever jobs become available. A letter of interest should articulate why you would be a good fit for the company in general, while a cover letter should explain why you are a good fit for a specific job.
It depends. Submit a cover letter if you are applying for a publicly listed job. Submit a letter of interest to a company you want to work for that hasn’t advertised positions that interest you. Always follow each job opening’s specific application instructions to make sure that you submit the correct documents. In both cases, keep your letter direct, concise, and specific. Hiring managers read a lot of letters during each application cycle.
They can be, yes. Even if a letter of interest doesn’t immediately lead to a job, a good letter can help you stand out during the company’s next hiring cycle. Furthermore, it doesn’t cost you anything but time and energy to write a letter of interest. If you really want to work for a specific company, a letter of interest can be the first step toward your dream job.
Feature Image: RgStudio / E+ / Getty Images
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