Letter of Interest: Examples Writing Guide
Master the art of writing a letter of interest with our tips and guidelines on the right format and content of your letter. Plus, find real-life examples to help you land a job in your dream company.
Ready to take control of your job search journey? It’s time to shift from scrolling jobs on LinkedIn to proactive action, for example, sending out letters of interest to your dream employers.
A letter of interest expresses your desire to join a particular job, educational program, project or opportunity.
In this article, we’ll dive into what a letter of interest is, when to use one and how to write one. You’ll also find professionally written letters of interest examples ready to use.
What is a letter of interest?
A letter of interest is a document that any job seeker can use to express their interest in a particular job or company, even when the company isn’t advertising any job openings.
Letters of interest can help you introduce yourself to potential employers, showcase your skills and qualifications and share your genuine enthusiasm for joining the team. You typically send these letters of interest to recruiters, hiring managers or the leader of a department as a way to initiate a conversation and pave the way for future job opportunities.
Letter of interest vs cover letters
A common misconception job seekers have is that a letter of interest is the same as a cover letter. Although similar, you would use these two documents at different stages of your job search.
A cover letter is strictly a job application document that companies request you submit with your resume. A cover letter should also showcase your most relevant skills and qualifications for a particular position and why you want to land that job.
A letter of interest is more of a networking tool you use when you want to work for a company that doesn’t have any current job openings. You should mention the skills you’ve developed recently and any impressive accomplishments relevant to the company’s mission. You typically send it via email to a company’s HR department or even a director or CEO.
Letter of interest template
A letter of interest’s format consists of your contact information, a header, an opening paragraph, a body paragraph, a conclusion and a sign-off. This letter of interest template tells you how to organize your details and what to include in each section of your letter.
Today’s Date
Hiring Manager’s Name
123 Company Address
Company’s City, State ZIP Code
(555) 555-5555
hiring.manager@email.com
Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],
In the opening paragraph, introduce yourself to the employer. Let them know who you are, why you’re interested in working for the company, and your professional background or experience.
In the body paragraph(s), describe your industry-specific skills and qualifications. Highlight your achievements using numbers, percentages or dollar amounts to quantify their impact.
- You can use a bulleted list when listing impressive achievements.
- Add numbers to the bullet points to make them more memorable.
- Share soft and hard skills demonstrating you’re a company match.
The closing paragraph or conclusion is your “call to action” for a future interview. Tell the hiring manager how to reach you (be specific — include your phone number and email address) and that you look forward to discussing your qualifications. Thank them for their time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Letter of interest example
This example of a letter of interest shows you how to apply our advice to create a letter of interest tailored to your dream job and gets them excited about the idea of you joining their team. You can personalize this letter of interest sample in our Builder, download it in your preferred file format and send it to the employer.
How to write a letter of interest
To write a letter of interest that leaves a lasting impression, attention to detail and a strategic approach are essential. This quick and easy-to-follow guide shows you the process of making a compelling letter of interest from start to finish:
Write it like a business letter.
Correspondence between professionals and businesses should follow a strict format called the business letter style.
Begin your letter of interest with a professional letterhead and header containing your contact information, the letter’s date and the recipient’s details. Use a formal font and choose either a justified or left alignment for your text paragraphs; this ensures a clean and consistent flow for your letter.
Address the right contact person.
Personalizing your letter of interest is critical to getting the reader’s attention — especially if it catches them at a busy time. Therefore, addressing your letter to a specific individual is much more attention-grabbing than using a generic salutation.
Research the company’s website, LinkedIn profiles or contact directories to identify the hiring manager or department lead to whom you want to address your letter of interest.
Research the company for things you have in common.
Professional relationships are very much like sentimental relationships; you have to show the company you desire you were made for each other.
Tailor your letter to show you understand the company’s goals, values and industry position. Demonstrate why you’re genuinely interested in working for their company by highlighting specific achievements, projects or initiatives that match your professional experience with their vision.
Make a solid first impression in the intro paragraph.
Grab the reader’s attention from the outset with a compelling introduction. In the first few sentences of your letter of interest, explicitly express your enthusiasm for the company and the role you’re interested in.
Briefly state the purpose of your letter and why you’re uniquely suited to contribute to their success. Here’s an example:
“As an avid follower of Goldman Sachs Bank’s innovative approaches and unwavering commitment to financial excellence, I am excited to express my sincere interest in joining your esteemed institution as a financial analyst. With my extensive financial modeling and risk management expertise, I am confident that I can deliver measurable results and uphold the bank’s reputation for excellence.”
Demonstrate how you’d add value to the company.
In the body paragraph, showcase your qualifications, experiences and achievements that align with the company’s needs.
For instance, provide concrete examples of how your skills and expertise can address their challenges or contribute to their objectives.
A few questions you can ask yourself to figure out what achievements and skills to showcase to convince the company you’re their ideal candidate are:
What is the company’s official mission and vision? What projects have I worked on that reflect the company’s philosophy or objectives?
What do the top leaders at the company share on LinkedIn or social media? Do any of the topics match my interests or work?
What are the company’s reviews online? How can I enhance what’s working and offer solutions to improve the negative feedback?
Conclude by asking for an informational interview.
In the closing paragraph, express your eagerness to learn more about the company and explore potential opportunities.
Politely request an informational interview or meeting to discuss further how you can contribute to their team. This demonstrates initiative and genuine interest in building a professional relationship.
Keep it concise but impactful.
Respect the reader’s time by keeping your letter concise and to the point. Focus on the most relevant information and avoid unnecessary details or fluff. Aim for clarity and brevity while ensuring each sentence packs a punch.
Ready to write your letter of interest? We can help you with that! You can use our Cover Letter Builder to create multiple, highly personalized letters of interest that feature your desired role’s top skills and achievements of your desired role.
When should you send a letter of interest?
Knowing when to send a letter of interest can significantly impact how effective it is at attracting the attention of recruiters and landing you a future job interview.
Here are some instances when you should send a letter of interest to your dream company as soon as possible:
Growth within the company or industry: Keep an eye on industry news and company announcements or organizational changes. Sending a letter of interest shortly after a company expands, launches a new project or has any leadership change shows you’re aware and excited about the organization’s developments.
After networking events or conferences: If you’ve recently attended a networking event, conference or industry gathering where you’ve connected with individuals affiliated with your target company, that’s an ideal time to follow up with a letter of interest. When writing your letter of interest, reference any interaction you had with a current company employee and express your continued interest in exploring potential opportunities within the company.
Following positive publicity or achievements: If the company you’re interested in receives positive publicity, awards or accolades, take advantage of this prime time. Congratulate them on their accomplishments and express your interest in contributing to their continued success.
Before formal job openings are posted: Don’t wait for job postings to appear on job boards. If you’re particularly interested in a company that hasn’t advertised any job openings, seize the initiative by sending a letter of interest. Share examples of recent wins from your current or previous role and state your desire to contribute to a particular department or team.
During strategic hiring periods: Companies tend to have strategic hiring periods or seasons when they anticipate expansion or staffing changes. Research industry trends or company patterns to identify when these periods occur. Sending a letter of interest during these times can increase your chances of being considered when new opportunities arise.
On an ongoing basis: Establishing regular communication with the company can keep you on their radar. Sending periodic letters of interest, updates on your achievements, or expressions of continued interest can reinforce your enthusiasm and commitment to the company’s mission and goals.
- Pro Tip: We know that landing a fulfilling job requires effort, but we aim to make the process as easy as possible for you, so if you like these tips, check out our hub of articles for Networking 101: How to Build Professional Relationships.
Most popular letter of interest samples
Letter of interest for teaching position
If there’s a dream school you’d love to work in, submit a letter of interest that highlights your matching values and pedagogical styles. If the school has an area of improvement you could help solve, mention the skills and a preview of the ideas you would provide.
Letter of interest for lawyers
Many prestigious law firms are selective with the individuals they hire. If you want to land that coveted position with your dream law firm, don’t wait for them to advertise an open role. Instead, submit a letter of interest and your CV to get a head start on applicants. Ensure you showcase the soft skills and projects that demonstrate you possess the work ethic to thrive.
Letter of interest for internal position
Examples of letters of interest for various jobs
Choose the letter of interest example that matches your desired job and edit it with your details. Our letter of interest samples are easy to customize, so you can easily create multiple versions for as many companies as you want to apply to.
Accountant
Consultant
Software engineer
Medical assistant
Doctor
Research assistant
Sales associate
Key takeaways
- A letter of interest serves to communicate to companies that you are interested in joining their workforce despite them not advertising any open roles.
- Like any other business letter, a letter of interest should include a professional letterhead, formal greeting, opening, body and closing paragraph and a sign-off.
- Always address your letter of interest to a specific person in the company, whether the hiring manager, the department lead or even a C-suite executive.
- Research the company to identify shared values, interests and objectives. Use your letter of interest to highlight these similarities between you and the company.
- Write a compelling opening paragraph that introduces yourself, states your interest in working for the company and briefly describes why you’d be a good fit.
- In the letter of interest’s body paragraph, focus on showcasing how you’d add value to the company. This section is where you’ll showcase the skills, expertise and past achievements that support the company’s goals.
- Finish with a closing statement that emphasizes your best professional qualities, expresses your genuine interest in working for that specific company, and asks the reader for an interview where you can learn more about the company and the steps to take to land a job with them.
- Ensure your letter of interest is informative but concise and personalize it for the particular company you want to work in. A generic letter of interest will go directly to the rejected pile.
- When sending your letter of interest, the time and context are as important as what you write. Therefore, send your letter of interest at a prime time for the company, such as after they win an accolade, during their hiring season, or after meeting a company employee at a job fair.
