It is an advantage for you to share your qualifications, experiences, and skills with a company even when the said company hasn’t posted any job vacancies yet. To accomplish this, you may write a letter of interest. The main purpose of this letter isn’t just to share your qualities or the typical resume information. It should majorly focus on your reasons for seeking employment.
Contents
- 1 Letters of Interest Templates
- 2 What is a letter of interest?
- 3 How does it differ from a cover letter?
- 4 Letter Of Interest Examples
- 5 Do you really need one?
- 6 What to include in the letter?
- 7 Letter Of Interest Samples
- 8 How do you write a letter of interest?
- 9 How do you write an interest cover letter?
Letters of Interest Templates
What is a letter of interest?
Also referred to as a prospecting letter or a letter of inquiry, you send this letter to companies that might start hiring, but have not yet listed a job opening that you want to apply for. A letter of interest template helps you find out whether a company has any job offers that will be a good fit for you.
For instance, if you’re interested to work in a certain company, you may find a way to get noticed. You can use this letter to set up an initial interview with someone in the company. It gives you the opportunity to find out more about the company.
How does it differ from a cover letter?
A cover letter and a letter of interest are two different things. You would use the first one to target a specific position or role advertised whereas you would send the second one to a company on your initiative. This letter, if well-written, can leave a good impression on the hiring manager who might call you up for an interview.
Anyone with any level of experience can send this letter. For instance, an experienced employee might possess insider skills and knowledge that an employer will be very interested in. Even if you’re a new college graduate who is very passionate about a certain cause, you can send this to an NGO or a politician that you respect and admire.
Letter Of Interest Examples
Do you really need one?
One question that usually pops up about a letter of interest is, “Can the letter make a positive difference in your employment search?” The answer is YES. At times, this can potentially lead to the creation of a new job specifically for you.
There are no assurances, however, that the letter will immediately lead to you getting hired. Regardless, it is an excellent way to start building a professional relationship with an ideal employer. That way, in case a relevant opportunity comes along, they will think of you.
What to include in the letter?
To make your letter of interest stand out, it should be both unique and specifically written for the company you’re interested in. Here are the elements to include in your letter of interest sample:
- Your name and contact details
- The date when you wrote the letter
- The name of the employer and their contact information
- A formal greeting
- An introductory paragraph
- 2 to 3 body paragraphs
- A closing paragraph
- Your signature
To further impress the reader, format the document like a standard business letter.
Letter Of Interest Samples
How do you write a letter of interest?
It’s recommended that you first do some research on the company you want to work in, to learn about its track record and objectives before you write your letter of interest. If you’re satisfied with your investigations, find out if you have any insider connections.
This can work to your advantage. When the time is finally ripe to write the letter or use a letter of interest for a job template, consider the following pointers:
- Addressing the letter
It is very important to know the name of the recruiter, hiring manager or whoever you will address this letter to. Only use the person’s proper name. If you cannot find the information on the company’s website, you may want to check on Google or LinkedIn.
Another alternative is to try calling the company to ask for the name you need. Let the person answering the phone know that you would like to address your letter properly, then thank them for finding the time to help you. - Formatting the letter
Since there isn’t a job offer, to begin with, it isn’t easy for your letter to clarify how you could be the perfect fit for a position that doesn’t exist. What you can do instead is to paint a general picture where you describe your overall skills that will help the company improve. - Writing the first paragraph
In this paragraph, you will introduce yourself and explain what you’re seeking. Explain the reasons why you’re passionate to work with the company and identify the hurdles and problems that you think your skills will overcome. - Composing the second paragraph
You need to leave a great impression on the reader in the second paragraph. One way to accomplish this is to insert quantifiable data. Using statistics, show the reader how you have made a great impact on the projects or companies you have worked with in the past.
Moreover, you can detail the major projects you have completed. Essentially, you will walk the reader through your methods of success. You can also touch on your major soft and hard skills. If you have just graduated from college, open up about your extra-curricular activities or volunteer experiences instead. - Encourage with the third paragraph
In this last paragraph, you will encourage the reader to act. Ideally, you want the reader to reach out to you for an interview. When and if they do, make things easy for them by providing your contact details. For emphasis, you can repeat your phone number and email address even if you already included these details on your resume.
How do you write an interest cover letter?
The general idea of an interest cover letter is to build a bridge between you a potential employer or opportunity. It is a way to show that you’re an authentic fit with great interest in a position, industry or company.
To make the cover letter great, it should initially reflect on your own skills. After evaluating your qualifications, you will evaluate the position that you’re targeting. Highlight the points you have particular interests in along with the skills that you possess.
The focus of most letter of interest examples used as cover letters is the reasons for your interest, how you will fit in, and the qualities you possess. The focus of this letter should not be about the things that you will gain from the company
