Letter of Interest Samples and Writing Tips To Guide You 2021 Update

Letter of Interest: A letter of interest is a type of formal business letter you send to a specific company to show interest in working with them. Write a good one, and you’ll be drawing that fat salary before the masses know about the existence of that opening.

I will guide you in this article on how to write a perfect interest letter. Unlike a cover letter, a letter of interest is written when the company isn’t advertising any job openings. Write a bad one, and you’ll get ignored for all eternity.

Letter of Interest Samples: What Is This Letter of Interest?

A letter of interest isn’t so different from a cover letter, save for the fact that the job you’re interested in doesn’t exist yet. Because of this, letters of interest will contain many of the same elements as a cover letter:

an eye-catching opening paragraph, a brief overview of your accomplishments in previous roles, a description of why you’re passionate about the company, and a call-to-action to encourage employers to move forward. The main difference will be that you have to convince the company that they need your skillset.

Difference Between Letter of Interest and Cover Letter

Note that a letter of interest is different from a cover letter. A cover letter is targeted toward a specific role that’s been advertised. By contrast, a letter of intent is sent to a company on your initiative. It should impress the hiring manager so that they’ll call you in for an interview.

Letters of interest can be sent by anyone at any level of experience. For example, a seasoned employee might have insider knowledge and skills that an employer would appreciate. Or a college grad passionate about a cause might send a letter of intent to an NGO or politician they admire.

What Content to Include in a Letter of Interest?

Unlike a cover letter, when writing a letter of interest, you don’t have an exact job description along with its list of requirements and qualifications to guide you.

However, the reason you are writing to the employer in the first place is that you think you are a good fit for their team. So, you need to show them why.

In terms of the basic structure of a letter of interest, a three-paragraph format is your best bet. Here’s how that looks:

1. Introduction

Introduce yourself, where/how you heard about the organization, and why you are contacting them (I.e. to inquire about job opportunities).

2. Body

This is where you prove that you have skills and experience that are valuable to the employer. At the same time, you want to be clear about what types of work you are pursuing. You don’t just want any job with the organization, but rather a position that suits your background and interests.

3. Closing Statement 

Here’s where to include a call to action. You want to make it crystal clear that you are interested in speaking more about the organization and work opportunities. Keep in mind that the employer may not have any openings at the moment, so what you are asking for is essentially an informational interview.

Sample Letter of Interest (Text Version)

Joseph Q. Applicant
123 Main Street
Anytown, CA 12345
[email protected]
555-212-1234
September 1, 2018
Jane Smith
Director, Human Resources
United International
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321
Dear Ms. Smith:
I recently read an article about United International’s new approach to digital marketing in Marketing Magazine Online, and I’m writing to inquire whether you have any marketing positions open.
I have five years of experience working as a Marketing Strategist for one of our local retail clothing stores. During my time in this role, I increased the number of website page views by 120 percent and reduced the cost of customer acquisition by 20 percent. In addition, our sales increased by 50 percent during that time.
My resume is enclosed with this letter so you can review my education, work experience, and achievements. I would appreciate an opportunity to talk with you or a member of the marketing team to see how my experience and skills could benefit your company. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you in the near future.
Sincerely,
Joseph Q. Applicant (signature for a hard copy letter)
Joseph Q. Applicant

Sample Letter of Interest for A Job

If you’ve read something impressive about a company, you might want to send a letter of interest. Check out this letter of intent sample:

Dear [Mr./Ms./Mrs.] [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I recently read a newspaper article about your company’s reputation as being an excellent workplace for tech professionals — specifically about how [Target Company] allots time for its employees to work on personal projects of interest they believe could become viable products. This type of autonomy isn’t common in tech, so I wanted to reach out about applying for a development position within your company.
I have extensive experience (+10 years) developing new products, and have worked on diverse product types. I have successfully overseen the launch of 17 different products, five of which were innovated by me. On average, total revenue increased by an average of 17% during my tenure.
I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with a member of your team about what I can bring to your organization in the future. I am available to meet at your convenience, and can be reached at [Your Email Address] or [Your Phone Number].
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]

Letter of Interest (Teacher)

As an educator, you might have been inspired by another school’s example. You can enquire whether they have a position with a letter of interest.

Dear Principal [Principal’s Last Name],
As a compassionate and experienced educator who recently read about your many successes in the pages of the Springfield Herald, I wanted to personally write to you and submit myself for consideration as a teacher at your school.
I currently work for [Current School Name]. I have 10+ years of experience teaching second-grade classes of 25 to 30 students. I am an effective, competent teacher of English, Math, Science, and all other second-grade subjects, and am adept at using positive-reinforcement techniques to ensure good behavior.
Additionally, I pioneered a 7:30–9 a.m. open-door meeting policy for parents and students, and launched a weekly after-school art class that has inspired my students to dream big. However, my wife will be relocating to [City Name], and I have decided to join her.
I am excited about the opportunity to help the students of Winfield Elementary School pursue their dreams. I would be grateful for the chance to speak with you about how I could improve your students’ futures. I’d be happy to call you at your office if you have time during the week. I can be reached at [Your Email Address] or [Your Phone Number].
I look forward to speaking to you.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]

Letter of Interest for An Internship

Letters of interest areas equally viable for internships and volunteering opportunities as they are for full-time roles. Our internship statement of interest sample might help you write your own:

Dear Congressperson [Congressperson’s Name],
I am writing to express my interest in volunteering for a role in your reelection campaign. As a constituent, I have followed your legislative activities closely, and believe your positions on [Three Key Positions] will make the Second District a better place to live.
I am an experienced activist, who has worked on several campaigns. For example, I worked on [Petition Name], personally gaining the signatures of 4,700 voters, 17% more than anyone else on the same campaign.
I also organized a rally on [Issue Name], and succeeded in attracting 7,400 local residents to come and support our featured speakers, leading to a 7-minute spot on the biggest TV news channel in our district.
I am available to meet with you or one of your campaign managers to discuss how I can most effectively contribute to your reelection effort. I can be contacted at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Number]. Together, I believe we can defeat [Opponent’s Name] and retain the Second District for the [Party Name].
Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]

Remember that there is a good chance that your letter doesn’t receive an immediate reply. So be ready to follow-up with a phone call to the employer, especially if you say you will in the contents of your letter.

Now go find your ideal job or company, and then put your new letter of interest writing skills to the test. Let us know if you have any questions or comments below.

Remember to share this article with your friends on social media.

StudentsandScholarship Team.