Most of us know what our dream job would be — we’ve spent enough time daydreaming about it and can describe it in detail.
Maybe we have a specific position in mind, want to remain in the same role but move locations, or seek a better company culture.
The more specific your dream job, the longer you may feel you’ll wait for it to open up. And while the most common job search tactic is to apply for open positions, not all roles are openly advertised. Many hiring managers fill roles internally through employee referral programs or job recruiters.
Before active recruitment starts, professional networking can help you discover positions. But much of the process is out of your control as you wait to hear from connections about upcoming postings.
To gain control over your job search and inspire quicker results, send out letters of interest.
A letter of interest is a call to action. It’s an opportunity to show initiative and let a hiring manager or potential employer know you want to work for them. A good letter of interest could lead to recruiters considering you ahead of other potential recruits when a job opportunity does arise.
We’ll review what a letter of interest is, why it’s important, and how to create one that helps recruiters notice you. We’ll also provide a letter of interest template to help you get started.
What is a letter of interest?
A letter of interest, also called a statement of interest or letter of inquiry, is a type of letter in which potential job candidates express their interest in working for a company, even if the company isn’t advertising open roles.
While seemingly similar to a cover letter, this differs in the following ways:
- A cover letter targets a specific job opportunity and explains why you’re suitable for the position. It’s typically accompanying a resume and helps to complete a job application.
- A letter of interest introduces you to a specific company when they’re not actively hiring for a position you’re interested in. It explains why you’d like to work for them and how you’ll bring value to the company, and can specify the position you’re interested in if you know what it is.
If you’re unhappy with your current job and have set a goal to find a new one in the coming year, you might have a running list of values and benefits you prefer, like a hybrid work environment, better compensation, or upskilling opportunities.
Let’s say a friend tells you about their job, which checks off all your requirements — but their organization has no open positions.
Rather than moving on or waiting for something to open up, you can send a letter to let the company know about your interest, skill set, and years of experience. When an opening appears, they’ll be more likely to consider you amongst their list of recruits.
Here are some specific reasons to consider writing a letter of interest:
- Initiative: Initiative and work motivation are excellent qualities to potential employers. Your resourcefulness and willingness to reach out show you value your professional growth and development, can make important decisions, and work well independently.
- Personal branding: This is an opportunity to control your professional narrative. Rather than waiting for a recruiter or headhunter to define your profile, a letter of interest lets you express your talents and experience first-hand.
- Learning about opportunities first: When you reach out, a hiring manager might let you know that they’re going to open applications for that position at a certain point in the future. You’ll be able to prepare your application with extra notice to ensure you stand out from the crowd.
How to write a letter of interest
The goal of this letter type is to stand out. Although you aren’t competing against a sea of other applicants responding to a job post, you’re fighting for a busy hiring manager’s attention in an inbox full of messages.
Here are four tips for writing a successful letter of interest:
1. Research the company
Similar to how you’d read a job description and highlight comparable skills when creating a resume, convincing the hiring manager you’re an excellent fit for their business is critical. Do your research by studying the company’s mission, values, and services, and align your letter to reflect this research.
Here are a few places to explore the target company:
- Company website
- Keynote speeches from CEOs
- Press releases
- Social media like Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles
2. Find the right contact
It would be frustrating taking the time to craft a letter of interest only to send it to the wrong person.
Here are a few ways to find the appropriate human resources manager:
- Search for contact information by scrolling through team profiles on the company’s website
- Search the company’s LinkedIn for employees with the appropriate title
- Connect with a current employee and ask them
- Call the company and ask for the appropriate contact
3. Show your value
This letter doesn’t only convince the company you’re interested in working for them — it tells a hiring manager why they should be interested in working with you.
If you’re hoping for a specific role, align your skills and values with what you’d expect they’d ask for in a job posting. If you’re applying more generally, think about the overarching skills they’d likely want every employee on a certain team to have.
4. Keep it short and specific
A letter of interest is correspondence that a hiring manager isn’t expecting. Stay brief and get to the point. It shows efficiency, good communication skills, and respect for the recipient’s time and energy — qualities employers want.
Letter of interest format
The company isn’t expecting your letter, nor are they actively advertising for roles you want. A hiring manager has no obligation to read or respond to your email. You’ll increase the chances of receiving a response by including the following:
- Opening paragraph: Introduce yourself and explain why you’re writing, focusing on your interest in the company. To capture the recruiter’s interest, mention something company-specific to show you’ve done your research. This could be a value you relate with, an initiative that sparked your curiosity, or a quote from a CEO’s keynote speech.
- Body: After covering why you’re interested in the company, demonstrate what you have to offer. Briefly explain relevant skills and work experiences that prove you’d be a valuable asset.
- Closing paragraph: Encourage the recipient to respond by leaving additional contact information, such as a phone number or LinkedIn profile link. Include a call-to-action like suggesting an informational interview or follow-up phone call with your sign-off.
Common mistakes
Like any business letter, your prospecting letter must be written professionally. You’ll leave a great first impression on the hiring manager by avoiding the following five mistakes:
1. Being too generic
An open position may not be in the company’s immediate future. In addition to listing any impressive career accomplishments, be creative when describing your skills so the hiring manager remembers you when the time comes to recruit new talent.
Rather than listing general talents like “good communication skills,” explain specific results you’ve delivered at another job. Incorporate the company’s lingo into your message for added recognition.
2. Sounding arrogant
Being confident about your skills is excellent, but confidence can quickly become arrogance. While it’s great that you’re showing initiative by sending a letter of interest, avoid language that makes it sound like you expect and deserve a position. The power is in their hands, so give thanks for their time and remain humble when describing your achievements.
3. Starting with “To whom it may concern”
“To whom it may concern” is overly formal and anonymous — it could be written to anybody. Demonstrate that you did your research by using the hiring manager’s name. Avoid gendered titles such as Mrs. and Mr. if you don’t know someone’s pronouns, instead opting for a general “Dear [First name].”
4. Missing grammatical errors
Typos demonstrate a lack of attention to detail, and detail-orientedness is a sought-after skill for most hiring managers. Try reading your letter aloud to catch mistakes or running it through a proofreading platform.
5. Not following-up
You’ve been proactive until now — don’t stop after clicking “Send.” If they haven’t responded within seven days, send a follow-up email asking if they’ve read your message and if they’d like to take any next steps.
Letter of interest sample
The following example can be modified to meet your job search needs.
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I hope you’re well. I recently watched a TEDx talk with [CEO’s Full Name] and immediately identified with the conversation about [company value]. I’d love to be a part of a company that values [insert value], and I wanted to formally introduce myself to express my interest in working with you.
I’ve been working in [industry] for the last [number of years] as a [job title and brief job description]. Over the years, I’ve developed my [skill 1] and [skill 2] and continue to bolster my knowledge of the [specify industry or qualification]. I’ve also been recognized by [recognition entity] in [year] for [explain career achievement].
I’d love to send my resume and a letter of recommendation over to you or meet for an informational interview, either online, in person, or on the phone. I’m available [list availability].
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to consider me as a future team member at [company name]. I very much look forward to speaking with you.
Best,
[Your Name]
Hit send with confidence
Taking initiative is never a bad thing. It gives you a greater sense of power over your professional development and looks great to employers.
You now have the skills and knowledge necessary to kick-start your job search with an attractive letter of interest. If there’s a company you’d like to work for, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by reaching out.
