Do you know that your dream job may not always be advertised? You shouldn’t always relax and expect job openings or job postings to be advertised in your favorite magazine before you take action. A good way to source for remote jobs is only by asking. So, we will discuss how to write a letter of interest for a job in this article.
A letter of interest is also known as a letter of inquiry. This letter tells the recruiting manager of a company the experiences, qualifications, and skills you possess when the company has not advertised your dream job yet.
The distinguishing factor between a cover letter and a letter of interest for a job is that the experiences, skills, and qualifications you write in a cover letter are relevant to the specific position you are applying for, while in a letter of interest, you write in a general sense and tell your hiring manager why you want to be employed in the company.
Here’s a guide on all you need to know concerning how to write a letter of interest for a job, tips to write a catchy letter of interest, with examples.
Table of contents
What is a Letter of Interest for a Job?
A letter of interest can also be called a statement of interest, a letter of inquiry or a letter of intent. It is a document that showcases your skills, qualifications, and experiences to the company’s hiring manager where you want to work.
It expresses emphatically that you are interested in a company and would love to work with them. After looking through your letter of interest, the hiring manager will check if there’s any current or upcoming position that suits your skills.
What to Include in a Letter of Interest for a Job
The first thing you should do before you start writing your letter of interest for a job is to do the necessary research about the company. Know their mode of operation, the services they render, and the position you are likely to fit into.
In your letter, communicate to the hiring manager why you are qualified to work with their company and how you will use specific experiences and skills to their advantage. Explain the value you bring to the company and your sincere interest in working with them.
You may want to tell them the specific kind of position you are looking for, but since this is a letter of interest and there was no prior job posting or advertisement, then you don’t need to pinpoint a particular role. Rather than doing that, explain what you will do for them and how you will help them succeed.
Learn how to write a letter of interest for a job in this guide.
Read: How to Write a Certification Letter + Free Samples
How to Write a Letter of Interest for a Job
Knowing that every letter of interest should be written uniquely for the company you are interested in working with, certain things should be found in your letter. So, here’s detailed information on how to write a letter of interest for a job.
Ensure your letter contains the following:
- Date
- Contact information
- Salutation
- Introduction
- Skills you possess
- Employment history
- The reason why you qualify for the job
- Closing
Keep in mind that a letter of interest for a job is more like a business letter, so you should make it more professional. Let’s discuss how to write a letter of interest for a job.
Date
If you’re writing a hard copy letter, you’ll need to include a date but if it’s via email, the date stamp can serve. As simple as it is, it’s very important.
Contact Information
You must include your contact information if you’re writing a hard copy letter of interest. Your email address and phone number are the basic contact information you need to add.
However, your contact information should come below your signature if it’s an email letter.
Salutation
The best way to greet the hiring manager is by addressing them by name. This is the more reason you have to do very good research about the company before you begin writing your letter of interest.
Phrases like “To whom it may concern” should be avoided. No one will look at a letter that is addressed to whom it may concern.
In a case where you didn’t see the hiring manager’s name on the website, you can greet them with either “Dear Hiring Manager”, ” Dear Recruiting Manager”, or “Dear Human Resource Manager”.
Introduction
Your first paragraph should be your introductory paragraph where you talk about your purpose of writing. Tell the hiring manager why you want to work with their company and what interested you about them.
Skills You Possess
Here, you talk about the skills you possess or the ones you gained from your recent career. Demonstrate your key achievements, then talk about why you are the right fit for the job and the value you will bring to the company if they hire you.
It is not enough to show off your skills to the company but it is more important to demonstrate what you can do for them.
Employment History
We cannot discuss how to write a letter of interest for a job without talking about this valid point.
In your second paragraph, communicate the skills and achievements you gained from your previous professional experiences.
You can even talk about a major milestone you achieved and a major impact you made on the success of your company.
The Reason Why You Qualify for the Job
In the last paragraph, show your excitement about working with the company by emphasizing the relevant skills and values you possess that will aid the company growth.
Don’t forget to appreciate the hiring manager for taking the time to look through your letter of interest.
Closing
Politely close your letter with a call to action. For example, “I look forward to hearing from you”. Then end with formal salutations like “Best regards”, “Sincerely”.
Letter of Interest for a Job Examples
What if I don’t know how to write a letter of interest for employment? You may be pondering. Well, here are examples of how to write a letter of interest for a job.
In case, you are a college student. Read: How To Write A Recommendation Letter For College
Example 1
David Smart
456 Back street
Los Angeles, CA 34567
222-222-222
December 15, 2023
Samuel Anderson
Human Resource Manager
High-tech Technologies
123 Main Rd.
Los Angeles, CA 98765
Dear Mr Samuel,
My name is David Smart, and I am a Digital Creator interested in job openings in your organization. High-tech Technologies have stood out over the years since their inception and have built a global reputation for providing solutions to tech challenges using an innovative approach.
I have seven years of experience working as a Digital Creator for a tech company. While working in this position, I created digital products that increased the company’s public awareness by 98 per cent and generated more revenue for them. In addition to that, their customer base increased by 72 per cent during my time there.
Enclosed with this letter is my résumé for your perusal. I will be glad if I am allowed to meet with you to demonstrate how my skills, qualifications and experience will benefit your company. Thank you for taking the time to look through my letter. I look forward to meeting with you soon.
Sincerely,
David Smart (Signature)
David Smart (Name)
Example 2
Joyce Steven
456 Back street
Los Angeles, CA 34567
222-222-222
December 15, 2023
Larry Johnson
Human Resource Manager
PenPrint Media Agency
123 Main Rd.
Los Angeles, CA 98765
Dear Mr. Larry,
Just recently, I graduated from Washington State University and I am inquiring to know whether there is an available job opening in your company, PenPrint Media Agency.
I would be glad if you have a job opening in the marketing and advertising department of PenPrint Media Agency. I will use the professional experiences and skills I’ve gained over the years to contribute positively to the operations and growth of your company. Seeing that PenPrint Media Agency is one of the front liners in the media and advertising world, I hope to be considered by the company.
Attached to this letter is my résumé for your perusal. If you need any further information concerning my credentials and expertise, kindly reach out to me.
Thank you for looking through my letter and résumé. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Joyce Steven (signature)
Joyce Steven
Read: How to Write a Good Recommendation Letter for a Student in 2023
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Letter of Interest for a Job
You cannot learn how to write a letter of interest for a job position without knowing the kind of mistakes to avoid when writing.
So, if you’re just learning how to write a letter of interest for a job then below are some common mistakes you should avoid when writing.
Overconfidence
There’s no doubt that having confidence is a good thing but overconfidence can be a huge turnoff.
Yes, you should explain to them why you’re a good fit for the job but you shouldn’t use phrases like “If you don’t hire me, you will regret it”, ” No one in your company possesses the kind of skills, qualifications, and expertise that I have”.
Not proofreading
It is important to proofread your letter of interest before submitting it. This is to ensure that there are no grammatical or typo errors in your letter.
Failure to proofread your letter will be interpreted as not paying attention to details and being unprofessional. After proofreading, you can also give it to someone to proofread.
Failure to follow up
It is wrong for you to just sit back and relax when you haven’t heard from the recipient after about two weeks of sending in your letter of interest for a job.
Try your best to reach out to them, asking for an interview to be scheduled. Be proactive.
Being too generic in your letter
You should know that you are not the only one who sends in a letter of interest for a job, several candidates do the same thing.
Therefore, if your letter is not tailored to the particular role you may be interested in, the hiring manager may feel you are not serious about the opportunity.
Trying to be humorous in your letter
Sometimes, trying to be funny in your letter of interest for a job can look offensive or be interpreted as unprofessional. Therefore, to be on the safer side it is better to avoid it outrightly.
Read: How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter | Sample PDF
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re very serious about getting the job, you should follow up on your letter of interest two weeks after sending it. This is because most employers are too busy looking into other candidates’ résumés and letters of interest.
Therefore, a subtle reminder would do. Just send them an email reminding them that you haven’t heard from them. If you don’t do this, you will likely be ignored.
Your letter should entail the skills, qualifications and experiences you possess that will be helpful to the company. It should also talk about how you will contribute positively to the company’s operations.
It should be 3 to 5 paragraphs.
The letter should be addressed to either the hiring manager, the human resource manager or the recruiting manager. However, it is best to address them by their names.
Yes, you can. You can send your letter of interest in text or email format.
Conclusion
A good letter of interest for a job should be tailored towards the role you may be interested in. After reading through this guide on how to write a letter of interest for a job, you should be able to write a letter of interest that would land you that dream job on your own.
These are the steps to write a letter of interest for a job.
References
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