Steps to writing a Letter of Interest
A letter of Interest is a letter you send to a company, letting them know you would like to work with them and asking for any available job opportunities.
A Letter of Interest is not the same thing as a cover letter, they are slightly different. A cover letter is a document that is sent to a company with a resume, applying for a particular role, after seeing an opening in their company.
However, a Letter of Interest can be sent at any point in time, there does not have to be any available roles. All you need to do is to introduce yourself and your skills and also state your interest in working for the company. A letter of Interest is also referred to as a Letter of Inquiry.
How to write a letter of Inquiry.
A letter of Inquiry is you marketing yourself to a possible employer, so it has to be written carefully. A well written one makes the reader and possible employer intrigued.
When writing a letter of Inquiry, you are to think about what the employer is searching for and let them know you have it, not just on paper, but to believe it also.
What to do
- Do research about the company you are writing to, know about them. When checking for the company online, you should also find out about their online presence, the kind of staff employed by the company, learn new facts about the company. They might end up being useful.
- When you know what kind of people your company likes to hire, try to find similarities between you and them. Highlight common skills between you and their employees, these skills should come in handy when writing your letter.
Format.
After research, it is important to arrange your facts and points, know how you want to arrange them before writing. You do not want your letter to come out looking like something that wasn’t written by an adult.
Arrange your points together, do not scatter them.
- Your contact information: this is your full name(not your nickname or pet name), your home address and email address. You have to be accessible to them. Your phone number should also be made available.
- Date.
- The company’s contact information is next. Avoid using the phrase, to whom it may concern. It is important that you address the document to someone or an office in particular. For example, the hiring manager or someone in HR, or the Manager or Director of any department you wish to work in.
- Introduction; introduce yourself and why you have written to the company/reader.
- State your qualifications and experiences. Tell them your values and qualities. Explain why you are different. Ensure that this segment/paragraph is brief, you do not want to toot your own horn. Pick a few important qualities.
- Thank them for the time taken to go through your letter and let them know if you are available. Request for an Informational Interview if possible.
An Informational Interview is when you get to know more about the company, it’s available and existing roles. You get to meet people in the company and they get to know your personality.
- Sign off the letter using regards, followed by your name or sincerely.
LETTER 1.
Letter of interest for a target company following a positive encounter:
- Your Name
- Your Address
- Your City, State, Zip Code
- Your Phone Number
- Your Email
- Date
- Name
- Job Title
- Company
- Street
- City, State Zip.
Dear (ensure you address a specific person or role):
I had the opportunity to meet some members of staff of this organization while doing research. They were amazing people and knew I wanted to become one of them and this is why I am writing to you.
I am a firm believer of personal accountability and integrity and I have always represented myself and my employer in a professional and ethical manner.
I always ensure that I pay attention to detail and give my best when it comes to tasks. I am a hard working and success driven individual and an enthusiastic team player.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. You can reach me on my mobile number or my email address, Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Signature
LETTER 2.
Letter of interest following a write up of the target company:
- Your Name
- Your Address
- Your City, State, Zip Code
- Your Phone Number
- Your Email
- Date
- Name
- Job Title
- Company
- Street
- City, State Zip
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,
While reading through an online article last week, I came across an article that highlighted the company as part of the top ten tech companies currently.
It highlighted how the company always puts its teams first and its yearly goals. For this reason, I am sending this document together with my resume, in hopes that the company will hire me.
I have been working in the communications field for five years, and in this time, have taken up different positions which I feel might benefit your company. I am experienced in researching, writing and editing.
As a team leader, I am proud of the fact that not only have we never missed a deadline, but that we have also met up with all the company’s standards and values.
I will reach out again next Friday to hear from you. To reach me, please make use of my email address and phone number,
Thank you for your time in considering my qualifications.
Sincerely,
Thompson.
LETTER 3.
Letter of interest for a recent graduate looking for work:
- Your Name
- Your Address
- Your City, State, Zip Code
- Your Phone Number
- Your Email
- Date
- Name
- Job Title
- Company
- Street
- City, State Zip
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,
I read an article in the paper about a job training at your company. I am a recent graduate from the University of Nsukka with a degree in English Language. I have over three years of writing and editing experience.
I have included my resume which contains additional information on my experience and skills. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the training program with you and to provide further information on why I should be hired.
If you would like to reach me, please do so via my phone number and email address.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this exciting opportunity.
Sincerely,
Signature.
Remember that these are only templates and you are to do the writing yourself.
Do you need a sample for a specific role, leave a comment below and it would be uploaded in less than 48 hours
