The job market is highly competitive, especially when it comes to higher paying salaries. Companies want to make sure they’re getting the best new employees that they can. Education, experience and training are all good factors, but personality and character - who someone is as a worker - is also incredibly important.

As a job seeker, how do you show that you have the personal traits a major company would find appealing? How do you demonstrate that you have the kind of personality they might be looking for? The answer is deceptively simple: just ask. With a letter of interest.

A Letter of Interest is a formal request for more information on a company, or a request for a meeting to go over some of the stuff that companies don’t publicly offer to job seekers. It’s a request for more specific information and background details that an average passer-by or job hopeful might not be expected to know. And, it’s a show of your personal investment in their company.

Producing a Letter of Interest of a company shows them that you aren’t someone who is satisfied just filling out a web page form and waiting for a call. It shows that you are someone who is self-motivated enough to reach out, inquisitive enough to learn from them and dedicated to their business before you even join it. These are all great traits to show and provide a clear view of you as a potential employee.

The “job openings” page for any company is only the surface level of what’s going on behind the scenes. There are job openings that go unreported for a long time, usually ones that they intend to fill internally with ease. These are better paying than the entry level jobs, and you won’t know about them without writing a proper letter inquiring as to what your level of experience or education can really add to their company.

Cover Letters offer a very different focus than a Letter of Interest.

Cover Letters are directed at how you plan to fill the role you’re applying for, and nothing else. They offer a quick breakdown of work you’ve had in the past, clarifications to your resume and any other helpful information. Cover Letters coincide with a resume, and a hiring period. They are things asked of you. Check out our How to write a cover letter with no experience article for a better idea.

Letters of Interest are sent by you, at no request, to the company whether they are hiring or not because you believe you have skills they need and want more information about them. It further shows your dedication and initiative, that you do not need to be asked to show your interest in their company. It provides a strong starting point when you make the first move in the hiring process. The goal of a Cover Letter is to pair with your Resume, a Letter of Interest is to get you the interview.

Letters of Interest are rarer than standard cover letters and other requested documents, but they’re not so rare that yours will be alone. And because they can be sent in at any time, they need to strike a reasonable amount of interest to get noticed by the hiring team.

To do this, you need to write a very personal, detailed letter.

1. Research the company

Knowing the company's aims and beliefs might make your message seem more relevant to the receiver. Corp news, official social media account, its mission statement, and most recent press leleases are the good resources for you to study. Matched value prosposition is very important to a company, so if you have that in your letter, then that would be a huge plus for your application.

2. Personalize it based on your research

When you’re writing the recipient line, find out who will actually be reading your letter and write their name. “To whom it may concern” is not personal enough. You should open your letter with proof that you have researched the company at least enough to know who will be receiving your message first. It’s a good way to subtly grab their attention. Once you do, you dig deeper, and plant a hook.

3. Pointing out what is the motivation behind this letter

Remember, this letter may be unexpected for the receiver, so tell them what’s the reasoning behind your decision to make an application for this specific company, what your plans are for their business and how you see yourself making improvements. Even if you aren’t being brought on to handle that kind of work, the fact that you’re thinking ahead shows promise.

4. Leave a hook in your letter

The Letter of Interest is there to show your interest in the company, and also get them interested in you. You want them to conact you back, isn't it? So you need a hook, which draws the reader's attention and makes them want to call you back.

5. 3 paragraphs are enough to do the work

I know you may have a lot to say, but they may not have that much patience for you. A well written, personal, and attractive letter of interest doesn’t do its job unless it is concise and easy to follow. It’s not a fan letter or just a letter of your appreciation. It’s a job application in reverse. You’re asking them to bring you in without them asking first.

The best expert on who you are is yourself. But, if you don’t know what a good letter looks like on paper, you may need some help. We have provided an example of how a Letter of Interest should look like, how each paragraph breaks down and how to deliver concise, accurate information that will catch the reader’s attention.

Hi John,

My name is Jim Cash and I'm a senior at Penn State and will graduate in the upcoming May, I hope you don't mind me reaching out of the blue here.

Over the past 3 years, I've spent at least two months on average every year in other countries which led to my absolute love for AirBnB. I utilized it extensively for those travels, and I met so many wonderful people and immersed myself in local culture in a way that I could never do in hotels or resorts. Now I'd like to assist AirBnB in becoming the best platform possible.

I spent a few months gathering information from your clients about their most pressing concerns and wishes. Two key issues stood out among the hundreds of replies I got:

1. Poor customer support they get from the service team.

2. Keyword filters is not as effective as other searching websites.

Based on this information, I came up with two simple remedies that would aid in the resolution of these difficulties, and I believe it will result in high levels of customer satisfaction and retention.

If you have a few minutes to spare, I'd love to talk more about this, as well as the possible open position on your Product Team.

Best,
Jim Cash

Hi Martin,

I'm Austin Belcak and I am writing to inquire about potential opportunities at TX Honey Business. As Texas' premier honey distributor since 1990, your company has a storied history within our state, and it is one that I would be honored to be a part of.

Your company's press release regarding plans to relaunch your original maple flavor, targeting restaurants, grocery stores, and other small businesses, caught my attention recently. My previous experience as a marketer would translate well into a sales position during this new venture to reach more businesses directly through your marketing. I understand how marketing and sales are intimately connected and can use my knowledge to help forge new relationships with other business owners and close deals that might not otherwise land.

More information about my skills and expertise can be found in the accompanying résumé. I'd be grateful for the chance to talk with you more about prospective opportunities for me at TX Honey Business. You can reach me by phone at 555-666-7777 or email amy Austin.B@email.com at your convenience. I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration.

Thank you,
Austin Belcak

When you sent a Letter of Interest, don’t expect an immediate reply. What you can do to show your interest even further is follow up with a phone call. Mention it in the letter to give them a deadline so you can meet it and prove that you’re serious.

You should know how to write your own letter of intent now that you know how to write one. To get started, feel free to use our examples.

Don't forget to include your resume with your letter of interest.

You can find the ideal match in our portfolio of resume templates. If you're short on time, our free resume builder will create a resume for you in a couple of minutes and this article will help you in writing a stunning resume.