Introduction
A letter of interest, also known as an expression of interest, or a letter of inquiry, helps the individual to have cognisance about the future job opportunities of a company.
An individual can send a letter of interest to any company in which he or she wants to join. However, a letter of inquiry is not meant for a particular job, post or role. It is very general and relates to the reputation of the company.
You can exhibit your soft and hard skills in the letter of inquiry. The best attribute to express interest is that it helps you to amass a potential job title according to your skills. This means that the recruiters or the hiring managers tend to tailor your skills to a specific job opportunity.
So, a well-crafted letter of interest can help you to fetch an entry in an organisation. On the other hand, a careless and monotonous letter of intent will straight go to the dustbin.
Apart from this, a professional letter of interest also helps you to arrange for an informational interview with the company. This enables you to know the company well and bridge your gaps according to the organisational needs.
Thus, you can fabricate a letter of interest for teaching position, for job application, for internship, for project, for internal position etc.
Difference between letter of interest and a Cover Letter
A letter of interest differs from a cover letter in various ways.
- First of all, the cover letter is forthright and relates to a particular job opportunity. You fabricate it according to the skills required for that position. In a letter of interest, you exhibit your skills without aligning them with any specific position.
- Secondly, the cover letter is attached with the resume. Hence people write a cover letter in a way to entice the recruiters to read the resume. Accordingly, the ultimate faith of your resume depends upon the quality of the cover letter.
- On the other hand, a statement of interest is an individual document which is not attached to the resume. People write it to tantalise the recruiters to amass them a job opportunity in the company.
- Thirdly, the length of a cover letter can range between 100 to 300 words or a single page. On the other hand, an expression of interest letter should not have more than 200 words.
Here’s How to Write Letter of Interest
To formulate a intriguing or compelling letter of interest, you should know various tips and strategies. You can compose your message of interest in the following way.
1. Research
Before concocting an expression of interest, you should know about the background of the company. This is because, in the absence of any job opening, you might want to gain entry into the organisation because of its reputation. Hence you need to appreciate it in your letter.
Moreover, thorough research can help you to modify your skill set according to the requirements of the manager. Thus, before entering the threshold of the company have cognisance about various attributes.
Such features entail the company culture, working environment, and the attitude of the manager towards the employees.
There are various ways to research the company. First of all, you can go through its mission statement, Press news or other recent updates and articles. Secondly, this era of digitalisation facilitates the process of research through digital mediums.
You should go through the social media accounts of the company. Such accounts relate to the LinkedIn ID or Twitter ID. This will help you to know about the past employees and the manager.
Apart from this, you can know the issues with the manager is facing. This will help you to depict your skillset in a way which will help the manager to resolve such issues.
Another method of researching is through your augmented networking outreach. Such networking abilities may relate to any past or present employee, friends or relatives who have worked in the organisation.
2. Address the required person
Formulating a good letter of interest requires you to direct it to the accurate person who will read your message. It can be the hiring manager or recruiters.
This is because writing the phrase “ To Whom It May Concern” on the letter exhibits your irresponsible nature and lack of research. Moreover, the manager may think that when you could not even search for his or her name, then how can you perform the tasks of the company.
You can address your letter by finding the name of the manager from the LinkedIn account of the company. This is because the LinkedIn account has the name of various job posts along with the person’s name.
Format-
Dear [hiring manager’s name]
3. Initiate with a hook
The beginning of your job interest email determines whether the manager will read it or ignore it. Hence you should initiate your letter of interest with a magnetic hook.
Such a gripping beginning will help you to stand apart from the rest. Your letter of interest is like a needle in a bundle of Haystack. So, allow the manager to recognize this needle by capturing his or her interest from the beginning.
Wrong example.
I have composed this letter of interest to fetch an entry in your organisation according to my working skills.
Good example.
With my effectual cost-cutting skills, I had truncated the cost in my previous company by 45%. Reading about the same requirements of your organisation in the newspaper, I think I am a suitable fit for your company.
With this initiation, you intrigue the manager as to how can you truncate the costs and what are your strategies for it. Hence he or she is likely to connect with you.
Apart from this, your hook can also integrate any positive attribute of the company or manager.
4. Relevant skill set
The main aim of a letter of interest is to show your interest in the organisation by exhibiting your skills. After capturing the attention of the reader through a hook, you should depict your skills.
Such skills should not only relate to the hard skills, but also soft skills. This is because many applicants have similar hard skills and the qualifications necessary for various posts.
However, it is the soft skills that help you to be at an advantage from your competitors. Such soft skills can relate to punctuality, leadership, or effectual decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Since a letter of interest is a general document, you do not need to modify your skill set according to a particular job post. So, you should exhibit all your skills which are necessary for the organisational requirements.
5. Employment background
After exhibiting your skills, you need to verify them to show your credibility. The prospective employer can substantiate your skillset through your previous jobs.
Thus, depict any accomplishment, project, situation or a story which signifies your decision-making and problem-solving skills. This will also maintain the interest of the reader and entice him to read more.
6. A compelling call to action
You compose an intriguing and well-written letter of interest. However, you do not tell the employer what to do after that. This makes the reader forget about your message.
Hence, it is crucial to write a call to action at the end of your interest letter. Such call to action explains the after steps or a result which the employer should procure you. The effectiveness of your message depends upon the call to action as it helps to convert your interest into effect.
Wrong example.
You can reach out to me or contact me if you like my skill set.
Good example.
I would love to be a part of your organisation and help it to soar great heights. I assure you that I will be able to whisk my imagination and creativity with your content needs. This will result in engaging, readable, unique and useful content for various purposes. For this, you can further contact me through my contact details attached to this letter.
7. Formal ending
A formal ending entails phrases like “Best regards” or “sincerely”. In the absence of such a conclusion, your letter of interest exhibits amateurism.
In the end, it is necessary to reinstate your interest in the organisation. Moreover, you should thank the reader for sparing his or her valuable time in considering your letter.
After that, write your name, contact information, email ID and LinkedIn account.
For example.
I would love to fetch my dream job in your organisation due to its reputation and good nature of the employer towards the employees. Moreover, I thank you for reading my letter and considering it.
Best regards
Your name
Contact information
Email ID
LinkedIn ID
Letter of Interest Template or Format
Here is an example or letter of interest sample:
[Your name and address]
[Date]
[Company’s name and address]
Dear [Name of the hiring manager]
[Start with a Hook]
[Exhibit your skill set]
[Verify your skillset through accomplishments]
[Call to action]
[Exhibit your gratitude]
Sincerely
[Your signature and contact information]
Conclusion
Hence, it is crucial to fabricate a short and crisp Expression of Interest (EOI) to express your interest in working. In the end, remember to proofread it to avert any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. In case of a job interest email, you can use the digital software Grammarly.
Moreover, it is better to have another set of eyes to gaze upon your letter. This is because you cannot exhibit any amateurism as it will lead to the rejection of the message.
