Letter of Interest Sample + How to Write It in 2024

Each sector's top businesses rarely advertise their job openings. They prefer internal recruitment or use headhunters to seek candidates. That's where a letter of interest comes in. It's like a golden ticket that gets you the insider info from those top companies.

Check out our letter of interest template and expert tips to learn how to write a letter of interest that will put you in the center of recruiters' attention. Read on and find out how to use this strategy to further your career!

This guide will show you:

• How to write a letter of interest for a job that gets noticed in the online jungle.
• A stellar letter of interest sample that returns a massive response.
• Letter of interest examples that'll inspire you and get you hired faster.
• A letter of interest format you can use to pry loose hidden dream jobs.

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Letter of interest sample—See more samples of cover letters and letters of interest here..

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• Medical School Letter of Intent
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• Business Cover Letter: Samples, Proper Format, & Writing Guide
• Reference Letter of Recommendation Template (20+ Tips)
• Letter of Intent vs Cover Letter
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Letter of Interest Sample

What Is a Letter of Interest for a Job?

A letter of interest, or statement of interest, is a letter explaining why you’d like to work for a company, even if it doesn’t advertise job openings at the moment. It should highlight your qualifications and may place you ahead of others in recruiters’ consideration for future job opportunities.

That’s it for theory. What about practice?

Imagine your best friend Kevin is telling you about a new job. His office is in a modern, air-conditioned building. He can get as many work-from-home days as he wants, and his salary is great. You’re thinking: WOW. I want to work there, too. But sadly, there are no job openings available at the moment.

That’s when you send a letter of interest. This way, the company learns about you, and in the future, they might let you know about job openings before posting the ad on online boards.

If you’re looking for a new job, make sure you approach it the right way. See more: How to Find a Job Effectively

Letter of Interest vs. Cover Letter

If you’re wondering what’s the difference between a letter of interest and a cover letter, here it goes: a cover letter targets a specific job opportunity. A letter of interest targets a specific company.

You can send a letter of interest to a business that doesn’t post job advertisements. The purpose is to let the employer know you exist and would like to work for them.

So, is a letter of interest the same as a cover letter? Definitely not. A cover letter accompanies a resume. Send one when applying for a known job opening.

Need to write a cover letter, but not sure how to start? Learn more: How to Write a Cover Letter

How to Write a Letter of Interest

Take the steps below to write an excellent letter of interest for a job:

1. Choose a Proven Letter of Interest Format

When you send an expression of interest letter, you're not one of 300+ job applicants. However, you might be treated as one of 200 billion spam emails sent daily. And that’s something you want to avoid.

A great letter of interest must be short, sweet, and formatted to get attention fast. Use the correct letter of interest format to hit the manager like a rescue line tossed in flood.

Here's a perfect sample interest letter template:

Letter of Interest Template

That’s how you write a short and simple letter of interest.

Why does that sample letter of interest for a job work? Because it unlocks the manager's attention and then delivers an irresistible gift. It is personal, which means no Dear Hiring Manager or To Whom It May Concern.

Now, let me show you how to write each part of the statement of interest perfectly.

Pro Tip: How long should a simple letter of interest be? Just a few short paragraphs, and not more than 200 words, similar to the length of a cover letter. Any longer, and the manager won't read it.

2. Start Your Letter of Interest for a Job with a Hook

You're the needle. The haystack is all the junk email the manager gets. How can you make sure they find you? You must learn to write a letter of interest that catches their attention like an electromagnet.

You need a hook. Use it to introduce yourself in a way that gets remembered. A great hook can be:

• A big work accomplishment you made.
• A big accomplishment the company made.
• A fact you love about the company.
• A fact you've learned about the manager.

Check out these examples of the opening line in a letter of interest:

Letter of Interest Example: Opening Line

Here's the problem with that sample letter of interest for a job. There's no hook. The principal will toss it in the recycle bin so fast that he'll get a paper cut.

Now, look what happens when we add a hook:

The principal's eyebrows just shot up. The only way your letter of interest for a teaching position will get recycled is if there is an unexpected fire drill.

Pro Tip: If you're writing a letter of interest for a job within the company you already work for, network first. You're in a unique position to meet the right manager in person. And you can get insider info about them from your colleagues.

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3. Highlight Your Relevant Skills and Work Experience in the Letter of Interest

You know how to start a letter of interest. It’s time to think about the middle part. The manager got hooked by your opening line, so don’t let them down!

Don’t fill the middle section with a long list of skills and irrelevant experience. Instead, think: Why are you interested in this job? Are you a perfect fit? Answer with accomplishments that match the manager's needs and the company culture.

Check out how that works in the two medical letters of interest examples below:

Letter of Interest Examples

That medical interest letter basically says, "I'm a nurse." It needs to prove you'll save the manager's life if they depend on it. The following statement of interest clipping shows the hook and proof.

To prove you can help, you need to know the company's needs. Research the business online and use your networking skills to learn about unadvertised job openings.

Pro Tip: Looking for a letter of interest template for MS Word? It's better to send it in the body of your email. The manager probably won't open an attached file from a stranger.

4. Finish Your Letter of Interest With a Compelling Call to Action

Imagine writing the best letter of interest in the universe. The manager is convinced you are the next Jeff Bezos. Then, you fail to ask for the next step, and they forget about you after their lunch break.

You don't know how to write a good letter of interest until you nail the CTA.The best letters of interest always have compelling CTAs!

CTA, or a Call to Action, is an action phrase designed to prompt a response from the reader. This marketing term is mainly used in sales and advertising. A Call to Action instructs the reader to take the next step and get a great offer that matches their needs.

Here are two interest letter examples with CTAs to show you what I mean:

Letter of Interest Sample: CTA

See? You're offering something shiny in exchange for something easy and specific. Your chances of a callback just went up like a communications satellite.

Pro Tip: Writing a letter of interest for a promotion? You know more than anyone about your manager's needs and how to meet them. Use that as a lever in your letter.

5. How to Send a Letter of Interest Email

You’ve got a few ways to deliver your letter of interest. If you know the hiring manager personally, you can hand it in yourself. You might send it printed out on a nice paper by post. But in most cases, you’ll probably just email it.

To write a letter of interest email, use the format at the top of this guide. The only difference is to move your contact information from the top of the template to the bottom of your letter. Then, add a great email subject line that will get the manager's attention, such as the manager's name and a hook you’ve used in your letter.

Email Letter of Interest—Sample Subject Line

Can you see how that first sorority letter of interest example would get opened? It's a great example of how to write an email asking for a job.

The second will go straight into the trash.

Need to know how to address a letter of interest? It’s pretty straightforward, just like addressing cover letters. See our guide: How to Address a Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples]

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaways

Knowing how to write a letter of interest can teleport you past the job search maze.

Follow these easy tips when writing a letter of interest to get your dream job:

• Pick a reliable statement of interest format.
• Begin with an appropriate greeting.
• Follow with an eye-catching hook at the top of your interest letter template.
• Present your relevant skills and experience.
• Show your enthusiasm.
• Finish your letter of interest with a strong call to action.
• Add a professional sign-off.
• Proofread your letter of interest before you send it.

Want to know more about how to write a letter of continued interest? Maybe you found the best way to write an interest letter? Give us a shout in the comments! We’d love to help!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10462-022-10195-4#Fn1
• https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2011/spring/art01.pdf
• https://uxguide.stanford.edu/types-ux/writing-web/calls-action