How To Write A Letter Of Intent For A Job (With Examples)

If you’ve ever wanted to work for a specific company but can’t find a job listing you want, you might want to consider sending in a letter of intent to the company.

We’ll cover precisely what a letter of intent is, provide tips for writing one, and tie it all together with some sample letters of intent.

Key Takeaways:

• A letter of intent is separate from a and knowing the difference between the two can help you successfully land the job.

• When writing a letter of intent, you want to have a strong introduction, explain why you want to work for the company, and follow up with them.

• Make sure to do research on the company before sending the letter and figure out who to send it to.

What Is a Letter of Intent?

A letter of intent is a document you send a company to state your intentions to work for them. You might have a specific role you’d like, but they’re more often used to express interest in any opportunity that the company has for you.

A letter of intent is more generalized than a cover letter and is often used when applying for a specific company versus a specific job. A well-written letter of intent creates a positive impression on your potential employer.

A letter of intent is sent in addition to your resume and cover letter.

When to use a letter of intent include:

• At job fairs

• Freelance work

• Contract work

How to Write a Letter of Intent for a Job

A letter of intent is used to help put some personality and a human touch to your resume. It allows hiring managers to connect your resume to you as a real potential worker versus just a piece of paper with dates on it.

So even though this may be a more generic version of a cover letter, don’t make it boring.

1. Start off strong. Make sure to start a letter of intent with a greeting to the correct person.

   Try to avoid using terms like “hiring manager,” “talent acquisition committee,” or the company name. Try to find out who these letters go to and use that name for the greeting.

2. Write a flawless introduction. Introduce yourself and briefly explain why you are writing.

   If you are writing to simply show an interest in working for the company, explain that in the introduction and the types of jobs you are interested in, but don’t get too specific about the details.

   The more generalized it is, the easier it will be for hiring managers to consider you for different positions that may come up in the company.

3. Explain why you’re a great match. Next go into detail about how you specifically would be a good match for the company, a work area you are interested in, or if possible, the specific job you are applying for.

   Mention critical skills you are proficient in that are relevant to the position or type of position you are applying for.

   You can use bullet points for this to make it stand out more if you are emailing the company to show your general interest in working there, instead of applying for an established job posting.

4. The follow-up and conclusion. Explain how you will follow up with them, end with a call to action, or simply write that you’re excited to hear from them soon.

   Then close with a professional closing and a signed name.

Examples of Letters of Intent

Ready to see how to put all of this together? Check out the following two examples:

Letter of Intent vs. Cover Letter

• A letter of intent is a good resource to use when applying to companies with generalized applications. It is also used to show your interest in working for a specific company if they do not currently have any job offerings listed.

  For example, you absolutely love Disney and really want to work for the company, because you value working for the company so much. You don’t particularly care what job you have there, as long as it utilizes your skills and education.

  This is a great scenario to apply for a new job with a letter of intent.

• A Cover Letter is a document you send with your resume that provides additional information about skills and experience. This is usually sent for a specific job and includes details of that specific job.

  This letter explains your resume in more detail and is the first impression a hiring manager has of you.

Letter of Intent Tips

When writing your letter of intent, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Format your letter correctly. As far as format goes, letters of intent are identical to cover letters. Use proper business letter format and keep it short — three to four paragraphs and 250 words is the max the most hiring mangers like to see.

2. Research the company. Before you ever start drafting your letter of intent, you should dig into the company’s culture, values, and mission. If you’re taking a shot in the dark with this letter, you need to drive home how you can be valuable. The best way to come across as valuable is to know what the company values.

3. Focus on accomplishments. This goes for resumes, cover letters, and interviews as well. Always quantify your achievements when you can. What can you do for this company and how have you demonstrated an ability to do this in the past?

4. Decide on bullet points or paragraphs. Think about how you want to sell yourself as a job seeker. If you can list four major accomplishments in short bullet points, you’ll grab the recruiters attention quickly.

5. Talk about why you’re interested in them. That research you did on the company beforehand is good for deciding on a tone and describing your value. But it’s also nice to compliment the company in your letter of intent.

   If you’re so keen on working for them, you should be able to come up with one or two reasons why they stand out as your ideal place to work.

6. Don’t copy-paste your resume. This goes for cover letters as well. The point of these extra letters is that you can come alive a bit more on the page. A resume is great for checking off qualifications and experience levels, but it doesn’t communicate a lot about what it’s like to work with you.

   Give hiring managers a glimpse of what makes you special as a job seeker. If you’re perfect for the job (or a job), you’re more likely to be called in for an interview.

7. Make your subject line pop. If you’re sending a cold email, you need the hiring manager or recruiter to open your document to stand any chance at all.

   Ensure that your subject line communicates exactly why you’re writing. “(Job Title) Inquiry” or “(Field) Expert Looking for Opportunities.” Whatever you think gives your letter the best chance of being opened.

Final Thoughts

Not too difficult, right? A letter of intent is the first glimpse the company has of you, so make sure it makes a good impression.

Be wary of grammatical mistakes and superfluous language that makes it read as if you are simply switching out company names in each letter.

Make each letter of intent unique to each job.

Now that you know how to write a letter of intent and know the difference between a letter of intent and a cover letter, you can write yours with confidence.

A well-written, interesting letter of intent will push you in front of many applicants — so get writing.

Author

Heidi Cope

Heidi Cope is a former writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog. Her writing focused primarily on Zippia's suite of rankings and general career advice. After leaving Zippia, Heidi joined The Mighty as a writer and editor, among other positions. She received her BS from UNC Charlotte in German Studies.