As a job seeker, a letter of intent is usually used to express your interest in a company. There is a lot of information about companies on social media and websites, which allows you to identify the perfect company to bolster your career. The letter is significant as it makes the company aware of your professional strengths and career goals. They can then use this information to consider you for employment in the future. A letter of intent can easily be confused with a cover letter, but the two are different, with the main difference being that the cover letter is tied to a specific job position.
A letter of intent is an official document, and it is necessary to use a formal format when writing it. Tailor your letter to the company you are sending it to so that you may have a better chance of being called for an interview. It is essential to limit the length of your letter by only including the relevant information explained in the article.
This article also helps you understand more about the letter and guides you on writing one with a relevant letter of intent template and samples.
Free Templates
Given below are letter of intent for job templates:
Letter of Intent for a Job
A letter of intent (sometimes known as a letter of interest) is written by a job seeker to a company expressing interest in working for them.
The primary function of this letter is to introduce you to an employer you are interested in. You can write a letter of intent even when an organization has not issued a job posting. This is because the letter shows that you want to be a part of the organization and are not tied to a specific position. In addition, the letter should include your professional strengths, such as skills and experience, which will portray the value being brought to the company.
Did you know? The chances of your letter of intent being effective in a newly formed company are higher than in an established company. This is because positions and roles in newly formed companies are unclear, giving room for flexibility in the hiring process. On the other hand, established companies usually have positions with clearly defined roles and responsibilities making them only consider applications tailored to the job position.
When and Why to Use a Letter of Intent
An intent letter should only be sent when necessary. You should send your letter to your employer at the right time so they may find time to read it and give you positive feedback.
When
A letter of intent is not helpful to you if sent at the wrong time. The following are instances when you can send your letter of intent:
- When submitting your resume to employers and company agents at job fairs
- When there are job postings for other positions, your skills and expertise can make the employer consider you for employment
- Friends and family could notify you of companies with hiring plans, and you can send your letter before the job vacancies are advertised.
- When you come across a company that fits your career goals and objectives
- When an employer asks for an intent letter in a job advertisement
Why
A letter of intent is mainly written to express your desire to work for a particular company. However, the letter also gives the company a chance to learn about your career. The hiring manager will know your experience and skills and find areas where you may best suit the company.
The following are reasons why you should write a letter of intent:
- It allows you to start a relationship with the company. Your letter introduces you to the company’s hiring manager and makes them aware of your skills. The impression you create is the foundation upon which your relationship with the company is built.
- It helps during recruitment. When the employer has plans to recruit, and you have sent the letter earlier, the hiring manager may consider you among the first applicants to interview for the job.
- It enables you to be known by your preferred companies. You may write a letter of intent to your dream companies to keep you in mind whenever they are hiring. This is because they might not be hiring when you write to them.
Letter of Intent Vs. Cover Letter
An intent letter and a cover letter are two different terms. When applying for an advertised job, a cover letter is written with strict adherence to the qualifications listed for the position. A letter of intent is written when expressing interest in working for a preferred company and is not confined to a job position.
Another difference between a cover letter and a letter of intent is that the former is only submitted after a job has been posted and the letter has been required. However, the latter can be submitted even when there is no job posting from the company you want to work for.
Format of the Letter of Intent
A letter of intent is your introduction to your future employers. Therefore, creating a good impression using a professional format is essential.
Below are guidelines that you can use to format your letter of intent:
Greeting
Begin the letter by greeting the recipient formally and professionally. You may include their surname in the greeting if you know the recipient. However, it is crucial to avoid informal greetings and only uses the recipient’s first name to greet them.
Introduction
Introduce yourself and state your reason for writing the letter. Do this by mentioning your experience level, your qualification if you are a recent graduate, and your employer if you are currently employed. After that, explain why you are interested in joining the company you are writing to.
Body
The body of the letter should be highly informative to the employer as it contains your skills and experiences. You can also mention your skills and abilities and their role in your achievements during your professional tenure. This helps the hiring manager see the value you bring to the organization.
Conclusion
In one paragraph, give the closing remarks to the letter recipient. Thank the employer for spending their time reading the letter. You can ask for an interview by suggesting a meeting on how you can help the company do better.
Sign off
The sign-off should be formal and professional, like a standard official letter sign-off. When signing off, ensure that you include your signature and designation.
Factors to Pre-consider
For a letter of intent to be fully effective, some essential things must be considered. First, the organization you are writing to should be carefully selected. What you include in your letter also matters as you would not want to give information that would spoil your chances of getting employed.
Research the company
You should research more about the company you want to address your letter to. You can obtain information from the company’s website or social media handles. You can do your research based on factors that would affect your work life, like training opportunities, medical and other allowances, and the company’s reputation.
Target companies that interest you
Write a letter of intent to the company that best fits your career goals and objectives. First, it is necessary to research your career path and make a list of companies that can help you achieve it. Next, research the companies and discover their culture, structure, mission, vision, and values. These factors help you find the organization that best suits your profile.
Make a list of your professional strengths.
It is essential to note down your professional strengths. Professional strengths may range from your academic qualifications in your field to your skills and abilities and the experience you have obtained in your career. When writing your letter of intent, ensure you only include strengths that match the values and mission of the company.
Draft a rough outline
Come up with a rough outline of the letter of intent before writing it. It acts as a structure you can follow when writing your letter.
Information to Include
An intent letter should be able to introduce you to your employer. Therefore, you must not leave any information that would help the hiring manager to know you.
Introduce yourself
Give an introduction by stating your name and occupation. If you are a recent graduate, it would be best to mention your academic qualifications. If currently employed, introduce yourself by mentioning the organization you work in. Finish the introduction by stating why you are writing the letter and express your interest in joining the organization.
For example:
I am Eliud Grater, a financial advisor at Wellington Company. I want to take this chance to express my interest in joining your reputable organization. Your organization’s core values and mission to give a firm financial foundation to your clients are something that I would love to be a part of. In addition, I have 10 years of banking experience, which would greatly assist in the induction of new employees as you have plans to expand soon.
Your skills and accomplishments
The employer you are interested in could have advertised a job position different from your field. However, your skills, abilities, and accomplishments may also make them consider you. Ensure you include the skills and accomplishments that match the values, vision, and mission of the company you are writing for. It helps you show your quality and instances where you can be of value to the company.
For example:
During my time at Leyslow Inc., I was able to put my time management skills to use. In turn, it helped reduce delays in service delivery by 17% and significantly increased customer satisfaction. In addition, my interactions with most clients also increased my communication and personal relations skills.
Share your experience
It is vital to include your experience level in your letter of intent. It will enable the hiring manager to find the position that will fit best in the organization. It also assists the employer in knowing the value you bring to the organization.
You can mention your experience briefly, as shown below:
I am an electrical technician with 16 years of experience. I have been privileged with three of the largest electricity producers in Africa. I would love to use my experience to help your company grow and achieve your objectives.
Why you are the right fit for the company
A letter of intent should be able to convince the company that your services will be of great value to them. Therefore, you should include reasons why the company should consider you. For instance, you can mention the company’s mission, values, or objectives and explain how your skills and abilities can help them achieve that.
For example:
From a recent press briefing, you announced that you have been moving to an eco-friendly way of energy production. My Ph.D. in electrical engineering and expertise in biogas technology will help you realize that dream if given a chance.
Call to action
In the last paragraph of your letter of intent, you can request a meeting or an interview to meet with the hiring manager. It will help you express your eagerness to work for that company.
Below is an example of how you can call to action:
I look forward to meeting you soon to discuss how I can best use my knowledge in chemistry to help your company reduce smoke emissions.
What Not to Include
Be careful with the information you give to your employer. Irrelevant information in your letter can ruin your chance of being considered for a job in the company.
Ensure that you do not include the following in your letter:
A vague list of skills and accomplishments
Avoid listing vague skills and accomplishments in the letter. Instead, you should mention the skills and achievements and provide numbers or facts to quantify them. When discussing accomplishments, mention their significance.
Reasons for leaving a previous job
It is a bad idea to include reasons why you stopped working for another employer. Instead, focus more on giving the employer reasons why they should consider hiring you.
Repetition of resume
A letter of intent should not be the same as a resume. Your letter of intent should only contain professional strengths relevant to the company you want to be hired for.
Letter of Intent Template
[Your name]
[Your contact information]
[Your address]
[Date]
[The recipient’s name]
[Company’s name]
[Company’s address]
Greeting
My name is _____________ [your name]. I am the__________ [your current position] at [the company you are in]. I want to write this letter to express my willingness and desire to be a part of your team. I believe that I would greatly assist your company because I have a vast knowledge of the security protocols you want to introduce to your organization.
I have undergone private security training at the esteemed __________ and have an experience of ________ years in the field. I have excellent leadership skills, which have influenced my position as the head of security in different organizations. I also have good computer skills, which enable me to use technology to provide better security, and these skills can significantly assist your organization. Over the years, I have significantly reduced security breaches in the organizations I have been in and formed the best security teams.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I would be happy to receive feedback from you and have a meeting to discuss how I can be of help to your company.
Yours faithfully,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
Letter of Intent Sample
Susan Weldon
+31 589-968-581
59 Denver Street
19.05.22
George Mossop
Human Resource Manager
Greatland Schools
23 Portland Avenue
Kansas, Ka
Dear Mr. Mossop,
I am a motivated and highly experienced teacher ready to help you nurture and mold our future generation. My name is Susan Weldon, the Deputy Principal of Midlands Academy. I am writing to express my eagerness to join your esteemed organization and help you positively impact society. With your plans to open a new school in Seattle, I believe I would be the right candidate to steer the new school to success.
During my 10 years of experience, I have been a part of a historic run of success in The Midlands School. Although I was the deputy principal, we had topped the region in the O-level exam twice. My biology class produced the highest mean in the school last year, and this wasn’t an easy achievement. I have also been able to grow the sports culture of the school in the last 3 years when I have been the games master, with the soccer team advancing to the region’s finals.
I believe that my leadership skills will be of great assistance as you will get to recruit new faculty upon opening the school. I am also good at personal relations, which will help attract and retain new parents and students in the school.
I would be delighted to have a meeting and discuss how we can work together and achieve greatness.
Best regards,
Susan Weldon
Tips for Writing a Letter of Intent
A presentable letter of intent would make it practical and invite the hiring manager to read it. However, hiring managers receive many letters regarding employment, and to make their work easier, they may rush through letters highlighting key points. Therefore, write your letter of intent using a simple format and ensure that critical parts of the letter are well-crafted.
The following tips will help you structure your letter appropriately:
Follow a business letter format
A letter of intent is an official letter written for official purposes. Use a professional format and ensure that each part of the letter is clear. Ensure that you include your address and that of the employer.
Use appropriate greeting
Avoid using informal greetings when writing a letter of intent. Instead, try to discover who the hiring manager is and include their surname in your formal greeting.
Keep the letter short
The letter should only include relevant information. The addition of irrelevant information makes the letter lengthy and can discourage the hiring manager from finishing reading it.
Use bullet points
When giving information about your skills and accomplishments, it is advisable to use bullet points because it is the most crucial part of the resume, and you would want it to be seen by the employer.
Edit and proofread
When you are done writing your letter of intent, proofread your letter and make sure that it has no errors. Take your time to correct any spelling and grammar errors and check for any irrelevant information to remove.
Conclusion
A well-written intent letter lets you introduce yourself to your preferred company/organization and express your intentions to work for them. The letter also lets you mention your skills and accomplishments and explain how they can be helpful to your employers.
Before writing a letter of intent, research the company you want to write to and ensure that it fits your career plans. Ensure you have a list of relevant professional strengths in your letter. It is also advisable to draft your outline first to help you write the letter.
When writing a letter of intent, it is mandatory to stick to a business letter format and professionally address the recipient. Include your skills and accomplishments in the letter and quantify them. Share your experience and illustrate how you are the perfect fit for the job. Finish the letter by asking for an interview and sign off formally. When done writing the letter, proofread it and correct any mistakes that you have made.