How to Write a Letter of Interest for a Job: Samples & Guide

Just like many IT specialists dream of working for the Silicon Valley legends, chefs imagine landing a job at one of the Michelin-starred restaurants.

But the problem is that each sector's top businesses rarely advertise their job openings. They prefer internal recruitment or use headhunters to seek candidates.

Is there a golden ticket that gets you the insider info from those companies? Oh, yes. There is. And it’s called a letter of interest.

This guide will show you:

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

Here's a sample of a letter of interest made with our fast online builder. Want to write your letter in 15 minutes? Use our templates and build your letter here.

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Use this cover letter template

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

Check some relevant examples here:

• Cover Letter for Internal Position Example
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• General Cover Letter That Isn't Generic (Sample for Any Job)
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• Letter of Intent: Template & Writing Guide (With Examples) 
• Thank You Email After Interview: 6 Sample Notes for All Jobs 
• Business Cover Letter: Samples, Proper Format, & Writing Guide 
• Reference Letter of Recommendation Template (20+ Tips) 
• Letter of Intent vs Cover Letter: What's the Difference? 
• Cold Call / Unsolicited Cover Letter Sample 

Here’s how to write a letter of interest:

1. Choose a Proven Letter of Interest Format
2. Start Your Letter of Interest for a Job with a Hook
3. Highlight Your Relevant Skills and Work Experience in the Letter of Interest
4. Finish Your Letter of Interest with a Compelling Call to Action
5. How to Send a Letter of Interest Email

Letter of Interest Sample

What Is a Letter of Interest?

A letter of interest, also known as an expression of interest or a prospecting letter, is a letter where candidates explain why they’d like to work for a company, even if it doesn’t advertise job openings at the moment.

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.

So, do you forget about the company and move on with your life? Well, that’s one way to go about it. But you have another one—to 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.

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

In the sections below, you'll learn how to write a letter of interest that puts you at the top of the list of prospective job candidates, along with a few letters of interest samples.

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 mustbe 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: Format

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

Why does that letter of introduction sample 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 letter 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 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. 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.

Writing a college letter of interest? Read more: High School Resume for College Application: Complete Guide

A successful letter of interest may land you a job interview. But is your resume ready for review on short notice? Don’t bring an outdated resume to a business meeting. Try our resume builder and get a fresh one in a few minutes.

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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 letter of interest clipping shows the hook and proof.

Wow. The HR director’s heart might’ve just skipped a beat.

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.

Not sure how to prove your worth? Use achievements from your resume. See more: Achievements to Put on Resume: Complete Guide (+30 Examples)

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 a next step, and they forget about you after their lunch break.

You don't know how to write a letter of interest until you nail the CTA. Great 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

That's not terrible. But it's unclear what should happen next. There's nothing in it for the manager.

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.

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]

Did the company respond to your letter of interest? Great, this is a chance to send them your application! Remember—you need not only a smashing resume but also a cover letter that crashes the chances of others. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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:

• Include an eye-catching hook at the top of your interest letter template. It's there to get the manager to read your letter carefully.
• Use your letter of interest to prove how you can help.
• Show measurable accomplishments that fit the manager's needs, like skinny jeans.

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!