Friday, February 18, 2011



Letter of Interest for Employment

A letter of interest is a letter that is written by individuals seeking jobs in an organization that may or may not be hiring. Also known as a prospecting letter or an inquiry letter, a letter of interest simply showcases an individual's interest in working for an organization, irrespective of whether the company is offering jobs in the position or not. With a letter of interest, the company becomes aware of the availability of a prospective employee, and will consider this employee when an opening comes up. To be able to be remembered much after you have written the letter, it is important to know how to write an appropriate letter of interest. This will be very valuable in helping you eventually get your dream job. So here are some tips and an example that help explain to you the art of writing a letter of interest for employment.

How to Write a Letter of Interest

There are some important tips you should keep in mind when you consider writing a letter of interest for a job. These tips have been mentioned here.
  • Ensure that you thoroughly research the organization you wish to work for (history, products/services offered, and positions), and showcase this research in your letter. It is important so that the organization considers you as a serious candidate for any potential position.
  • Ideally, find out the name of the recruitment manager instead of writing 'To whomsoever it may concern'. It is believed that addressing a letter in this manner is plain rude.
  • In the first paragraph state why you would like to work with the organization, and where you heard about it. This may be a reference to an advertisement posted in a newspaper or a piece of writing you read about the organization on the web or in the paper. If you have heard about potential employment opportunities in the organization through an employee there, be sure to cite the reference in the letter.
  • While a resume will give detailed information about your educational qualifications and experience, in the next paragraph of the letter of interest, give a brief overview of why you should be considered for the job. Focus on your personal skills and strengths, as well as those you have derived from previous work experiences. Remember, your letter of interest should not be a replica of your resume, but very distinct in that it acts like a foreword to a book.
  • Finally, in the last paragraph mention how and when you will follow up. Also thank the person in question for the time spent considering your application. Mention your contact details (telephone and e-mail address) too.
  • This is the appropriate letter of interest format that should be followed. Do not make your letter too long, and use the standard paper size to print it. Ensure that the letter is signed by you.
  • Make sure you proofread the letter before sending it and correct any errors there may be. Not doing so looks extremely unprofessional.
You will be better equipped with regard to how to write a letter of interest after looking at this example of a letter of interest for employment.

Letter of Interest for Employment: Example

If you wish to look at a specific template to write a letter of interest, you may take a look at this Buzzle article on letter of interest template. You may then proceed on to taking a look at this example to give you a fair idea about how a letter of interest is written.