What Is a Letter of Intent?

A letter of intent is an application material that explains why you are the right fit for a job. In some cases, an employer may ask for it in addition to your resume. If you want to apply to a company that has no active job listings, you could also send a letter of intent to express your interest in working there. This document helps recruiters and hiring managers get a quick overview of your qualifications and what value you can add to their company. By crafting a well-written letter, you can prove that you are a high-quality, detail-oriented candidate.

The main difference between a letter of intent and a cover letter is when you send them. You only send a cover letter when applying directly to a job posting. In your cover letter, you can share professional experiences, skills, and background information that is directly related to the role you’re applying to. You may occasionally see employers request a letter of intent in their job postings, however, it’s more common to send one when you want to work for a company but they have no active job postings.

Since a letter of intent is typically a more generalized document, you can focus on your overall talents and professional experience. Cover letters tend to be much more specific since you are tailoring them to a particular job. The main thing to remember with all application materials is that you follow the employer’s directions very carefully. They may provide some kind of outline for you to use when writing your cover letter or letter of intent.

Follow these steps to write a quality letter of intent:

1. Research the company

Look at the company’s website and social media accounts to get a good understanding of its culture, value, and goals. When taking the cold call approach, this is especially important since you don’t have a job listing to work off of. Use this information to think of ways you would be a good fit for the company.

2. Follow the right formatting

When sending in a physical letter, use the business letter format. This means that you have your contact information, the date, and the employer’s contact information all at the top left corner. If you’re sending an email, you can simply include your contact information at the bottom, under your signature. Your letter of intent should be structured as followed:

1. Salutation: A professional greeting that addresses the hiring manager.
2. Introduction: Start your first body paragraph by introducing yourself and explaining why you are writing. When applying to a particular role, make sure to mention this. If you are using your letter to inquire about possible employment, say you are interested in working for the business.
3. Skills: In your second body paragraph, highlight your skills that are relevant to the role or that you think the employer would find valuable. Share an example or two that shows how you’ve used these skills in the past. Do a little research to find out the needs of the company and how you might fit them.
4. Call to action: In your final body paragraph, include a sentence or two about looking forward to speaking with them. You could even include a line that says something like, ‘If you have any questions, please reach out to me directly.’
5. Closing: At the end of your letter or email, use a professional sign-off, such as ‘Sincerely’ and then your name.

3. Include novel information

Rather than reiterating your resume, discuss your qualifications and skills in a new and interesting way. Elaborate on meaningful professional experiences you had. You want to point out your strengths and most prevalent credentials.

4. Proofread the letter

Once you write your letter, read it over a few times for any grammatical errors. Likewise, make sure all the content flows well and makes sense for the company you’re interested in. Keep in mind, your letter of intent should be rather brief, so keep it under a page long. Have another person read through it to see if there are any errors.

Use this example letter of intent to help you write your own. In this case, we are sharing an example of a cold call letter of intent, meaning that there is no active job listening:

Amy Wilson
123 Darcy Road
Madison, WI 53715
555-585-4589
amy.wilson@email.com

January 3, 2020

Steven Wilcox
Human Resource Specialist
ABC Company
Waukesha, WI 53188

Dear Mr. Wilcox,

I am writing to express my interest in working for ABC Company. Although you do not currently have an active job posting, I would like to forward my resume in case the opportunity were to arise. I have 10 years of professional marketing experience, and I know I would be a great fit for your firm. Upon researching your company’s values, goals, and missions, it’s clear that my marketing and advertising background would be an asset to your team.

I have worked with larger companies, such as Nike, Target, and Walmart to create one-of-a-kind campaigns for their brands. In fact, I was awarded a Gold Addy award for my work on my current company’s previous back-to-school campaign. During my time working for these household names, I learned how to make a big impact on a large audience. With this experience, I am confident that I could take your top clients to the next level.

If you are looking for your team’s next innovator, please reach out to me. I look forward to discussing potential opportunities with your firm.

Best,

Amy Wilson