What is a Letter of Interest?

A letter of interest is something that one prepares to send a company in the hope that they consider him / her for the job that they've looked up. It is also known as a 'prospecting letter', or what is commonly referred to as a 'cover letter', and is interchanged often with other terms, where a letter of interest is one that solely caters to what is known as the letter that is sent when one is interested in a position that is up for grabs.

A letter of interest is sent where one includes details like credentials, background information and how they found out that there was an opening in the company, as part of the email / letter. Always make sure to end these letters with your contact information so that the company can reach you should they be willing to give you a shot at the designation spot.

Pointers for Writing a Letter of Interest

When writing a letter of interest it is important to keep in mind that certain outlines have to be taken into consideration or a company will end up tossing you into the pile of 'stand by' people instead of being impressed and truly keen on giving you a chance. To help boost your level of making it to the interview round, you need to prove to them that you aren't a waste of their time.

1. When writing a cover letter, never opt for a handwritten letter since it carries off a very unprofessional and careless demeanor about you. It has to be type-written and either printed and mailed to the company, or better yet - emailed.
2. Make sure you know the workings of the company through their website or brochure. If you happen to attend one of their presentations, take points down about what the company is all about and how they aim towards a particular goal when it comes to growth and expansion. Mention these key points to give them a clear understanding that this individual is genuinely interested in the company and not just doing this for the job.
3. Mention details like your educational qualifications, past work experience and what you can offer the company in terms of being invaluable to them. Be extremely brief, mentioning these details in direct and to the point sentences without getting carried away.
4. Writing a letter of interest is a tricky thing to execute since you need to also bear in mind that time is of the essence and they need a good reason to give you a few minutes of it when reading your letter. You have to come off as confident (but not overly), smart and articulate in your style of writing.
5. Find out who is in charge of the recruitment process and email him / her accordingly through the website's details or a phone directory.
6. Always ensure that a letter of interest is followed up after a week with a follow-up letter that needs to be sent right after, to remind them about the last time you were in touch and if there is any progress in deciding about if he / she fits the bill.

Letter of Interest Template

You'll see here a sample letter of interest that will help you piece together only what is necessary and needed when stating your reasons for applying for the post, and your experience in both education and work. Also remember that you need to attach a copy of your resume along with the letter, or send it through an attachment with the email.

Sample Letter

200 Arlington Street New York City, NY 54634 (Your address) March 2nd, 2011 (Current day's date) Silverbird Hiring Agents Ltd. XX (company name) Magazine Albert Building 45 Downing Street, Manhattan 454 (Company address) Dear Madam / Sir / To whom this may concern, (If you know their name, start it off with either Madam / Sir followed by their name; if not sure who is going to read it, go with the latter) I happened to stumble upon your official website (if there is another source mention it if not a website) and noticed that you were hiring for the post of stylist (mention the position the company is hiring for, that you seek placement in) and immediately took the opportunity to get in touch with you. I have attached here in this letter, a copy of my resume which will progressively explain my credentials and experience in fashion and journalism. As you will notice, I have had quite a bit of exposure in the position that I am applying for, and I know that if given an inkling of a chance, I can prove myself quite worthy. It would be an honor to work for a publication that I have looked up to, and drawn inspiration from. Nothing would please me more than to work for such an honorable post in the fashion magazine industry P:S: My contact details are mentioned in my resume. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Brian Cook (Your name) (Your signature if you send it by post)

A letter of interest needs a lot of thought put into it without haphazardly placing in your details without so much as a second read. Always proofread letters before sending them out, to cancel the chance of making them spot a mistake or error that will drastically alter your prospect of a getting a callback.