A letter of intent works as a business card and must present clearly and objectively what the candidate wants. The main purpose of writing is to show your interest in a job position at an organization and how your skills are relevant to the work that the organization requires. Therefore, it is evident that the letter of intent needs to be well prepared so that the initial image presented is positive and the type of job position being requested can be communicated clearly.
In simple words,
A letter of intent demonstrates one’s suitability for a job/department and summarizes why one should be considered for any job position in that department or organization.
A letter of intent, in rare cases, can also be requested by the employer as a requirement in addition to your resume.
You might have a specific role in mind; however, the letter of intent is also used to express interest in whatever opportunities the company has available for a specific skill set. A letter of intent is a written document that a candidate sends to a company to let them know that he or she intends to work for them.
In addition, it gives a candidate’s application personal touches in a manner such that he or she can enlist a number of their skills that could be showcased in personalized detail and cover certain subjective factors like objectives, vision, and mission to define their skillsets more clearly as well as allow them to show interest in a job role in a more elaborate way.
A letter of intent also helps in getting noticed by the hiring manager. Some companies may request one from you. Ideally, you can anticipate being asked, but you must follow specific instructions to come out perfect.
Free Letter of Intent Templates
Explore a comprehensive collection of professionally crafted Letter of Intent (LOI) templates below for various job roles. These meticulously designed templates cater to diverse industries and positions, ensuring you have a solid foundation to create a compelling LOI. Whether you are applying for executive positions, technical roles, or creative positions, our templates provide the framework you need to showcase your qualifications, skills, and enthusiasm effectively. Crafted in a formal tone, these templates adhere to industry standards and best practices, enabling you to make a strong impression on potential employers.
Letter of Intent Templates (By Types)
Letter of Intent Vs Cover Letter
During the selection process, some companies may require that the candidate demonstrate why he wants the job. For that, a letter of intent can be requested, which is one of the most critical steps of a selection process as depending on this factor, the recruiters decide whether or not to hire a candidate. Through it, the recruiter will analyze the candidate’s affinities with the position, how he can contribute to the company if he is hired, and which professional and cognitive skills stand out in his personality.
A specific job position/role is mentioned in a cover letter, while in a letter of intent, you show interest in a specific area or department.
For example, a content writer’s cover letter will proceed as “I am highly interested in the content writer position at your company.” In contrast, a letter of intent will proceed as “I am highly interested in an IT developer role at your company.”
The cover letter is usually sent along with the resume and the reason for that is to attain the recruiter’s interest in your detailed resume. In contrast, the letter of intent is written when you is trying to pitch a job proposal to a hiring manager, generally.
Know When to Use a Letter of Intent
A letter of intent can have several different uses in different contexts; this includes sending the letter to show interest in working for a company or as a tool to pitch a job proposal. The letter of intent is also used right after a prospective employer requests it, or if there’s a job opening in a company that may or may not be directly related to your area but the employer can benefit from recruiting you. It could typically be utilized to apply for job vacancies observed at job fairs or a job advertisement pertinent to your field of interest anywhere, generally.
Setting Approaches to Write a Letter of Intent
A good and motivating letter of intent presents you as a skilled individual, talks about what moves one way of being, aspirations, involvement, and what brings you closer to a company. It is not a cold statement of your abilities but why you want to join an organization. Therefore, you should always customize a letter of intent according to the job requirements.
The ultimate goal is to introduce yourself, show your personality, and give an impeccable image to get the company to want to meet you and perceive the positive impact you would bring to them.
More important than making clear your intention with the particular position is to show recruiters that you know and identify the company. For vacancies that require a letter of intent, it is not just to be excited about the possibility of earning a good salary: it is necessary to demonstrate an affinity with the required requirements.
Therefore, remember to state in the letter the reasons that led you to become interested in the job. If so, you can say that he/she identifies the vacancy and the company’s role due to the possibility of growth with other employees or the company’s openness to share in the profits, teamwork.
Being excited about the possibility of contributing to the company is a crucial resource for those who want to win good opportunities in the job market and still show commitment.
Regardless of the vacancy offered, it is very likely that the company applying for the vacancy values professionals with ambition, not accommodating, and always looking for improvements. Therefore, show the recruiter that you aim to do the best in the area that you will be responsible.
Format of Letter of Intent For a Job
The format of a letter of intent must be rather formal and contain all the necessary elements of a formal document, the date of writing, the subject, and the recipient’s address. The format should also be professional, choosing a classic font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times. The most used font size is 12. Thus, your letter may contain sufficient elements: that it is not too concise, nor too large. Besides, one page is sufficient for the header and content. Following are elements that must be present in a letter of intent:
Greeting
Since it is the first contact, the greeting must be formal. Likewise, it is necessary to take into account the gender of the recipient.
For example:
- Dear Mr. James
- Dear Mrs. Mary
If you do not know the name, you have to put Dear Mr./Mrs., Although it would be appropriate for you to inform yourself. Find out who your recruiter is by contacting the company.
Body paragraph 1
The opening lines of the letter must include a warm introduction and the purpose of writing a letter. Focus on the background and the assets you can contribute to the company in the second paragraph. Highlight two or three key points from your education or work experience that make you an optimal candidate for the position.
Body paragraph 2
In the second body paragraph of the letter, describe why you are interested in this particular company and why and how you want to work for them. Research the company as necessary to obtain this information. It is essential to capture interest from the beginning.
Call-to-action
This section references the reader to resume and thank them in advance for their time and consideration. Request the recipient to invite you for an interview so that he or she can further explore your suitability for the organization. Here you can also include your contact information such as your contact number.
Closing
The closing section of the letter of intent must be consistent with the greeting. Therefore, it must be formal, respectful, and neutral. Like any formal document, include a closing such as “Regards” or “Sincerely” and a signature, below, your name and surname, ideally, on the left side of the letter.
Letter of Intent Examples
Letter of intent for content writer position
Dear Mr. ABC
I contact you through this document to present my interest in the position of a content writer, disclosed through your website. Along with this letter, I have attached my resume for consideration.
I graduated in journalism from XYZ University. From the beginning of the course, I could see that it would be an excellent opportunity to develop my content writing skills.
Regarding my professional experiences performed in the last 2 years (time in the area), I can say that I have accumulated many learnings, both as a copywriter and for the work I performed as a content writer. That said, I believe it is possible to affirm that I have a consistent history of good experiences.
Regarding acquired skills, I am sure that I can contribute to the company’s growth since I dominate the areas of web content writing, contributing to taking the company to even higher levels than those already presented.
Being part of the XYZ (company name) staff would be a great pleasure for me. And I can assure you that I will write the content necessary to take the company to the top.
That said, I am on hand to chat in person to further share my enthusiasm for the content writer position.
I thank you for the opportunity.
Graciously,
ABC
Signature
Letter of intent for teaching position
Dear Mr. ABC,
I became aware of the vacancy of professor of Psychology at the State University through the institutional page. I have been a university professor for 4 years, and I put myself as a candidate for the current vacancy.
I have a master’s degree, where I presented the thesis (name) and, throughout my career, I worked in the classroom in High School, with discipline X, and in the Municipal Faculty with disciplines Y and Z.
Among my qualities are proactivity, discipline, commitment, creativity, good interpersonal skills, and good humor. I have experience with research in (cite) and internship supervision in the area and presented work at the National Congress of Psychology.
With the certainty that my profile will add to the State University, I make myself available for a personal interview. I can clarify any doubts and explain in greater detail my experiences and skills. I reiterate my great interest in composing the staff of teachers at this institution. Thank you in advance for your attention.
Graciously,
XYZ
Signature
Tips to Remember
In addition to using persuasive language, your letter of intent must follow specific guidelines. What follows are some interesting tips when writing a motivation letter that can help us make it more effective.
Use an appropriate format
Before you start writing, pay attention to format and structure. Some companies have a specified format for the letter of intent. If the company has not specified a format, you should go with the standard format specified in the above section.
Include a clear subject line
Applicants who send their letter of intent by email should ensure it stands out from the others with a clear and eye-catching subject line.
For instance:
Incorrect:
“Application for Account Manager at the XPTO Company”
Correct:
“Account Manager with more than 10 years of experience”.
If the company provides a reference, include it in the subject but avoid adding contact details.
Showcase the best you own
Do not merely reiterate the information in the resume in the letter of intent. Present qualifications and skills that aren’t so apparent on a resume. Identify the skills necessary for the position being applied for and take into account those topics that you would bring up in an interview.
Adding bullet points
Divide the letter into paragraphs, inserting a bulleted or numbered list if necessary to make the presentation of the letter of intent to be as clear as possible so that the recruiter could read it easily.
Avoid criticizing previous employers
While talking about past experiences, you should mention the relevant position and the work experience you had and avoid criticizing the past employer. It may cast a negative impression on the recruiter.
Using targeted managerial Roles
It is also essential that you indicate what position you are referring to and the reasons you can perform it correctly. One of the purposes of a letter of intent is to show why you wants to join a company, so it’s essential to be relevant and precise, therefore always mention the exact managerial titles such as “Administrative Officer” or “Sales Executive”.
Don’t mention the desired salary
The desired salary is usually discussed during or in some cases after the job interview; therefore, don’t mention it in the letter of intent that shows your interest in the company and the job position.
Include a reference
If you know someone already working in the company, it can be either your friend, relative or colleague; you can mention him as a reference. However, only mention someone as a reference if you have the prior consent of the individual.
Usage of professional language
Formal and active language usage can be a decisive factor in job selection; therefore, it is recommended to use active language about your skills such as “successful sales manager” or “expert data analyst”. However, avoid exaggerating about your skills and achievements.
Don’t write too much or too little
Balance is the key while writing a letter of intent. If you write a long letter, it will get tiring for those reading it. However, this does not mean you can write a message with just one paragraph either, so be careful when formulating very long sentences. If the letter of intent is to be emailed, make the paragraphs better distributed, making it easier for the recruiter to read.
Proofread your letter
It is essential to proofread the letter before sending it to the employer. Pay attention to possible grammatical or spelling mistakes in the text; after all, nobody wants to be disqualified from a selection process just because of the grammar. Therefore, after completing the letter of intent, ask a friend to proofread. We often miss silly mistakes due to sheer inattention, which can be more easily revised when a third person analyses.
Frequently Asked Questions
The candidate should introduce himself with enthusiasm for participating in the selection process or, at the outset, show that he is best suited for the job position by highlighting academic or training performance.
Yes, a letter of intent is a formal document and should be double spaced.
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