Your Guide to Writing a Letter of Intent for a Job

Updated 16 March 2023

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Submitting a letter of intent with your resume is a way of stating your desire to work at an organisation even when they have not posted a job opening. You'll typically submit a letter of intent at job fairs, over emails or at networking events. In this article, we discuss how to write a letter of intent for a job offer by giving examples, tips and a template.

What Is A Letter Of Intent For A Job?

A letter of intent is an expression of interest to an employer for being considered for any opening they may offer. Although somewhat similar to a cover letter since you'll state your skills and qualifications, a letter of intent is more general. Where your cover letter may state, 'I'm interested in a procurement manager position at your reputed company,' a letter of intent could generalise it as, 'I'm interested in a senior manager role at your reputed company.'

When To Use A Letter Of Intent For A Job Application

A letter of intent for a job is most suitable when you want the employer to find a position for you. Companies sometimes find it difficult to hire a suitable candidate for a specific vacancy. For such openings, a letter of intent gives hiring managers and employers details about your qualifications and skills to be considered for a suitable position.

When companies have multiple job openings, letters of intent help to shortlist candidates who the organisation may call for interviews to fill those positions. Depending upon the qualifications, experience and skills you state in the letter of intent, hiring managers may find a job for you that they hadn't otherwise planned to create.

Where established firms prefer a formal cover letter, startups and non-profit organisations often favour a letter of intent. If a company asks you to submit a letter of intent, it could be that the company is new and is looking for suitable candidates for different job openings.

What To Include In A Letter Of Intent

Your letter of intent should be brief and well written, underscoring your qualifications, experience and skills. A professional letter of intent should have:

Date
Recipient's address
Your address
Subject
Salutation
Introduction
Skills
Call to action
Closing

Date

Date your letter at the top right-end or left-end margin.

Your address

Write your address with phone number and email details so that the company can contact you easily.

Recipient's address

At the left-end margin, write the person or company's name and address to whom you are writing the letter.

Subject

The subject, in one short sentence, should summarize the purpose of writing the letter of intent for available job openings, like 'Letter of Intent for Business Management Consultant Openings'.

Salutation

A letter of intent for a job follows the business letter style of writing and should open with a formal salutation such as 'Dear Madam', 'Dear Sir', or 'Dear Hiring Manager'. The generalised 'To Whom it May Concern', is not an appropriate salutation. If possible, find out the name of the hiring manager so you can personalise the letter. Doing so can show your commitment to obtaining a position with the company. You can typically find this information on the company web page or a professional networking site.

Introduction

The opening to a letter of intent is critical for getting the attention of a hiring manager. Start with a brief introduction of yourself, and express your interest in working for the company. You could also specify the type of job you are looking for.

Skills

When exploring job opportunities, you need to carefully study what the company you intend to join is looking for. The research will help you to align the set of skills you have with that of the job opening the company is seeking to fill.

After discussing the requirements of the company, a brief description of your qualifications and expertise will make it easier for the hiring manager to know what you have to offer. State the skills that you consider most suitable for the advertised position. For instance, if you're applying for a secretarial position, mention your words-per-minute typing speed. If your credentials match with what the company needs, the chances of receiving a job offer will likely increase.

Call to action

To show that you are a serious candidate, you can write that you would be looking forward to the company's response. For instance, you can write, 'I hope to hear from you about this position within the next week.'

Closing

You can conclude your letter with the respectful closing 'Sincerely' or 'Yours Sincerely'. End the letter of intent by adding your printed name after leaving some space to add your signature.

Letter Of Intent Format

The format of the letter of intent needs to have a professional look, so write it in a business letter style.

[Date]

[Month/date/year]

[Your name]
[Your address with Pin code]
[Phone number]
[Email]

[Date]

[Name or designation of the recipient]
[Company's name]
[Company's address with Pin code]

[Subject line: One-line reason for writing the letter]

[Salutation: Dear]

[Body: Short introduction, define your skills]

[Closing body: Follow up]

[Closing salutation: Sincerely]

[Your handwritten signature]

[Your name]

Sample Letter Of Intent For A Job Position

Here is a sample letter of intent that you can refer to:

8 March, 2020

Priyanka Khanna,
F 13, Block 20, Pamposh Enclave,
Greater Kailash II,
New Delhi 110 048

Phone Mobile: 98110 38967

Email: PriyankaK35@gmail.com

The Human Resource Manager

British Council Division,
British High Commission,
17 Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi - 110 001

Subject: Letter of Intent for Library Aide at British Council Library at Connaught Place

Dear Human Resource Manager,

I am writing in response to your advertisement on Naukri.Com with a letter of intent for the position of a library aide that you seek for the British Council Library in Connaught Place. I am a recent college graduate with three years of working experience in a library.

It was because of my good communication skills that I was selected as a part-time library assistant at Hindu College, where I have recently graduated. My job involved greeting people over calls and in-person, responding to queries, helping readers and researchers locate subject relevant books and keeping the library properly stacked, ordered and clean. In the process, I have gained three years of experience in working with library management software.

Given my interest and experience, I will be an ideal fit for this position at your library. I like the way your library is organised and the work environment is very professional. My communication skills will be of great benefit for this position at your institution.

I will be looking forward to a response from you.

Yours sincerely,
Priyanka Khanna (signature)
Priyanka Khanna (Printed)

Tips For Letter Of Intent For A Job

Consider these tips when you're creating a letter of intent for a job:

Add a subject line. The subject line should be brief and concise You'll need to write exactly what your intent is, and save the details for the body paragraph.
Do your homework. You'll need to do thorough research about the target company. This will tell you how the company operates, their work ethics, mission, environment and what they expect from their employees.
Be persuasive in your writing. Only write the points that will highlight your strongest areas. You can stick to writing one or two of your better skills that suit the position applied for rather than reviewing your whole work history.
Mention your strong points. Highlighting your strengths will let the reader skim your document and learn the most important information. Remember, you are advertising yourself, and you need to make your skills appealing to your employer.
Write in bullet points: Use bullet points to clearly state your expertise so that the letter is easier to read.
Use multiple paragraphs: You can make different, but small, paragraphs in the letter body. Avoid writing long paragraphs that may lose the reader's attention.
Proofread: Proofread your letter and be careful about correcting typos and grammatical errors. You may also ask a colleague to review your letter.
Recheck your details: Recheck your address, name, date and the subject line. Make sure everything is correct and relevant.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.