Cover letter examples · For job seekers
Letter of Intent for a Job: Template and Examples
How to write a letter of intent or letter of interest for a job: format, a fill-in template, and samples for a company you admire and a teaching post.
The short answer
A good letter of intent is three or four short paragraphs: the role and one specific reason you want it, one or two pieces of work that match the advert, how you work, and a short close. Below are 3 full example letters (fill-in letter of intent template, letter of interest to a company you admire and letter of interest for teaching) and the structure behind them.
- Opening: why you are writing: Say plainly that you are writing to express your interest in joining the organisation, name the type of role or team, and give the reason you chose them.
- What you offer: One or two paragraphs on your most relevant experience and results, framed around problems the organisation is likely to have.
- What you are asking for: Be specific about the next step.
A letter of intent for a job, often called a letter of interest, tells an employer you would like to work for them even though they may not have advertised a suitable vacancy. Where a cover letter answers a specific job advert, a letter of intent introduces you, explains what kind of role you are after and asks to be considered when something opens up, or for a short conversation now. The phrase is also used in business deals, property and university admissions; this page covers the job-application meaning. Below is how to draft and format one, a fill-in template, and sample letters you can adapt, including a letter of interest for teaching.
Example Letter of Intents
Illustrative examples: the people, employers and projects are invented. Replace everything in brackets, and every detail, with your own.
Fill-in letter of intent template
[Your full name]
[Phone number] · [Email] · [LinkedIn or portfolio link]
[Date]
[Recipient’s name]
[Job title]
[Organisation]
Dear [Mr/Ms/Dr Surname],
I am writing to express my interest in joining [organisation] in a [type of role] role within your [team or department]. I have followed [something specific: a product, a project, the organisation’s growth] and would like to contribute to that work.
Over the past [number] years at [employer], I have [your most relevant achievement and what it changed]. I have also [a second achievement, skill or qualification]. I believe this experience would be useful as [organisation] [a challenge or goal you know about].
I understand you may not have an opening that matches my background at the moment. I would be grateful to be considered for future [type of role] positions, or for the chance to speak with you briefly about where my skills might fit.
My resume is attached. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
[Your full name]
Letter of interest to a company you admire
Dear Ms Okafor,
I am writing to express my interest in a marketing role at [Company]. I have used your budgeting app for three years, and the way your team explains money in plain language in its newsletters is the kind of marketing I most want to do.
I currently work as a content marketer at [Employer], a small accounting software company. I run our email programme and wrote the onboarding series new customers receive in their first month; after we rewrote it around the questions customers actually asked support, fewer of them contacted us in their first weeks. I also manage our blog calendar and work closely with the product team on launch announcements.
I noticed from your recent posts that you are launching in [new market]. I would welcome the chance to help with that work, whether through a current opening or a future one. Would you be open to a short call in the next few weeks?
My resume and three writing samples are attached. Thank you for considering my interest.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
Letter of interest for teaching
Dear [Principal’s name],
I am writing to express my interest in a secondary science teaching position at [School] for the coming school year. Your school’s outdoor learning programme and its partnership with the local nature reserve are why I am writing to you in particular.
I hold [teaching qualification or licence, with the state or country] and have taught biology and general science for three years at [Current school]. I have built practical, inquiry-based units in which students design their own experiments, and I run our school’s environmental club, which surveys wildlife on the school grounds each term and presents its findings to younger classes.
I understand you may not have a vacancy at present. I would be grateful to be considered for any science post that arises, and I would be glad to visit, observe a lesson or teach a sample lesson at your convenience.
My resume and references are attached. Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
How to structure it
- 1
Header and greeting
Use the same layout as a business letter: your contact details, the date, then the recipient. A letter of intent works far better addressed to a named person, such as the head of the team you want to join or the recruiter for that area, than to a generic inbox.
- 2
Opening: why you are writing
Say plainly that you are writing to express your interest in joining the organisation, name the type of role or team, and give the reason you chose them. Because there is no advert to point to, this first paragraph has to earn the reader’s attention on its own.
- 3
What you offer
One or two paragraphs on your most relevant experience and results, framed around problems the organisation is likely to have. Research helps here: their recent news, products, growth into a new market, or the way they describe their own work.
- 4
What you are asking for
Be specific about the next step. Ask to be kept in mind for a named type of role, to be put in touch with the right person, or for a 20-minute conversation. A clear request is the difference between a letter of intent and a general introduction that is easy to file away.
- 5
Close
Thank the reader, mention that your resume or CV is attached, and say how you can be reached. If you plan to follow up, say when, then do it.
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Phrases to adapt
- I am writing to express my interest in joining [organisation] as part of your [team].
- I have followed [organisation]’s work on [specific project] and would like to contribute to it.
- In my current role, I [achievement], which [result].
- I understand there may not be a suitable opening at present.
- I would be grateful to be considered for future [type of role] positions.
- Would you be open to a short conversation in the coming weeks?
- I will follow up in [timeframe] in case a conversation would be useful.
Mistakes to avoid
- Writing to a generic inbox when a named team lead or recruiter can be found.
- Being vague about what you want, such as “any role you have”.
- Making the letter about what you hope to gain rather than what you would bring.
- Sending it without research, so nothing in it shows why you chose this organisation.
- Writing more than a page; the reader did not ask for the letter, so respect their time.
- Never following up, or following up too often.
Common questions
What is the difference between a letter of intent and a cover letter?
A cover letter responds to a specific advertised job. A letter of intent, or letter of interest, is usually sent when there is no matching vacancy, to introduce yourself and ask to be considered for the kind of role you want. Some employers and schools use the terms loosely, so if an advert asks for a “letter of intent”, treat it as a cover letter for that job.
Is a letter of interest the same as a letter of intent?
In job searching the two terms are used almost interchangeably. Some people use “letter of intent” when they are applying for a specific post and “letter of interest” for a speculative approach, but there is no fixed rule. The structure is the same.
How do I format a letter of intent?
As a one-page business letter: your contact details, the date, the recipient’s name and organisation, a greeting, three or four short paragraphs (why you are writing, what you offer, what you are asking for, and a close), then a sign-off and your name.
How long should a letter of intent be?
One page, usually three or four paragraphs. Because the reader did not ask for it, a short, specific letter has a better chance of being read than a long one.
Who should I send a letter of intent to?
The person who would most plausibly hire you or pass it on: the head of the relevant team, a hiring manager, or a recruiter who covers that area. For schools, the principal or headteacher is usually the right person.
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