What is a letter of interest?
A letter of interest is a short letter you send to a company you'd like to work for when there's no matching job posted. It introduces you, shows what you could bring to a specific team, and asks to be considered now or when a role opens. It's sometimes called a prospecting letter or an inquiry letter.
Letter of interest vs cover letter
| Letter of interest | Cover letter | |
|---|---|---|
| When | No matching job posted | Applying to a specific posting |
| Focus | The kind of role you want and why this company | How you meet that job's requirements |
| Ask | A conversation, or to be considered for future roles | An interview for that job |
| Sent to | A team lead or recruiter, usually by email | Through the application process |
If you find a posting that fits, use a cover letter instead. Our cover letter generator tailors one to the job description.
When to send a letter of interest
- You want to work at a specific company, but nothing matching your skills is posted.
- The company hires mostly through referrals or doesn't post many roles publicly.
- You met someone from the company at an event and want to follow up.
- You're moving to a new city and want to get on employers' radar before you arrive.
How to write a letter of interest
- Open with who you are and why you're writing. Your role, your level of experience, and the team or kind of work you're asking about.
- Give one or two concrete results. Pick the ones that matter most to the team you want to join, with numbers if you have them.
- Say why this company. One specific, true reason: a product you use, a project you followed, the customers it serves.
- Make a small ask. A short conversation or to be considered for future openings. Thank them and attach your resume.
Keep it to 200 to 300 words. It should be easy to read in under a minute.
Letter of interest examples
An experienced professional writing to a named team lead:
Dear Ms. Patel, I'm a UX designer with four years of experience building patient-facing apps, and I'm writing to ask whether Acme Health has room for a designer on its patient experience team, now or in the coming months. At CareLink, a telehealth startup, I redesigned our appointment booking flow and cut the number of patients who abandoned it by about a third. I also ran monthly usability sessions with patients over 65, which changed how we write every error message in the app. I've used Acme's app with my own family, and I like how plainly it explains test results. That is the kind of work I want to do more of. I'd welcome a short conversation about your team's plans, and I'd be glad to be considered for future design roles. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Jordan Lee
A graduating student asking about entry-level roles:
Dear Hiring Manager, I'm finishing my degree in accounting at Ohio State this spring, and I'm writing to ask about entry-level roles on Brightline Partners' audit team. Last summer I interned in the audit group at a regional firm, where I tested accounts receivable for three nonprofit clients and helped prepare workpapers for the year-end review. I'm comfortable with Excel and I passed the first section of the CPA exam in March. Brightline's focus on nonprofit and education clients is exactly the work I enjoyed most during my internship. If you expect to hire new associates this year, I'd be grateful to be considered. My resume is attached, and I'd be happy to talk at any time. Sincerely, Sam Rivera
Letter of interest template
Fill in the brackets, then cut anything that isn't specific to you and this company.
Dear [Name or Hiring Manager], I'm a [your role] with [experience] in [field], and I'm writing to ask whether [Company] has opportunities in [team or kind of role], now or in the future. At [current or recent employer], I [one concrete result with a number if you have one]. I also [second skill or result that fits the team you want]. I'm interested in [Company] because [one specific, true reason: a product, a project, its customers or its approach]. I'd welcome a short conversation about your team, and I'd be glad to be considered for future openings. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Phone] | [Email] | [LinkedIn]
Frequently asked questions
What is a letter of interest?
A letter of interest, also called a prospecting or inquiry letter, is a short letter you send to a company you would like to work for when it has no matching job posted. It introduces you, explains what you could bring, and asks to be considered for current or future openings.
What is the difference between a letter of interest and a cover letter?
A cover letter answers a specific job posting and is written around that job’s requirements. A letter of interest is sent without a posting, so it focuses on the kind of role you want and why you want that company in particular.
How long should a letter of interest be?
Keep it to one page: three or four short paragraphs, roughly 200 to 300 words. The goal is to start a conversation, not to repeat your resume.
Who should I send a letter of interest to?
Send it to the person who leads the team you want to join, or to a recruiter at the company. A named person is more likely to read it than a general careers inbox.
Should I attach my resume?
Yes. Attach your resume as a PDF and mention it in the last paragraph, so the reader can see your full background if the letter catches their interest.
More help: letter of interest samples, thank you letter generator, motivation letter generator.