Sometimes, getting your foot in the door isn’t as simple as applying for a vacancy. That’s where an expression of interest letter comes in handy. Instead of ending up under a pile of candidates, you could be at the top of a hiring manager’s inbox. Moreover, a letter of interest doesn’t have to be as complex and detailed as a cover letter. All you’re doing is pitching yourself with a few well-chosen words. Is that what you’re after? Then this guide will help make writing an expression of interest letter a breeze.
What is an expression of interest letter?
An expression of interest letter (EOI for short) is a document sent to potential employers to promote your skills and experience. You’re basically saying, ‘Hey, look at me, I’m here, and I’d like to work for you!’. A letter of interest for a job can be sent on your own initiative, as long as you have the contact details of the HR department.
The benefit of an EOI is that recruiters have the freedom to match you with a range of jobs. It’s much easier than having to pick you out of the bunch for a specific vacancy. Now that’s a win-win! And it doesn’t stop there. It also allows you to make new business connections. The more you have, the higher the chance of getting approached for a role. Think of it as throwing out multiple fishing lines, with the expression of interest letter as bait; you’re bound to catch one sooner or later.
What to include in an expression of interest letter
Letters of interest generally include the same elements and structure as a cover letter or motivation letter. But since you’re not applying for a specific position, you have a bit more freedom in choosing what to write. You can keep it general or target it towards the specific role you’re after.
If you decide to go broad, avoid telling your whole life story; stick to career-related experience that adds value. If you decide to target it to a specific role, don’t box yourself in. Recruiters may be quick to put you on the back burner if your desired role isn’t available. So what should you include in your expression of interest letter?
1. Introduce yourself
This may seem like common sense, but a solid introduction will go a long way in making your letter of interest seem credible. In this section, you’ll want to briefly introduce yourself. You may think this is a dull way to start a letter, but remember, your letter is literally coming out of nowhere. Recruiters won’t know if your letter is from a business partner, a client, or their grandma, unless you tell them who you are and what you do. These basic details will give recruiters a better sense of who you are.
2. Give your reason for writing
This part of your expression of interest letter should jump out at the reader. You’ll want to grab their attention and get them eager to read on. There are a few ways you can go about this.
- Tell them how you heard or found out about them
- Reflect on their mission or vision and state how it matches your interests
- tate your career goal and how they can help you achieve it
- Share how your skills and experience would benefit them
- Give a compliment about their recent achievements, and how you want to contribute to their progress
3. Summarise your experience
At this point in your EOI, you’ve covered the formalities and should jump straight into your employment background and skills. You’ll want to summarise some of the key milestones in your career. Just ensure that they’re relevant to what the company has to offer. You can mention degrees, certifications, rewards, or any other relevant accomplishments that you feel give you an edge. You can also include recent skills you’ve developed. Specifically mention those you want to continue developing if you end up working for the company.
4. Find common ground
Now it’s really time to shine. In this section of your letter of interest, you’ll want to explain why you feel the company is the right fit for you, and vice versa. If this proves difficult for you, here are some examples that may get your gears turning:
- ‘The focus on personal development in your company is something I believe will help me achieve my goals in becoming a leader.’
- ‘I believe my coding experience for modern applications plays right into your company’s mission to be at the front line of tech development.’
- ‘My passion for bringing people together matches your company’s goal to create communities for travellers around the world.’
If you haven’t already, take a deep dive into the company by browsing its website and social media pages. Try to use some of the nuggets of information you find as inspiration for this part of your expression of interest letter. Remember, the company also has to put in some of the work to get you on board. Suppose they offer a lousy benefit package, then it’s obviously not going to attract you to work for them.
5. End on a positive note
Finally, you’ll want to express your excitement about hearing back and receiving potential opportunities. Make sure they know how to contact you either by referring to your contact details, or stating your number or email address. Also, let them know you’d be happy to provide them with any additional information. You should avoid sounding pushy or desperate at the end of your letter of interest, as this may again trigger recruiters to put you on the back burner. By ending your letter on a positive note, there’s a chance they’ll keep your letter on file.
Expression of interest letter sample
Now that you know the steps to writing a letter of interest, it’s now time to put it all together. Note that this is just an example, and that you’ll need to craft your own letter based on your specific situation.
| [Date] | |
| To:
[Contact Person] [Address of Company] |
|
| Subject: Expression of interest letter | |
| Dear [Hiring Manager], | |
| My name is [Full Name], and I’m currently in my final year as a programming student at [University]. I’m now looking to take my first step in the field of Computer Science. I was totally blown away by your company’s ad brought out on social media last week. It inspired me to apply with your company because of how relevant the topic was to my interests and goals. | |
| Over the past four years, I’ve worked on multiple projects related to the design of integrated workflow management tools. For my final project, I was able to create a tool that helps users carry out multiple tasks at once. The tool was used as a prototype in a small tech business, and was successfully launched after three months of testing. The company has seen a 20% increase in workflow speed, and were awarded with a prize for our design. I’ve developed various skills such as data structure and algorithms, database and SQL, and various object-oriented programming languages. | |
| I believe my knowledge about real-world workflow management tools plays right into your company’s mission to ‘make work easier’. I have a passion for making life easier for computer users, and this would be my chance to show what I’m capable of. Moreover, I saw that your company is highly focused on people training, and I’m sure this would help me develop myself as a leader in the future. With this in mind, I believe that I would be a great fit for one of your teams, and hope to make a world of difference. | |
| I would love to hear back about any job opening at your company. Please don’t hesitate to contact me via telephone [Phone Number] or [Email] if you need any additional information about my background or skills. Thank you for your time and consideration, and wish you all the best. | |
| Kind regards,
[Full Name] [Signature] | |
Expression of interest letter: in short
Hopefully, this guide has inspired you to start writing your own expression of interest letter. They’re an excellent way to increase your job opportunities and build your network. Instead of waiting around for the perfect vacancy, use your valuable time to send out a few letters of interest. Many people have found success with this method, so it’s certainly worth a shot. Now, to break down what you should include in your EOI:
- Introduce yourself: State your name, age, and where you’re from.
- Give your reason for writing: Grab the reader’s attention by stating why you’re interested in working for the company.
- Summarise your experience: Break down your experience, milestones, or accomplishments in your career that are relevant to the company.
- Find common ground: Explain why you feel the company is the right fit for you, and vice versa.
- End on a positive note: Express your excitement about hearing back and receiving potential opportunities.
Have you also considered sending your CV together with your letter of interest? Use our free CV maker to craft a presentable and professional CV. In some cases, your future employer may request a recommendation letter if they need concrete evidence of your work history. Click through to learn how to write one, and take your application to the next level.
FAQs about
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How do you write a letter of interest for an internal job?
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How long is an expression of interest letter?
The fact that you’re already familiar with the company culture, the people you work with, the internal structure, and priorities is a huge advantage. To write an expression of interest letter for a job internally, you’ll want to touch on elements of the job that you know for a fact are important for success. Do this by getting in touch with someone in that role to hear it straight from the horse's mouth.
Your letter of interest shouldn’t use up any more than one A4 page (Arial, 12-point font). This includes your contact information, headers, greetings, and salutations. You’ll also want to split your letter into 3 or 4 paragraphs, depending on the topics you’d like to cover. If your cover takes more than 5 minutes to read at a normal pace, it’s probably too long, and you’ll risk losing the reader’s attention.