Letter of Intent for a Job: Template, Tips, and Examples

Most job applications start the same way: a resume, a job posting, and a cover letter.

A letter of intent for a job is different. It helps when you don’t have a perfect posting to respond to, or when your goal is to open a conversation with a hiring manager and position yourself for upcoming roles.

If you’re reaching out proactively (or you’re applying through a general portal with no specific vacancy listed), a letter of intent can be the cleanest, most professional way to say: “Here’s what I do, here’s why I’m a fit for your organization, and here’s what I’d love to discuss.”

What is a letter of intent for a job?

A letter of intent (LOI) is a formal, tailored letter that expresses your interest in working for a specific company, team, or department, even if:

• There is no job posting yet.
• The posting is vague (for example, “future opportunities” or “talent community”).
• You want to be considered for roles beyond the single opening listed.

A strong LOI does three things quickly:

1. Makes your target clear (company, team, role direction).
2. Proves value with evidence (outcomes, skills, domain strengths).
3. Asks for a next step (a call, an interview, or to be considered for upcoming roles).

Letter of intent vs cover letter vs letter of interest

These terms get mixed up online, but the intent is what matters.

Letter type	Best use case	What makes it different
Letter of intent (job)	You are reaching out proactively, or applying without a specific role	Anchors on the company and your direction, not a single job description
Cover letter	You are applying to a specific role	Ties your experience directly to the posted requirements
Letter of interest	Similar to LOI, often used interchangeably	Usually more exploratory, sometimes less role-specific
Application letter	When an employer explicitly asks for a “letter of application”	Often more formal and direct, sometimes includes selection criteria

If you’re unsure what the employer expects, it’s okay to label it “Letter of Intent” and format it like a modern cover letter.

If you want a deeper breakdown of application letter expectations, see: Application Letter: What It Is and When to Use It.

When a letter of intent is the right move

A letter of intent for a job is especially effective in these situations.

1) You’re doing cold outreach (no open role)

This is the classic LOI use case. You’re identifying a company you want, then pitching your fit and asking for a conversation.

2) You’re networking after a referral

When someone says, “Email my director, they’re hiring soon,” a letter of intent gives you a polished, forwardable document.

3) You’re targeting internal transfers

Internal moves benefit from clarity and diplomacy. An LOI lets you show motivation while staying respectful of your current team.

4) You’re applying to a “talent pool” posting

Many companies now post evergreen requisitions. Your letter should show direction (what roles you want) and proof (why you’ll perform).

The ideal structure (fast, scannable, persuasive)

Treat your LOI like a tight, modern cover letter. In most cases, 250 to 400 words is enough.

A simple, high-performing structure is:

• Opening: why this company, and what roles you’re targeting
• Proof: 2 to 3 evidence points that show you can deliver results
• Close: clear next step request + gratitude

If you want a plug-and-play framework for tight letters, use: Cover Letter Structure: A 3-Paragraph Framework That Works.

Letter of intent for a job template (copy and customize)

Use this template as a starting point, then customize the bracketed sections.

[Your Name]
[City, State]
[Phone] | [Email] | [LinkedIn or Portfolio URL]

[Date]

[Hiring Manager Name]
[Title]
[Company]
[Company Address or City, State]

Dear [Name] (or Hiring Manager),

I’m reaching out to express my interest in future opportunities on the [Team/Department] team at [Company], particularly roles focused on [target role direction, for example: customer success, product marketing, data analytics]. I’ve followed [Company]’s work in [specific initiative, product, market, or value], and I’m excited by the way your team [specific observation that proves you researched them].

In my recent role as [Current/Most Recent Title] at [Company], I’ve delivered results that align closely with what I understand [Company] values:

• [Outcome #1]: [What you did], resulting in [measurable result].
• [Outcome #2]: [What you did], improving [metric, speed, quality, revenue, retention] by [X].
• [Strength #3]: [A relevant skill], demonstrated through [brief proof].

I’d welcome the chance to share how I could contribute to [Company] in an upcoming role. If you’re open to it, I’d love to schedule a [15 to 20]-minute conversation to learn what you anticipate needing in the next few months and to see where I could be most helpful.

Thank you for your time, and I appreciate your consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Template customization tips that make your LOI feel “written for them”

Most letters fail because they’re generic, not because they’re grammatically wrong. Focus on specificity.

Add one real “why this company” detail

Aim for something concrete, such as:

• A product release or feature direction
• A company value with evidence of how they act on it
• A team initiative mentioned in a blog post, podcast, or talk

Keep it to one or two sentences. The goal is credibility, not flattery.

Use proof points, not responsibilities

Hiring managers don’t need you to restate your resume. They need evidence you can perform.

A quick upgrade:

• Weaker: “Responsible for managing campaigns.”
• Stronger: “Built and optimized lifecycle campaigns that improved trial-to-paid conversion by 18%.”

Keep the ask easy to say yes to

In an LOI, you often do not know if a job is open. Your call-to-action should match that reality.

Good asks include:

• “Could we schedule a 15-minute call?”
• “Who is the best person to speak with about upcoming roles on [team]?”
• “May I send a resume for future consideration?”

3 letter of intent examples (for common job scenarios)

These examples are intentionally concise. Borrow the structure, then swap in your specifics.

Example 1: Letter of intent for a job (cold outreach)

Dear Ms. Chen,

I’m reaching out to express my interest in future Operations Analyst opportunities at Northwind Logistics. I’ve been following your expansion into same-day regional delivery, and I’m especially interested in how your team is using data to reduce last-mile costs while improving on-time performance.

In my current role, I partner with Ops and Finance to turn messy operational data into decisions. Recently, I built a weekly cost-to-serve model that helped leadership re-route two high-volume lanes, reducing delivery exceptions by 11% and saving an estimated $210K annually. I also redesigned KPI reporting to cut manual work by 6 hours per week and improve forecast accuracy.

If you anticipate hiring in analytics or operations planning this quarter, I’d love to schedule a short conversation to learn what you’ll need and share how I could contribute.

Sincerely,
Jordan Patel

Example 2: Letter of intent for internal transfer

Dear [Manager Name],

I’m writing to express my interest in upcoming opportunities on the Product Support Enablement team. Over the past year in Customer Support, I’ve found that my strongest impact comes from building systems that help others resolve issues faster and more consistently.

In my current role, I created a new troubleshooting guide for our top three ticket categories and partnered with QA to standardize macros, reducing average handle time by 9% while maintaining CSAT. I also trained three new hires and built a ramp plan that cut time-to-independence by two weeks.

I’d appreciate the chance to discuss what Enablement needs this quarter and whether there’s a path for me to contribute there while ensuring a smooth transition for my current responsibilities.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Example 3: Letter of intent for a career change

Dear Hiring Manager,

I’m reaching out to express my interest in future Junior Data Analyst opportunities at [Company]. While my background is in retail management, I’ve been intentionally transitioning toward analytics because I enjoy using data to improve performance, not just report it.

In my last role, I tracked weekly sales, shrink, and labor performance across departments, then built a simple dashboard that helped our team adjust scheduling and merchandising. Within eight weeks, we reduced stockouts by 15% and improved conversion during peak hours. Over the past six months, I’ve strengthened my technical foundation through projects in Excel, SQL, and Tableau, including a portfolio analysis of seasonal demand trends.

If your team hires entry-level analysts or apprentices, I’d love to speak about how my operational experience and analytics training could support your goals.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Email version (subject lines + format)

If you’re sending your LOI by email, you can keep the same content, just adjust presentation.

Recommended subject lines:

• Letter of Intent: [Role Direction] Opportunities at [Company]
• Interest in Future [Team] Roles (Referral: [Name])
• [Function] Candidate Interested in Upcoming Roles at [Company]

In the email body:

• Keep the letter text as-is (no heavy formatting).
• Attach a resume PDF.
• Include your portfolio/LinkedIn link.

If you want formatting rules that hiring managers expect, reference: Cover Letter Format: The Simple Layout Hiring Managers Expect.

Common mistakes to avoid

Being vague about what you want

“Any role at your company” reads like “I didn’t think this through.” Pick a direction.

Making it all about you

Your motivation matters, but it should connect to their needs. Lead with how you’ll contribute.

Writing a full page of text

Long letters don’t signal seriousness, they signal poor prioritization. Tight writing is a professional skill.

Copy-pasting company values without proof

Instead of repeating a value word-for-word, show you understand it with one specific observation.

Quick checklist before you send

Use this as a final quality filter.

Check	What you’re looking for
Target clarity	Company name, team, and role direction are explicit
Proof	At least 2 measurable outcomes or concrete wins
Research	1 specific, accurate company detail
Tone	Confident, professional, not overly familiar
Ask	A simple next step (call, intro, consideration)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a letter of intent for a job be? Most strong letters of intent are 250 to 400 words. If it runs longer, tighten proof points and remove repeated ideas.

Should I attach a resume to a letter of intent email? Yes. A letter of intent creates context, but your resume is still the primary document recruiters and hiring managers will scan.

Is a letter of intent the same as a cover letter? Not exactly. A cover letter responds to a specific job posting, while a letter of intent often targets a company or team even when no role is posted.

Who should I address in a letter of intent? If you can find the hiring manager or department leader, use their name. If not, “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable.

Can I use AI to write a letter of intent? Yes, as long as you provide real inputs (your achievements, the company specifics) and edit the final draft for accuracy and voice.

Generate a personalized letter of intent in 30 seconds

If you want to skip the blank page, LetterCraft AI can help you draft a polished, role-specific letter of intent for a job fast. Choose the letter type, add a few details (company, role direction, achievements, tone), then export a ready-to-send version.

Try it here: LetterCraft AI letter generator (free to try, no credit card required).