Letter of Interest Template (and How It Differs From a Cover Letter)
A letter of interest template for companies with no posted opening, how it differs from a cover letter, what to ask for, and a free generator that writes two versions.
By Onward ScoutPublished 2 min read
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Letter of interest generator
For a company with no posted opening that fits you. Say why them, what you do and where you could help. Get two letter-of-interest drafts of about 100 words that ask for a conversation, not a job.
Nothing you type here is uploaded or stored by Onward Scout; the tool runs entirely in your browser.
A letter of interest is a short letter to a company that has no posted opening matching you. It says why you chose them, what you do, one result, where you could help, and asks for a conversation. The generator above writes two drafts of about 100 words to grow to 150–300 words; the template structure is below.
What is a letter of interest?
In short
A one-page letter introducing yourself to an organization you want to work for, sent without a specific job posting. Its goal is a conversation or consideration for future roles, not an immediate offer. Address it to a named person whenever you can.
It works because many roles never reach a job board, especially at smaller organizations. US small businesses employ 45.9% of private-sector workers[SBA Office of Advocacy], and small teams often hire someone they already know before they write a posting.
How is a letter of interest different from a cover letter?
In short
A cover letter answers a posted job's requirements; a letter of interest proposes how you could help when no posting exists. The cover letter asks for an interview for that role. The letter of interest asks for a conversation and to be considered as roles open.
| Cover letter | Letter of interest | |
|---|---|---|
| Sent when | A specific job is posted | No suitable job is posted |
| Built around | The posting's requirements | The company's goals and where you fit |
| Asks for | An interview for that role | A conversation or future consideration |
| Sent to | Through the application, or the hiring manager | A named person in the team you want |
| Length | About 250–400 words | About 150–300 words |
If a posting does exist, use the free cover letter generator instead.
What should a letter of interest template include?
In short
Five parts: why this company in one specific sentence, who you are in one line, your best relevant result, the area where you could help, and a small ask such as a 20-minute call. End with thanks and your contact details.
The area where you could help is what makes the letter useful to the reader. "I think I could help most with permitting and contractor coordination on new sites" gives a manager something concrete to forward. "I'd love to contribute in any capacity" gives them nothing.
When should you send a letter of interest instead of applying?
In short
When you want a specific company and none of its postings fit, when a posting looks stale or unreal, or when you have a warm connection who can pass your letter on. Send it to a person, and follow up once after a week.
Postings are an imperfect signal anyway. Greenhouse classifies 18–22% of jobs posted on its platform in a given quarter as ghost jobs[Greenhouse, 2024], roles that are not actively being filled. A letter to a real person cuts past that uncertainty. Warm introductions help most: referred applicants in a study of nine large employers were more likely to be hired than other applicants[Burks et al., QJE 2015]. For a shorter first touch, use a cold email for jobs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a letter of interest and a cover letter?
A cover letter applies to a specific posted job. A letter of interest is sent when there is no matching posting, to introduce yourself and ask about future roles or a conversation.
Who should I send a letter of interest to?
A named person who could hire you or point you to who can: a team lead, a department head, or a recruiter for that area. Avoid generic inboxes.
How long should a letter of interest be?
One page at most, about 150 to 300 words. It should be shorter than most cover letters because it asks for a conversation, not a decision. The generator gives you a 100-word core to build on.
Is a letter of interest the same as a letter of intent?
In job searching the terms are often used interchangeably. In business, real estate and admissions, a letter of intent can mean something more formal, so check what the reader expects.
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