Here’s How to Write a Perfect Letter of Interest

Your perfect job with the perfect company may not be advertised. So, how do you find gigs from within the hidden job market? You ask about them. Here’s how to write a letter of interest that will get you noticed . . . and maybe even result in a job.

Years ago, before I was the full-blown word monkey that I am today, I relocated to a new city. I’d left a job I loved—doing marketing for a dog grooming school. I knew I wanted to keep working in a field related to both marketing and pets. But I also knew that, in the small city I’d moved to, that was going to be a pretty slim job search net to cast. I’d have to get creative.

I set my sights on a large, upscale pet boarding kennel. I wrote the kennel’s owners a letter of interest, including clips from a portfolio of marketing materials I’d created, and asked them if they needed some help from an experienced pet industry professional to build their brand even further.

Although the kennel didn’t have an opening, or any role related to marketing, they did call me in to chat. Two weeks later, they created a position for me and I was employed doing something I enjoyed in an industry I loved.

Why Write a Letter of Interest?

The letter of interest is a job prospecting tool. Job hunting legend has it that 70 to 80 percent of open positions are never advertised. Although that figure is probably way higher than it should be, the truth is there are potential job opportunities out there that you’re not hooking as you troll the waters of Glassdoor, Indeed, and Monster.com.

Say you’re intrigued by a young startup and you wish they were hiring for a position that fit your skills. You could haunt the careers page of their website and hope for the best, or you could write a letter of interest to introduce yourself and begin the networking process. Which do you think will yield the best results?

A letter of interest may not get you immediately hired, but it has many advantages. It shows you have both interest and initiative—two things employers are always looking for. It also demonstrates your ability to market yourself through personal branding. In many cases, your letter will be regarded as a formal request to be considered for employment, so it will become part of a human resources file. When a position does open, guess whose letter and resume will be at the top of the pile instead of buried under a mountain of applications?

Your goal is to find out exactly what the company of your dreams looks for in an employee. Then, you’re going to become that person—the mythical Ideal Candidate.

How to Write a Letter of Interest

1 Write it like a business letter.

The first and most important thing to remember about writing a letter of interest is that it’s a business letter—treat it like one. Use the standard business letter format. Be professional.

Here’s a tip: Being professional doesn’t mean being stuffy. It’s always a good idea to try to match the communication style of the company you’re reaching out to. Look at their marketing copy, job postings, and website. If their approach to communication is more casual, yours can be, too.

2 Find the right contact.

Even if you have to call the company, get the name (and possibly the email address) of the best person to contact with your inquiry. If you do call or email to ask for a contact name, be direct. Say, “I’m interested in learning more about employment opportunities in your [department]. Would you tell me the name of the person responsible for hiring those positions and the best way to contact them?”

3 Research the company.

I scored that marketing job in a long-ago time before the Internet was mainstream. When I wrote my hard copy letter and prepared my clips, I didn’t even know what a letter of interest was. I was operating on instinct. You have the advantage of a ton of information right in your pocket anytime you need it. Let’s use it!

Your goal is to find out exactly what the company of your dreams looks for in an employee. Then, you’re going to become that person—the mythical Ideal Candidate. Check the company’s social media feeds and the careers and culture pages on its website for clues about the type of people they hire. Read job descriptions for their open positions; they’ll give you insight even if the jobs aren’t a fit for your talents.

Learn about their brand style—are they funky and fun or conservative and all business? Mirror that style to show that you’d be a good cultural fit.

4 Show how you’d add value.

Unlike a cover letter, where you’re homing in on skills and traits for a specific position, a letter of interest should demonstrate to the employer that you have a variety of skills that would make you a great fit in lots of different places. Think broadly and you’ll open more doors. What skills would make you an asset to the company?

The key to a successful letter of interest is not in showing off what you can do, but in showing what you can do for the company. Demonstrate excitement, not arrogance.

5 Keep it short, but write it powerfully.

Hiring managers and department heads don’t have a lot of extra time to read your magnum opus on why you’re awesome. The key is to be brief but memorable. Make every word count.

Avoid filler words and phrases. Keep your writing lean and clean. Use some power words to make your writing pop.

Letter of Interest Structure

Date

Let’s start with the simple stuff first! (You do know what day it is, right?) You’ll need this only for hard copy letters; in email, the date stamp is fine.

Contact Information

In a hard copy letter, put your contact info here. Include your phone number and email address. In an email, include your contact information after your signature, instead.

Here’s a tip: You don’t have to put Phone: and Email: in front of your phone number and email address. That’s just clutter. The hiring manager probably won’t have trouble figuring out what that ten-digit number and the thing with the @ symbol are.

Salutation

Greet the hiring manager or department head by name. And please do your best to find a name. (See Tip #2!) Avoid To Whom It May Concern. Nobody ever got truly concerned with, or even interested in, an email that began thus.

Opening Paragraph

Briefly introduce yourself and tell the hiring manager why you’re writing. Share your enthusiasm for the company—why do you want to work there?

Qualifications/Experience Paragraph

Talk about what you bring to the table. Let the hiring manager know why hiring you would add value to her team. Demonstrate the qualities you have that mesh well with the company’s mission and culture. (This is why you did all that research!)

The key to a successful letter of interest is not in showing off what you can do, but in showing what you can do for the company. Think in terms of excitement, not arrogance.

Close by casting a networking net.

You’re not going to close by saying something like “I hope you’ll keep me in mind if you have an opening in the future,” right?

Never! You’re better than that.

Close by asking for something. Use a call-to-action (CTA) to encourage the hiring manager to connect with you. You might ask for an informational interview—an opportunity for you to sit down with the hiring manager and learn more about the company.

Letter of Interest Example

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

I’ve been following the Alpha Beta Company’s trajectory since it launched in 2007. When the company reached 10 million active users last month, I thought about how exciting it would be to be part of a team with the potential to grow that number to 20 million and beyond. I’m writing you to express my interest in joining your team and to learn more about upcoming employment opportunities.

I’ve been a user acquisition manager at XYZ, Inc. for five years. At XYZ, I developed the go-to-market strategy for new apps and performed analysis to calculate how our campaigns influenced user engagement. As you may know, XYZ operates in a smaller niche market. Even so, during my time with them, XYZ’s user base grew from just five hundred beta users to over 3 million today. In the ten years since I graduated with a bachelor of science in business and marketing from Great Big University, I’ve managed and launched hundreds of successful marketing campaigns on channels ranging from print media to social media to videos.

I’m excited by the idea of working in a larger market and for a company that is constantly innovating and recognized as an industry leader. I’ve enclosed my resume, which outlines my experience and skills. I’d love to sit down and talk with you about Alpha Beta’s explosive growth and new user acquisition strategy. Would you be open to meeting with me at your convenience?

Sincerely,

Your Name

How to Emoji at Work: A Guide

Elon Musk is a visionary in many areas, but his memo on acronyms at SpaceX will be forever remembered as one of the greatest workplace satires of all time. The memo, aptly titled “Acronyms Seriously Suck,” explained that “excessive use of made up acronyms is a significant impediment to communication.” Musk then goes on for four paragraphs on why acronyms are ruining the culture at SpaceX.

Some thinkers would have us believe that emojis, like emoticons before them, are similarly ruining office communication. Many professionals point to the ambiguity and potential offensiveness of emojis as reasons to avoid them, and they’re not wrong. Emojis can easily be misinterpreted, and while their novelty makes them exciting, it can also detract from the message you’re trying to communicate to a colleague or client.

Of course, this means that using emojis at work is not mandatory, since they are still unacceptable in many contexts. However, emojis can provide helpful subtext or levity to a situation, allowing the recipient of a chat or email to know how it should be interpreted. If you are going to venture into the world of emoji-laden workplace communication, keep these things in mind.

Check Culture Fit

At this point, most workplaces accept emojis in informal modes of communication, like Slack or Google Hangouts. However, if you work in a formal or more conservative industry, it’s a good idea to wait for someone else to send the first emoji. If you have Slack, you can always look at the chat history and see if emojis are a common addition to your public channels.

If you are chatting or emailing, it’s best to wait for someone senior to you to send an emoji before you try out your latest string of sunflowers and laughing-while-crying emojis. Also, it should be noted that while emojis are often acceptable in interoffice communication, you should be careful before inserting them into emails or correspondence with clients, partners, or customers.

Double-Check Your Emoji Meanings

We’ve given this piece of advice before, but for good reason. Studies show that emojis can have different meanings depending on the country you’re in, the device you use, or even the conversation prior to the emoji. There are some commonly-confused emojis you can avoid, but regardless of the emoji you’re using, make sure your recipient will understand the emotion and intent it represents before you send.

Use Smileys to Soften Bad News

It has been shown that one of the most common use-cases for emojis at work is to show that a message is positive. To paraphrase The Atlantic, the problem with work chat is often that electronic messages are devoid of inflection. In longform writing like emails, you have the space to compensate for this lack of subtext by using extra positive words or phrases. But when you’re sending a quick Gchat to a colleague, you don’t have space to fully compensate for the aloof nature of shorthand text conversation. That’s when a positive, smiling emoji will go a long way in building positive interactions and connections with your colleagues.

Make Sure Everyone Is in on the Joke

Another helpful way to use emojis at work is to indicate that you’re joking. Below are some of the most common emojis that indicate sarcasm, but you can use a variety of emojis to show you’re just kidding. Remember, though, that this usage is probably best reserved for colleagues you know well, not your manager at a brand-new gig. Do you use emojis at work? Tell us more about your experience in the comments below.

Monday Motivation Hack: Focus on Self-Improvement

Are you better this week than you were last week?

There’s only one way to guarantee an affirmative answer to that question: Set a self-improvement goal at the beginning of the week.

Why the beginning?

What Research Says

Long-term goals encourage procrastination rather than action.

In a study published in 2015, Daphna Oyserman of the USC Dornsife Mind and Society Center and Neil Lewis of the University of Michigan found that for goals to be motivating, the future (the deadline) must feel imminent. In one scenario, the researchers asked participants when they would begin saving for retirement. They told the first group that they would retire from their jobs in 10,950 to 14,600 days. The second group planned on retirement starting after 30 to 40 years. Even though 10,950 to 14,600 days is the same amount of time as 30 to 40 years, the term “days” influenced how imminent the participants perceived their deadlines to be. The “days” group planned to start saving four times sooner than the group who thought of the event in years.

What the Research Means for You

Instead of setting a far-off goal, break one of your long-term goals into smaller chunks that have an imminent deadline. Amy Morin of Forbes called them “now deadlines,” and she explained how to reach them: “Create target dates to reach your objectives. Find something you can do this week to begin taking some type of action now.” Let’s look at an example together.

Long-term goal: Write a novel in one year.

Short-term chunks:

• Day One: Think of three interesting plot ideas by Sunday.
• Day Two: Decide which plot you want to pursue.
• Days Three to Six: Write 500 words every day.
• Day Seven: Read and enjoy what you’ve written so far.

Why Short-Term Self Improvement Goals are Always Successful

Forward movement is progress. Starting your week with an objective will provide motivation and structure. You may not always meet your daily goal, but you will still be moving forward and improving yourself. For instance, in the example above, the goal for Day Four was five hundred words. Even if you don’t have a chance to write a single word that day, you have still come up with three awesome plots and five hundred words of your new novel. You can get back on track for Days Four through Seven. The small steps you take every week will lead to big accomplishments.

You can’t predict the future. No one can say for a certainty what will happen in the future, especially years or decades from now. However, you can speculate what will happen tomorrow or next week with some accuracy. Take advantage of your short-term prediction skills by setting goals for the near future. You will have time to adapt and change to new events, technology, and even the weather when you set short-term goals.

How to Choose a Self-Improvement Goal

In an article titled “How to Worry Less About the Future and Make Each Week Awesome,” Samy Felice suggests concentrating on weekly events that are in your control. You can center goals around what time you wake up, with whom you associate, and what you eat, read, and watch. You can drop a bad habit or pick up a healthy one.

So, what will your goal be? Whatever you decide, make sure to divide your big objectives into small, manageable chunks that you can focus on each week. Choose something in your control, and don’t be discouraged by minor setbacks.

Are you better this week than you were last week? If you start the week with a self-improvement goal, the answer will always be yes.

Is It Flier or Flyer?

• A flyer can be one of several things: a pamphlet, something that flies, or a device you’d use to twist yarn.
• Flier is a also an accepted spelling of the word.
• Keep in mind, though, that the guidelines for the usage of flyer and flier vary from one style guide to another.

A flyer, a circular, a leaflet, a pamphlet, a handbill—so many words for one simple thing. A piece of paper with words and images printed on it that gets handed out on a street. Or, in modern times, even sent by email.

But while we’re sure we know what a flyer is, there is some confusion about how exactly to spell it. Is it “flyer,” or is it “flier?” Or is it that the different versions are used for different meanings? “Flyer” can also refer to a flying person or animal, for example. The answer to all of these questions is yes. “Flier” is an acceptable way to spell the word, as is “flyer.” According to some sources, the spellings are different according to the meaning of the word.

Flyer Meanings

When you say the word flyer, you could be talking about a couple of things. You might be referring to a pamphlet, a sheet of paper with words or pictures on it that is used for advertising, propaganda, or spreading information. This is the kind of flyer that’s mentioned in the following sentence:

Mia was handing out a flyer to promote her band’s first gig.

A flyer can also be a person, an animal, or an object that flies. If you often find yourself at the airport, waiting to board your flight, you might want to look into your preferred company’s frequent flyer program. And, in case you didn’t know, some birds are not good flyers, but the bar-tailed godwit certainly is:

The bar-tailed godwit is an excellent flyer; it can fly the entire length of the Pacific ocean.

Finally, a flyer is also a device used for twisting yarn. So if you’re into making your own yarn, a yarn flyer is something you should have:

Kevin bought a traditional double drive yarn flyer.

How to Spell Flyer

A lot of the confusion about the correct way to spell “flyer” comes not only from the fact that there is no standard way of doing it but also from the fact that different style manuals seem to prefer different spellings. The Elements of Style and the Chicago Manual of Style do not address the issue. Those in favor of “flier” include the Daily Telegraph, the Associated Press, and the American Heritage College Dictionary. Fans of “flyer” include the Guardian, Fowler’s Modern English Usage, and the Oxford Dictionaries website. In theGregg Reference Manual, a flier is a pilot and a flyer is an advertising brochure. Garner’s Modern English Usage identifies “flier” as standard in the United States and “flyer” as the British form. Style manuals and dictionaries don’t necessarily have to concur on all issues. In this case, the disagreement means that you get to choose how you spell “flyer.” Unless you’re obliged to follow a particular style manual, that is. Or you’re writing copy for an airline—it seems they strongly prefer to use flyer.

Examples: Flyer and Flyer in a Sentence

Speed flyers run or ski down slopes and then use special parachutes designed to let them fly fast and close to the ground. —CBS News

The question now appears to hinge on whether Mr Hanson is responsible for the election flyer, which was authorised by Mr Clode as campaign director. —The Canberra Times

Want to share your frequent flier miles with a friend or a family member? It may cost you. —The New York Times

Karsten remembers getting hit with a wave of sadness in the hospital after delivering her daughter, Annika, but she dismissed it and tucked away the flier from the social worker with the MOMS number. —The Chicago Tribune

How to Write a Resignation Letter and Exit in Style

When it comes to making big shifts in the direction of your life, changing jobs ranks right up there among the most significant. You’ll be leaving behind familiar faces, tasks, and roles to sail into unknown waters. It’s energizing and daunting at the same time!

Once you’ve made the decision to leave your job, you’re faced with the challenge of leaving on good terms. How you tender your resignation letter can mean the difference between building a network of positive connections and burning bridges.

Give Two Weeks’ Notice in Person When Possible

When you leave a job, it’s customary to give your employer at least two weeks’ notice unless you have an HR handbook or contract that says differently. Whenever possible, quit your job in person by speaking with your boss.

Don’t go in cold! Rehearse what to say so you don’t make any missteps. According to The Muse, you should

• Explain that you have received an offer from another company and have accepted
• Express gratitude for the opportunities given to you
• State when your final day at work will be
• Offer help with the transition process

Writing a Letter of Resignation

Although it’s best to quit in person whenever you can, it’s a good idea to prepare a more formal letter of resignation for your employment file. Your letter should include

• Your announcement of your intent to resign
• The date your resignation is effective
• A thank you for the opportunity your employer gave you

A printed letter should have a formal heading, like this:

Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Personal Email Address

Date

Name Title Organization Address City, State, Zip Code

You can leave off the heading for a resignation email. Just include a subject header that states “Resignation: FirstName LastName.”

Be sure to carefully proofread your letter. Not only is it important to correct any typos, it’s essential to make sure you’ve stated everything clearly and positively. Here’s an example:

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from Alpha Omega, Inc. My last day will be on June 23, 2017.

I’m grateful for the opportunity you and Alpha Omega have given me to learn and grow as a marketing professional. It’s been exciting to be a part of such an innovative and fast-paced team over the past three years.

I’m eager to do whatever I can to help with this transition. [Optional: I’ve put together the attached transition plan, which should make the process smoother.] I wish you and Alpha Omega all the best in reaching your goals.

Keep your letter brief and stick to the point. Don’t explain why you’re leaving—that’s not relevant here. Your letter of resignation is also not the place to share criticism, even of the most constructive kind. Simply state the facts and answer any further questions that your boss may have in person or during the exit interview.

Here’s a tip: The only time it makes sense to explain why you’re leaving is if you’ve received a better offer from another company and you’re willing to accept a counteroffer from your current employer. Then, you might say “I have received a better offer from ABC Corp. I’m willing to entertain a counteroffer.”

A Word About Transition Plans

In some cases, it’s a good idea to outline your responsibilities and projects so that your employer knows what’s in the works and can help figure out who’ll step in for you until your replacement comes on board. Here are a few things to include:

• A list of your tasks and projects
• Any important deadlines associated with your projects
• A list of tasks you will complete before you leave and their completion dates
• Your recommendations for any co-workers who could take over for you in the interim

Although your boss may want to manage the transition herself, having everything outlined in advance is helpful and will ensure you leave your job in good standing.

Two Weeks’ Notice Do’s and Don’ts

Do tell your boss first

If you can help it, don’t let your impending departure become a rumor before you have a chance to make it official. Tell your boss that you’re quitting before you discuss your departure with your teammates. (Unless, of course, you’ve used any of them as references.)

Don’t be negative

Even if you hate your job and don’t get along with your boss, keep it professional. People learn from their work experiences, even in the worst cases. Try to focus on what you’ve learned rather than what you didn’t like. You’re moving onward and upward!

Here’s a tip: Never put your negative feelings toward your company in writing. They can only come back to haunt you. The Balance offers this list of what not to say when you quit your job.

Do prepare for a counteroffer

Are you willing to entertain a counteroffer? Give this question some serious thought before you turn in your resignation so you’re prepared in case you’re asked. If you’ve received a better offer from another company but you’re willing to stay on if your current employer matches or exceeds it, let your boss know.

Don’t brag about your new gig

Moving up the career ladder is exciting, but be sure to stay grounded while you’re transitioning out of your current job. It’s okay to express enthusiasm for the new opportunities that await you, but it’s also important to show your colleagues that you’ve appreciated your time with them.

Do invite colleagues to keep in touch

Make sure you connect with colleagues on LinkedIn and let them know that you’d like to keep in touch. You never know when a contact will be helpful in the future. Consider including a LinkedIn invite in the form of a goodbye letter to your teammates.

Leaving a job is a big step. With a little planning and a lot of tact, you can ensure that you exit with class and style. Now, onward to the farewell celebration cake!

Off the beaten path: NaNoWriMo Writing Tips

Guest post from Matthew Quinn

It’s been said that everybody has got a book in them, but in these days of the big publishers consolidating, the small presses overwhelmed with submissions, and truly vast offerings available via self-publishing platforms like Kindle Direct and Smashwords, it’s more important than ever that people’s work stand out.

So here are some tips to make your NaNoWriMo project pop:

Draw your reader in. Noted science fiction author Ben Bova had a friend who edited movies for late-night television. In one episode, Bova had the hero throw a punch and then went to a commercial break; the film resumed with the bad guy being hit. This is how chapters should end, since the end of a chapter is often where the reader gives up on the book. Remember the Hardy Boys novels? Each chapter ends on a cliffhanger — and although this may be overkill, when used in moderation it can help maintain reader interest.

Funnel time. Consider writing early chapters in your novel to cover longer periods of time, while later chapters may cover progressively shorter periods. Michael Crichton’s Andromeda Strain is a great example. It’s last fifty pages cover a race against time to defuse a complex’s nuclear self-destruct device.

Be descriptive. Stephen Hunter’s Dirty White Boys is a great example of detailed writing. Passages such as, “a large dragonfly flashed in the sun” or “a starburst had fractured the left lens of Ted’s Ray-Bans; blood ran in a snaky little line from down the obscured eye” are descriptive examples of how an author can bring text to life. Be sure to use all five of your senses — authors tend to rely heavily on visual. Rather than repeat, “It’s cold,” describe many different things associated with the cold — including a character’s breath steaming on the air, the crunch of snow beneath his boots, etc.

Avoid characterizations. Villains should not be mindlessly evil, but have distinct motivations and personalities. Remember the credo, “Everyone is the hero of their own story.” For example, General Zod in the film Man of Steel wants to save the Kryptonian race, while in the musical Les Miserables, Inspector Javert believes himself to be enforcing law and order (both by hunting the fugitive Jean Valjean and infiltrating the student rebels to spy on them).

Engage the environment. In the novel, The Killer’s Game, the hero accidentally shoots a nearby electrical transformer. This leads to lots of sparks, dangerous loose cables, the lights going out, etc. that complicate an already-tense situation. Whether you’re writing a fight scene or a love scene, make sure that you think about the unique environmental complications that can make your story more vibrant.

All of these things will help your NaNoWriMo project shine. But don’t forget the most important thing of all — write! It’s better to write and revise later than write so slowly that you don’t get the project done.

About the Author

Matthew W. Quinn blogs at The World According to Quinn and has several stories available on his Amazon author page. Those interested in free samples can check out his Viking horror tale “Nicor.”