How to Write a Letter of Intent

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A letter of intent, much like a cover letter, is a way to introduce your personal application before an employer gets to your resume. It should be sent in addition to a resume, and include meaningful credentials and show off your writing skills. Though it may seem hard to fit all of this into 1 page, it’s easy to do as long as you follow a few simple steps!

Sample Letters of Intent

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Before You Write

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  1. All applications, proposals or other procedures requiring a letter of intent will have specific instructions regarding what information will be required in said letter. Review these directions before beginning to write a letter of intent. [1]
    • Visit the business' or school's website. All necessities should be outlined accordingly. If you cannot find what you're looking for, make a phone call.
  2. A quick phone call to the institution or place of business can usually get you the information you need if you cannot find the info online.
    • If your letter is going to a whole team, be as specific as possible. If you know all their names, great! Include them. Your research will be impressive.
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  3. Write down what you will want to include in the letter of intent, such as your personal information, past accomplishments and achievements, awards that have been won, particular challenges that have been overcome, and successes you are most proud of. Write down what you plan to do, at school or in business or with whatever you will achieve in the program you're applying to. [2]
    • A letter of intent is generally more comprehensive than a cover letter, though they are similar. It not only addresses the objectives outlined for a cover letter, but also defines your career objectives and goals, professional experience, leadership skills, and unique attributes to set you apart from the rest.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Your Letter of Intent

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  1. They don't call it an "introduction" for nothing. If you are writing to a college, include what school you attend and what year you are. Give a few details that really give the reader a glimpse into who you are. [3]
    • If you're applying to a business, name the career field or organization/employer with whom you are interested in applying to and for which quarter.
    • Personalize the letter. Make sure the letter of intent addresses the specific institution or organization to which it is being submitted. If it is a letter for graduate school, note why that school is the right choice for you. If it is a business proposal, highlight something that you have done which demonstrates a specific skill set that will apply to that company or organization. [4]
  2. Here's where your letter starts getting good. You need to sell yourself and show adequate knowledge of the program. The next few paragraphs should be dedicated to this. [5]
    • Describe why you are writing the letter. Describe how you first learned about the internship or job position and why you are excited about it. Why are you interested in it and not their competitors?
    • State your credentials. Don't be shy! Explain why you're the perfect candidate for the school or program you're applying for. Use specific examples of technical or general skills, knowledge, experience (paid or unpaid), languages, and computer software that are relevant to the field. [6] This can be in paragraph form or a bulleted list of your accomplishments. Be specific and be honest.
    • Say some good things about the school/program. Flatter the reader, but do not overdo it. Describe why you find the position appealing, and how your strengths and interests would be a good fit for the position.
  3. Express your desire for an interview. Make sure that you include all of your contact information in the letter so you can be contacted for the interview. [7]
    • You may have to follow up as well, depending on the policy of the organization. It's best to cover all your bases.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Once It's Created

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  1. If your first draft was a bit haphazard, grab your notes and the instructions and write a second, final draft. Use proper grammar and spelling, and include all the information that is required. [8]
    • Make sure to look at your work on a micro and macro level. Not only should the words be accurate, concise, and fit together, but the paper needs to fit together as a whole. Does it seem to gel? Would any reordering make it better?
  2. Take a break before you start editing -- your mind needs different stimuli to process to break up the monotony and find the smaller errors. Once you're ready to go back, read the letter of intent and make necessary changes to ensure it reads clearly and everything makes sense. [9]
    • Edit ruthlessly to avoid repetition and make the writing flow smoothly from one paragraph to the next. Have a fellow student or co-worker, or a family member or friend read it for you. A new set of eyes will see a new set of things.
  3. Include the letter of intent with any other application materials, and submit the entire package to the institution according to the directions.
    • If you have more than one page, you may want your name on each one (small and in the corner) in case the pages get separated.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What is in a letter of intent?
    Jonathan Soormaghen
    Career Coach
    Jonathan Soormaghen is a Career Coach and Founder of Resume Advisor, a career counseling firm that specializes in creating personalized products such as resumes, CVs, cover letters, and online branding tools to propel clients toward their next career milestone. Jonathan holds a BA in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was honored to serve as the Valedictory speaker of general commencement. Prior to founding Resume Advisor, he worked in management consulting and finance at companies including Accenture, Target, and Ernst & Young. Jonathan's clients have landed job offers from leading firms including Netflix, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Uber, Deloitte, KMPG, Accenture, and Merrill Lynch.
    Jonathan Soormaghen
    Career Coach
    Expert Answer
    The key with a letter of intent is to convey why you are the perfect candidate for the role you are applying for. Additionally, try to include a personal example which conveys your personality and gives the reader a glimpse of who you are. Use specific examples for each letter—make sure to switch it up!
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  • Question
    How do I write a letter of intent to apply for a higher position in the same organization?
    Community Answer
    Include what you have learned while holding the lower position, and what you hope to learn when you take the new position.
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  • Question
    How can I adapt this to fit a scholarship application?
    Community Answer
    It should be in a similar format. If you're applying to college, make sure you put some attention on how you excelled in high school, but don't be redundant; if the school has received your past grades, SAT scores, and a list of extracurricular activities, there is no need to list them again. Instead, focus on a feature of you that is not included in any of those.
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      Tips

      • 12 point font is standard. Stick to Times New Roman or Arial. [10]
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      • A letter of intent can also be referred to as a letter of interest, personal statement, or statement of purpose.
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      • Keep the style of the letter direct and to the point. Avoid gimmicks, flowery prose or redundancy. Use an active voice, and be precise and concise.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Paper
      • Pen or pencil
      • Computer
      • Printer

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/letterofintent.asp
      2. ↑ https://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/pdf/preparing%20resumes.PDF
      3. ↑ Jonathan Soormaghen. Career Coach. Expert Interview. 7 October 2020.
      4. ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/147078530504700404
      5. ↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/personal-statements-and-application-letters.html
      6. ↑ Jonathan Soormaghen. Career Coach. Expert Interview. 7 October 2020.
      7. ↑ https://www.woculus.com/politely-ask-reply-formal-email/
      8. ↑ https://www.advertisingcrossing.com/article/900044421/Writing-a-Cover-Letter-and-Working-on-Final-Draft/
      9. ↑ https://www.touro.edu/departments/writing-center/tutorials/seven-steps-to-effective-proofreading/
      1. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-to-choose-cover-letter-font-and-font-size

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      In the first paragraph of your letter of intent, introduce yourself and state any relevant information like what department or organization you’re applying to. Then, get into specifics about why you’re writing the letter. Include when you first learned about the job, what you’re excited about, and what credentials you have that are relevant to the field. Conclude the letter by requesting an interview, and make sure you provide any necessary contact information like phone number and email address. For more advice, including best proofreading and editing practices, scroll down!

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