Writing a letter of inquiry, also known as an LOI or a job inquiry letter, can be a great way to stand out when looking for the career of your dreams, network with industry experts, find qualifying open positions, and ultimately get hired to do the work you love.
A letter of inquiry is a great way to find your next career job ahead of the competition rather than waiting for job advertisements to be posted online or on public job boards. Additionally, sending a job inquiry letter will enable you to express your interest in any potential job openings with a company.
If you want to work at a specific company or in a particular role, a letter of inquiry is especially crucial. Being proactive in your job search and throughout the hiring and onboarding processes by sending a job inquiry letter to an employer, hiring manager, or company can be very advantageous to you.
Suppose you’re interested in career growth and development. In that case, it’s likely that you’ll need to create a strong job inquiry letter that highlights your enthusiasm, prior experience, pertinent education, and superior skills and credentials. You’ll get one step closer to getting your dream job if you write a letter of inquiry that is perfect.
- Research the company.
- Find the right person to contact.
- Tailor the subject line.
- Offer your expertise.
- Write a short and concise letter.
- Close with a compelling call to action.
How to write a job inquiry letter
A compelling job inquiry letter stands out and attracts the reader’s attention. By carefully following each of these steps, you can produce a succinct letter of interest that sells your qualifications to potential employers. The steps to writing an effective letter for a job inquiry are as follows:
1. Find a contact person
A letter of inquiry will be more likely to be read by the intended recipient if it is addressed to a specific person at the business. Finding a suitable contact person demonstrates your aptitude for research and commitment to the employer. When a letter is addressed to them specifically rather than starting with the generic “To whom it may concern,” the recipient at the company will be impressed.
Ask your friends, family, and professional network if they know anyone who works at the company to find a good contact. If it’s a smaller business, you can call their main line and request the names of people who work in the division you’re interested in. You can also address a letter to a small business directly to the CEO, as they will probably be involved in any hiring decisions.
If you are unable to contact anyone at the company in any other way, a web search for the company name and the position you are looking for will return some names of people who work there.
2. Create a memorable introduction
You are prepared to begin writing your job inquiry letter once you have decided to whom to address it. Write an introductory paragraph to connect with your company contact in the beginning. If you don’t know the person, briefly describe how you came across them and your motivation for writing if you do.
If someone you know gave you their contact information, mention your connection to them to establish a quick rapport. To demonstrate your familiarity with and enthusiasm for this specific company, be sure to mention if you have been following this contact or company for a while.
As a recent honors graduate in finance, for instance, you might write, “As the best in the finance industry, I’m eager to find a position where I can learn from and develop with them. I’ve been following your business for a while, and I must say that I’m very impressed with how your team manages to keep your clients’ financial portfolios growing steadily while also giving them excellent trading advice. When the chance arises, I am eager to become a financial analyst for your team and am highly motivated. ”.
Example 2: “I have been keeping track of your company’s recent expansion since the introduction of your new product line. This product has a fantastic potential to improve the lives of your customers and expand your customer base. I’m writing to request that you take into account bringing on a strategist to your marketing team. I have a track record of using marketing techniques to connect with potential customers who will love the product. I think my creative marketing abilities would be a great addition to your team. ”.
Example 3: “I am just beginning my design career and Jane Applicant recently mentored me. She gave me your contact information. I love creating functional, high-performance activewear for athletes, and I would be proud to work with the best team at your company. Regarding potential positions on your design team in the future, I would love to get in touch with you. ”.
3. Highlight your skills
Write about your abilities, credentials, and experience that make you a strong candidate for this job in your second paragraph. Describe how your skill set would benefit the company. This should be a succinct summary to grab their attention and entice them to inquire about you further.
Research the company to understand their needs, strengths and weaknesses. If you notice something they could do better, politely mention it in your letter and explain how you would make the improvement. Don’t divulge too much information so they have to hire you in order to access the full plan.
Example 1: “I worked at a bank and a financial institution for two internships during my time in college, honing my skills in financial accounting, auditing, investment banking, and trading. My senior project was devoted to researching the stock market and figuring out when it was best to trade, buy, or sell. I pay close attention to detail, especially when logging accurate accounting books, and I take initiative to finish well-done work in advance of deadlines. ”.
Example 2: “I’ve worked as a senior marketing strategist for a local brand for five years. I oversee a group of four junior marketing analysts and the division with the highest gross profit for the business. During my first year in this role, I increased website page views by 130% and continued to grow views by 5% each year since I oversaw the social media marketing campaign for our business, which resulted in an average of 10,000 clicks from social media posts to our website. Additionally, the sales revenue of my segment increased by 50% over the five years I have been a part of the team ”.
Example 3: “At the annual fashion show while I was a college student, my active collection won best in show.” I had the chance to work as an intern with the Mary Brown company last summer, and I used my knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and InDesign to help the team design the summer 2020 collection. I was in charge of creating an athleisure dress, two pairs of compression leggings, and three unique tops. A dress, a pair of leggings, and one of the tops were selected to be included in the final collection. ”.
4. Write a brief conclusion
Your job inquiry letter should be succinctly concluded by letting the employer know you’d like to meet with them and thanking them for their time after establishing a connection and outlining your pertinent skills. Your best method of contact should also be listed in your header at the top of the page, but you can also include it if you’d like. Select a formal and respectful closing after writing a strong conclusion. A few appropriate closings to consider are:
Example 1:
Example 2:
5. Send the letter
When your letter is finished, decide how you’ll deliver it to your intended recipient. The correspondence can be emailed or printed out and mailed to the business. A paper letter mailed in the mail can make a better impression because the position you are applying for is not yet advertised and is therefore less time-sensitive. A letter sent via email might be overlooked by the recipient if they deal with numerous email communications during their busy workday. If you’re mailing your letter, fold it up neatly and place it in a plain, white envelope with your return address and the recipient’s name and address.
An email job inquiry letter may be more appealing to tech companies or tech-savvy recruiters, who may store it in a digital file so they can quickly conduct a computer keyword search when a position becomes available. You may decide to remove your header so the recipient sees your letter right away when they open the email since the content of the email will be your letter of job inquiry. Additionally, you can email the letter attached in its original format.
You can choose the most effective delivery method for your job inquiry letter to the employer and recipient by doing research on both of them. Whatever format you decide on, make sure to include your resume. You can either print it out and include it with your letter of interest in a job or you can attach it to an email.
What is a job inquiry letter?
A job inquiry letter, also referred to as a letter of interest, is a way to get in touch with companies that might be hiring but do not currently have any open positions in your field. Ask a potential employer directly if they have any openings by sending a letter of inquiry outlining how your skills can benefit their business. Through these letters, you can network and increase your chances of being hired as soon as a position opens up.
A cover letter is for a position that has already been advertised, whereas a letter of inquiry is for an unlisted position. When applying for a job, cover letters are written to match your qualifications with those listed in the job description and are submitted along with your resume. A letter of inquiry is for a position that is not listed with the business where you are interested in working.
Tips for writing a job inquiry letter
You can expand your professional network and find employment in the future by developing strong relationships with potential employers. A letter of inquiry is a fantastic way to get in touch with people at the employer you want to work for and explain how you can help the company. Make sure to proofread the letter carefully. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind as you draft your letter:
HOW TO WRITE A JOB INQUIRY LETTER TO A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER COMPANY.
FAQ
What should I say in a job inquiry?
I’d like the chance to speak with you so that I can ask about potential job openings with the company and get your opinion on where my skills and abilities would be most valuable to the ABD Company. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.
How do you write a simple inquiry letter?
- Start with an introduction. …
- Describe your organisation. …
- Include a need statement. …
- Provide a solution. …
- List other providers you are approaching. …
- Conclude with a summary. …
- Make sure you include all the important information. …
- Format the letter formally.
How do you write an inquire letter for an interview?
Inform the company that you are interested and why, outlining the specifics of the company’s appeal to you. Indicate how your background, training, and experience all add value to the company. Request an interview and inform the reader that you will follow up in a specific amount of time.
