What’s The Difference Between a Cover Letter and a Letter of Intent?
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression
We’ve all heard the saying ‘’You never get a second chance to make a good first impression’’ and although many would believe that we would be talking about the interview as being the first impression, the truth is your cover letter is the proverbial foot in the door.
It’s the first opportunity to differentiate yourself from the rest of the competition.
When writing a cover letter there are a few very important things:
In the title, indicate the position you are applying for. Use the exact words that the job posting had so that there is no confusion.
If the job posting had a specific code or number, include that as well.
In your first paragraph, indicate where you found the job posting (newspaper, online job posting, specific website). Recruiters and HR managers like to know where the applications come from, especially in larger companies that may have multiple roles open.
Make sure you have the name of the company and full address as well.
If there was a name or specific department indicated in the job posting refer to it in your letter.
The cover letter is a chance to briefly explain a few key points that make you a great candidate for the position. But it’s important not to simply copy your resume here.
Add something more tangible or highlight a specific role you have had that explains why you would be a good fit for the role.
2 to 3 paragraphs here are all that it takes. If too long, most hiring managers will simply not read it or will simply gloss it over. Remember, his is like showing the preview to a movie. You want to share just enough so they want to meet with you, but not too much that they have already made up their mind about what you are all about.
(See example at the end)
LETTER OF INTENT
A letter of intent follows the same approach as a cover letter but is sent to a company for which they may or may not have an available position.
You are simply inquiring if they are hiring or not at this moment. You are offering your services and showing interest in their company and indicating what type of role you would be able to fill if they ever had an opening.
Surprisingly, these types of approaches can and do work if done right and in the proper circumstances.
Be advised however that this approach is usually more successful if you are not in a rush to land a role and in the exploratory part of your job search as it might take longer for that company to make a spot for you.
I’ve seen this happen personally where a manager was on the verge of letting a person go but not sure and you just show up at the right time making their decision easier.
Or perhaps they hadn’t thought about a certain role and you show up with a set of skills that they see as valuable and create a role for you.
Maybe it’s a new project they have underway and it was scheduled to start in 6 months but you show up just at the right time and they accelerate the process. If you know exactly which company you want to apply to, this is a great way to do it.
We highly recommend applying in person and with a portfolio ready in hand. This will greatly increase your chances of the letter being taken seriously and received by the right person.
Finding out who the manager is ahead of time, and trying to meet them face to face is a great way to sell yourself and make a good impression.
Here’s a sample letter:
P.S. Here’s a link if you would like to download the entire eBook: