Subject: Inquiry About Job Opportunities

The Unadvertised Job Market

It’s not as crazy as it sounds: about 50% of jobs are learned about through word of mouth from friends, and 37% are discovered through professional networks. Many positions go unadvertised, and this hidden job market may lead to roles that better match your qualifications than anything you might find by searching job boards.

What to Include in Your Letter

Simply put, this letter expresses your desire to meet with the hiring manager to learn about any potential opportunities available for you. In your letter of interest, you should mention what type of job you are looking for and how your skills and experience make you an excellent candidate.

You should also include reasons why you feel you would be a great fit for the company, along with any relevant references or recommendations you may have.

Note: It’s helpful if you know, or can find, the name of a specific person in the hiring department or a manager in the area you are interested in, to give your letter the best chance of being seen.

Sample Job Inquiry Letter

This is an example of a letter requesting information about job opportunities. You can download a job opening letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or review the text version below.

Sender’s Name: Derek Rodriguez

Sender’s Address: 123 Main Street, Any Town, California 12345

Phone Number: 555-555-5555

Email: derrick.rodriguez@email.com

Date of Sending: August 26, 2020

Recipient’s Name: Bobby Lee

Job Title: Chief Technology Officer

Company Name: The American Company

Company Address: 123 Business Road, Business City, New York 54321

Dear Ms. Lee,

The American Company is described as one of the best places to work in the country for IT professionals. I have sought to create this culture, and it shows! It’s understandable that you’ve received many resumes since Computerland published their list of the best companies to work for.

My resume is another one, but I have some hard-to-come-by experience that makes me stand out from my peers.

My experience in IT gives me the unique ability to apply technology, in all its forms, to business processes. Some of my knowledge of business operations includes accounting, finance, utilities, inventory control, budgeting, vendor management, and various operational processes.

I have experience in merger/acquisition events, challenges related to high growth, technology replacement projects, and improving IT processes.

I have successfully executed large technology projects on time and within budget, aligning with business strategy. The companies I have worked for include ICM, HEP, IBX, and SED.

I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you or a member of your organization to learn where my skill set could be of the greatest benefit to your company.

Sincerely,

Derek Rodriguez (signature of physical letter)

Derek Rodriguez

Sending a Job Inquiry via Email

There are some clear advantages to sending your letter via email rather than regular mail. First, it’s easier for someone to contact you back. Second, they may be more likely to do so: while business correspondence is undeniably done through regular mail, most of it is conducted via email these days.

Note: The content of your letter will be the same regardless of how you send it.

However, there are some differences you should keep in mind when sending your letter via email:

• Skip the address and date paragraphs. Go straight to the salutation.
• Choose a subject line that grabs the reader’s attention (and is likely to get past the email filter). Examples of subject lines: “Referred by Peter Smith – Request for Informational Interview” or “Interested in Opportunities at Company XYZ – [Your Name].”
• Don’t be too casual – for example, “What’s up?” or “Hi!” – and don’t leave the subject line blank.
• Keep
• Your message should be concise and brief. Attention spans are short when it comes to email. A few paragraphs should suffice.
• Send your message from a professional-looking email address, ideally one that includes your name. Skip the cute handles and avoid anything inappropriate for work.
• Use your email signature to display links to your website, social media accounts, and/or online portfolio, so that someone can easily look deeper into your qualifications.

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Sources:

Jobvite. “2019 Job Seeker Nation Survey.” Page 16. Accessed January 21, 2022.

Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/sample-letter-of-interest-asking-about-opportunities-2060235