You should leave no stone unturned to get selected for the job or at least get an interview call. Your resume won’t be enough to get you at a big digits pay scale easily; especially in such a highly competitive world where jobs are less but applicants are many.
You need to add a cover letter or a letter of intent to grab the potential job.
Cover letter and letter of intent seem to be similar as they both are used for applying to a job but their functions are different.
A cover letter is written and aimed towards a specific position and a letter of intent, on the other hand, is written to show your interest in the company; even when there is no suitable job opening.
Below are the points to know the difference between a cover letter and letter of intent:
Letter of Intent: Introduction
1. In a letter of intent, you share education or work experience. You indicate that you are interested to work with the company and open to taking a job role. You share why you want to know about the current opportunities with the company to try and gain preliminary attention.
2. A letter of intent is intended to communicate your general interest in working for or with a company even if there is no suitable job opening yet. You indicate the hiring manager that you like and follow the company passionately and would like to become a part of it.
3. Letter of intent includes your interest areas and skills. It is like the first impression you want to create for a hiring manager. You clearly tell and mention your skills, achievements, education, and the areas you are interested in. You mainly tell the company why you are a good candidate to hire.
4. A letter of intent is written with a specific purpose in mind, which is to attract the attention of the hiring manager and see if there are any job openings available in the company.
5. A letter of intent ends with a request to be notified if an appropriate opening becomes available.
Also Read: What is an intent letter and why companies ask for it?
Cover letter: Introduction
1. A cover letter is used to enhance your application for an advertised job listing, and the content is geared towards how your skills can be applied to the specific requirements of the job.
2. A cover letter is attached with your resume in response to a specific job vacancy. Whereas letter of intent is sent to companies regardless of whether there is an open vacancy or not.
3. A cover letter is usually short and simple. It is written to tell why you are a good candidate for a certain position. This position is advertised by the company as vacant. Your main motto behind writing a cover letter is to make the hiring manager understand how you are the perfect candidate with notable experience in a similar position.
4. A cover letter is written with a specific position in mind and your main purpose is to explain to the hiring manager why you are capable enough to take on the position.
5. A cover letter always ends with the information about your availability and request for an interview.
Also Read: What is a cover letter and why you need one
Briefly, a letter of intent is cold pitching the companies you like even if there is no job available with them. You explain your interest and skills in the letter with the aim of joining the company someday. The trickiest part of writing a letter of intent is demonstrating how you can use your skills for the benefit of the company.
On the other hand, a cover letter is tailored to a specific job position. The company has advertised for the said job position and you deem yourself fit for it. Hence, you send a cover letter in addition to your resume explaining why you are the perfect candidate for a particular position.
Whether a cover letter, a job resume, or a letter of intent, you can always take help from online resume templates. Make sure you make no mistakes or silly typos in the letters. Always proofread before you hit the send button. To improve your chances of being heard and getting selected, take help from cover letter samples or of online services like Resume Buddy to write an appealing and notable letter.
