How to Write a Letter of Inquiry to a Potential Employer

If you wait for your perfect job to be advertised in the papers, you may well be waiting a very long time. In many industries, the best and most interesting jobs are never advertised at all, because employers use other methods of finding their people. The job that best utilizes your particular skills and experience might not even exist yet, but that doesn't mean an employer won't be interested in creating it for you! Sending a letter of inquiry to a potential employer can be a great way of making yourself known and uncovering job opportunities.

Instructions

1. START WITH A NAME
   Once you have a list of potential employers you want to approach, find out the names of the people you need to send the letter to. You should always address the letter to a specific person if possible. This could be the head of department, or someone in personnel. Phone and ask if you're not sure, and make sure you have the correct spelling and title.

2. DON'T BE GENERIC
   Never, ever send out the same letter to many employers. Your letter should be specifically tailored to the company you are sending it to. If you use a standard letter for everyone it will be obvious that you have not taken the time to research and you will get nowhere.

3. INTRODUCE YOURSELF
   In the first paragraph of the letter, you should briefly introduce yourself, make the purpose of the letter clear and interest them enough to keep reading. Don't waffle - just pick the key facts and state them clearly. So, for example, you could start:

   "Dear Mr. Smith,
   I am an accountant with qualifications in media law and ten years experience in the film industry. I love the work your company does, and feel that my skills and experience could be an asset to your organization. I am writing to inquire if you have any openings at your company for which I might apply."

4. SELL YOURSELF
   You can include a full resume with your letter, but you should still state your main skills and experience in your letter of inquiry. The second and third paragraphs of the letter are the place to do this. You don't need to go in to as much detail as you might on your resume - just recap the most impressive aspects of your career. You could give your most important qualification, a brief description of your experience and mention anything that might make you stand out to a potential employer.

5. BE RELEVANT AND CONCISE
   If your letter is too long, it is likely to be thrown away. Blocks of text and irrelevant waffle put people off even reading to the end. Do not mention anything that is not relevant to the position you are inquiring about. Your letter should not cover more than one side of A4 as a general rule.

6. MAKE IT CLEAR
   Make it clear to a potential employer what kind of position you think you would be suitable for. If you are looking for something higher up than your current position, you need to make this clear, and explain why you think you are qualified.

7. CLOSE ON A HIGH NOTE
   End the letter concisely but affirmatively - the last paragraph should contain a short positive sentence about yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Get a friend or family member to read your letter to check for spelling and grammar mistakes, and for general style.

• Read your letter out loud to yourself. Does it sound clear and positive?

Resources

• How to Write a Resume After Being a Stay-at-Home Mom