Understanding the Letter of Intent vs Cover Letter Difference

Understanding the Letter of Intent vs Cover Letter Difference

Before explaining the letter of intent vs cover letter difference, it’s crucial to understand what these documents are aimed at. Both pieces are necessary to contact employers when searching for a job. In both cases, you should sound confident, presenting your skills and showing your previous experience. These documents have major differences that should be considered when writing. In a nutshell, you need a letter of intent (LOI) to express interest in a company if they do not have a position that suits you. At the same time, the other option is required to pursue a specific position and demonstrate your suitability for it.

Understanding cover letter vs letter of intent details is essential when finding a job, as it allows you to clearly express your intentions and demonstrate your knowledge of modern hiring practices. Understanding the differences between the documents allows you to master job application techniques and find the position you dream about. So, let’s get down to business and reveal the difference between letter of intent and cover letter.

Cover Letter vs Letter of Intent: Major Differences to Notice?

First, we explain the major differences between these two documents. This will help you become more familiar with their purposes and better express your thoughts.

• Purpose and intent. While a LOI demonstrates broader interest, showing the general interests of the person (for example, curiosity in software engineering and data science), the candidate statement is specific. It would be more suitable if you applied for position A at company B. You reveal your background, related skills, and knowledge and demonstrate passion.
• The content you write. The difference between cover letter and letter of intent is also in what’s inside these papers. The former implies writing about career goals and showing why you want to join the company. The latter, however, focuses on chasing a specific role. In the cover letter, you must represent your skills and experience according to the job description. If a job ad represents specific requirements, you have to cover them as well, proving that you are the one they should choose for this position.
• Your aim of writing a piece. A strong document accompanying your CV is the perfect way to grab a company’s attention without applying for a specific role. LOI is used to express interest in working for a company without applying for a specific job. If you see an open position later, prepare your career achievements in written form to maximize your chances. Create multiple samples for different job applications.

Made for different purposes, both pieces are vital for employment and achieving career goals. Aside from making the first impression on your potential employer, this document serves as a perfect tool to reveal all your talents and skills.

What Is a Cover Letter Used For?

Let’s specify the explanation and answer the question, “What is a cover letter used for?” First and most obvious, this document is essential for job posting responses. Companies that post job ads are looking for candidates that meet specific requirements. With a cover letter of application, you show that you meet these requirements, listing skills essential for content writing, coding, SEO, or whatever area you will be engaged in.

Another reason to use this document is when you apply for a specific job. You provide a position-tailored background, strengthening that you might be a perfect candidate for this position. What is the main purpose of a cover letter? The main idea of this document is to highlight your capabilities upfront to ensure the employer understands your value from the start.

What is Application Letter?

If you want to see the clear difference between letter of application vs cover letter concepts, it is necessary to dig deeper to familiarize yourself with the former piece of writing. so, what is application letter?

Application is usually added to CV for job application. This document consists of five major parts:

• Sender’s and receiver’s address.
• Greetings
• Introduction, where you show why you are interested in a specific position
• Body part representing your best skills and qualities related to the job. Provide them with bullet points.
• A conclusion that includes CTA. In this paragraph, as for an interview.

The details you specify in your piece can vary depending on the industry. In some fields, you need to be more thorough, while others allow for a more concise approach. What is the purpose of a letter of application? In general, it aims to establish communication with the company and show your best qualities.

What is Intent Letter Needed For?

. What is intent letter made for?

• Matching with career goals. To show that your career goals match the company’s vision, use this writing. Deliver your intent to achieve specific goals during your career and how they overlap with the company’s major statements.
• Creating setups for informational interviews. You can proceed to the informational interview. It’s not a request for a job opportunity. Instead, you build connections and learn the basics of communication.
• Communicating with future employers. With this document, you present yourself to those who are not hiring right now but can do so soon. You appear on the radar, make an outstanding first impression, and make employers notice you.

An intent letter includes the following parts:

• Contact information (usually in the upper left corner).
• Greetings using the recipient’s first and last name.
• Introduction, representing your current experience.
• Body part that uncovers more details about your experience and examples of your success.
• The concluding paragraph will be a call to action. With it, you explain what you expect the recipient to do in response to this letter.

The closing of your LOI should be formal and simple. Use phrases like “Sincerely” or “Thank you,” and follow them with your full name.

Is a Letter of Intent the Same as a Cover Letter?

A major question all job seekers are asking: is a letter of intent the same as a cover letter? Based on the provided statements and points highlighted in our article, the answer is that they are not the same. The document accompanying your resume is set to present what you are capable of in the context of the job application. A LOI tells about your possible impact in case you join a selected company. In the first case, you pursue short-term goals, while the second case is about long-term goals and a strategic perspective. Use an application letter of intent sample when writing to ensure you fit the tone of voice, structure the information, and deliver key messages properly. Moreover, there is a possibility that you have to use them both to apply for a job.

FAQ

What are the parts of a cover letter?

The document consists of the following parts: background data (date, address, etc.), salutation, opening paragraph, main body, and a conclusion. The final three points are the most important as they cover the most important points (personal experience, relevant project, etc.).

How to format a letter of intent?

The letter of intent job application should consist of the opening paragraph revealing the key points of the document and up to three body paragraphs revealing your background, career goals, and passion for joining the company. A concluding paragraph finalizes everything.

Is letter of intent same as cover letter?

If a letter of application targets a specific position, its contender, a cover letter, has a strategic purpose. It is valuable when you want to join a company, especially one you’ve been following for a long time.

How long should a letter of intent be?

The optimal size of the letter is 1-2 pages, which is around 400-800 words.