Sample of letter of intent: format and three examples

What a letter of intent is, and when you need one

A letter of intent is a short formal letter that states your intention to apply, join or be considered, and explains why you are a good fit. It is used for job applications, especially when an office asks for a letter of intent together with your resume and documents; for school and scholarship admissions; and for internal moves, such as a promotion or a transfer. Because it states a request, it is written to a named person and ends with a clear ask.

It is shorter than an essay and more direct than an application letter. If the vacancy notice or form says “submit a letter of intent”, write exactly that, addressed to the person or office named, and attach what the notice lists. If you are applying for a public school teaching post, the letter of intent is commonly addressed to the head of the office in the vacancy notice and is submitted with your personal data sheet and documents.

Letter of intent format

The letter of intent format is the standard business-letter layout, kept to one page, in a plain font with block paragraphs:

1. Your details: full name, address, mobile number and email, at the top.
2. Date.
3. Addressee: the name, position and office or school. Check the spelling of the name and title.
4. Salutation: Dear Ms. Santos, or Dear Sir or Madam only if the notice gives no name.
5. Opening paragraph: say what you intend: to apply for the position, to enrol, or to be considered. Name the position and where you saw it.
6. Body, one or two paragraphs: your course or experience, two or three points that fit what they need, and one result or detail.
7. Closing: state the request, mention what is attached, and thank the reader.
8. Sign-off and name: Respectfully yours, with your signed name below.

Letter of intent sample for job application, school and internal post

Letter of intent to apply for a position

Priscilla Dacanay
Blk 7 Lot 12, Sampaguita Village, Calamba City
0917 000 0000 · priscilla.dacanay@example.com

October 13, 2026

Mr. Ramon Villanueva
Human Resources Manager
Laguna Valley Trading Corporation
Santa Rosa City

Dear Mr. Villanueva:

I am writing to express my intent to apply for the position of Accounting Clerk, which I saw on your company page on October 9. I graduated this year with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and completed a 300-hour OJT in the accounting department of a local distributor, where I encoded about 150 invoices a week and helped reconcile the monthly bank statements.

I am careful with figures, I work well with a team, and I can start immediately. I have attached my resume, a copy of my transcript and my OJT certificate. I would be grateful for an interview at your convenience.

Respectfully yours,
Priscilla Dacanay

Letter of intent sample for school admission

Dear Dean Cortez: I would like to express my intent to enrol in the Bachelor of Secondary Education program, major in English, at your college for the coming school year. I graduated from Senior High School in the HUMSS strand with honors, and I have tutored younger students in reading for two years at our barangay learning center. I believe the program will prepare me to teach in public schools in my province. I have attached my report card, certificate of good moral character and birth certificate, and I would be glad to attend an interview or an entrance exam on the date you set. Respectfully yours, Joshua Mercado.

Letter of intent for an internal position

Dear Ms. Aquino: I would like to express my intent to be considered for the vacant position of Customer Service Team Leader. For three years I have worked as a customer service representative on your team, and for the last six months I have coached four new hires on call handling and our case system. My quality score has been above 92% for the last four quarters. I would welcome the chance to discuss how I can support the team in this role. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully yours, Carla Dizon.

You can adapt these into a letter of intent to apply for a position, a letter of intent sample for application to a program, or an internal letter, by changing the position, your facts and the attachments. Write your own facts; do not copy a sample line for line, since a reader sees many nearly identical letters.

Cover letter vs letter of intent

A cover letter goes with a resume for a job that is open, and it sells you for that job in detail. A letter of intent states that you are applying or seeking a place, and it is shorter, more formal and more focused on the request. In practice many employers use the two terms loosely: if the notice asks for one, give them what they asked for under that name. Where a company has no open vacancy, a letter of intent also works as a way of introducing yourself and asking to be considered when one opens. For the other letter, see the guide to what a cover letter is and the application letter page.

Mistakes in a letter of intent

• No named addressee, or a wrong title, which reads as careless.
• Running past one page, or repeating the resume line for line.
• Opening with a long story before saying what you intend.
• Forgetting to say what is attached and what you are asking for.
• Copying a sample with another person's details left in.

Sources

Checked on 13 October 2026.