Question:

I was told to write a persuasive letter of inquiry to a specific employer. What exactly is a letter of inquiry?

First Answer:

A letter of inquiry is used to learn if there is an opening available within a company in which you have an interest in working. Essentially, it is a cover letter adapted to introduce you and to tell of your knowledge, skills and abilities as they relate to the companies needs. A resume accompanies this letter to round out the package of information about you.

The letter explains why you are sending a resume. Do not make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation; are you inquiring about future employment possibilities?

Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization -- a flyer posted in your department, a specific directory at Career Services, a family friend who works at the organization. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.

With your language, you must convince the reader to look at your resume; the cover/inquiry letter will be seen first. Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.

The letter of inquiry must call attention to elements of your background --education, leadership, experience -- which are relevant to the position you are seeking. Be as specific as possible, using examples.

The letter should reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.

In a letter of inquiry, do not assume the employer will contact you. You should say something like; "I will contact you in two weeks to learn more about upcoming employment opportunities with (name of organization)." Then mark your calendar to make the call.

-- Robert C. Resch, Career Center, Triton College.

Second Answer:

A letter of inquiry is sometimes referred as a letter of intent, a query letter, a pre-proposal, or a concept paper. Regardless of the name, it is generally used to establish contact with an organization for the purpose of requesting information.

A letter of inquiry is a timesaver for both the reader (the employer) and writer (the job seeker) as it allows the employer to assess quickly whether or not there is a good match between the interests of the job seeker and the employer.

It is important to note that a letter of inquiry is not a vague exploration of an idea. You should not express your interest in working for an employer in a "meaningful" or "challenging" position. Rather, because you should already have researched the needs of the employer, you should be specific about your competencies, interests and values. The letter serves as an introduction and means to ask if they would consider you to fill a particular role.

-- Steven Rothberg, President and Founder, CollegeRecruiter.com.

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