How to Write an Expression of Interest Letter That Gets Noticed in the UK

An expression of interest letter is a proactive letter sent to a UK company you want to work for, even if they haven't advertised a job opening. Its purpose is to showcase your skills, express your admiration for the company, and get on their radar for future opportunities, effectively tapping into the hidden job market. The best approach is to research the company, identify its potential needs, and tailor your letter to show how your specific achievements can add immediate value, closing with a clear call to action like a request for a brief chat.

Think of an expression of interest letter as your secret weapon for landing a role at a company you truly admire—even when they aren't officially hiring. It's a proactive move to get yourself on their radar, showing them what you've got and why you're a perfect fit for their culture before a job advert even goes live.

What Is an Expression of Interest and Why It Matters Now

Essentially, an expression of interest is you knocking on a company's door before they've even put out the "help wanted" sign. In today's competitive UK job market, this isn't just wishful thinking. It's a savvy strategy to tap into the hidden job market, where a huge number of roles are filled long before they ever see the light of day on a job board.

This approach works wonders for a few specific types of job seekers:

• Graduates trying to get a foot in the door at their dream companies.
• Career changers who need to prove their transferable skills and genuine passion for a new field.
• Senior professionals targeting a specific organisation for their next big strategic move.

Unlike a standard cover letter, which is a direct response to a job ad, an expression of interest is entirely speculative. You're reaching out to show your admiration for the company's work, their mission, or their culture, and making a compelling case for how your unique skills could help them succeed.

The goal isn't just to ask for a job. It's to start a conversation, build a professional connection, and plant a seed that you're a valuable person they should keep in mind when the right opportunity pops up.

Distinguishing Between the Two Documents

It's easy to mix up an expression of interest with a cover letter, but they have very different jobs to do. A cover letter is reactive—it's your response to a specific, advertised role. An expression of interest is proactive—you're creating an opportunity out of thin air.

For a deeper dive into crafting the perfect reactive document, our guide on how to write a cover letter that stands out has you covered.

Knowing which one to send is key. Using the right document shows you've done your research and you respect the hiring manager's time.

Expression of Interest vs Standard Cover Letter

To clear things up, here's a quick side-by-side comparison. This table breaks down the core differences in purpose, context, and what you should be focusing on in each document.

Getting this distinction right is the first step. One helps you answer an existing call, while the other helps you create a brand-new conversation.

Structuring Your Letter for Maximum Impact

A well-structured expression of interest letter is your secret weapon for getting noticed. It needs to guide the reader logically from your introduction to your final sign-off, making it dead simple for them to grasp your value. Think of it as having three crucial parts: a powerful opening, a convincing body, and a proactive close.

That first paragraph is everything. It's your one shot to make a solid first impression, so it has to be direct, confident, and get straight to the point. Ditch the vague pleasantries and tell them exactly why you're writing.

This is where you hook them in and prove you've done your research. A generic opening screams "mass mailing" and gets your letter binned. A specific, enthusiastic one makes them want to keep reading.

Crafting a Compelling Opening

Your introduction needs to achieve three things in just a couple of sentences:

• State your purpose: Clearly say you're writing to express your interest in potential opportunities at their company.
• Show genuine admiration: Mention something specific that impresses you – a recent project, one of their core values, or their standing in the market.
• Introduce your core value: Briefly hint at the key skill or experience you'd bring to the table.

For example, instead of a flat "I am writing to inquire about jobs," try something with a bit more punch: "Having followed [Company Name]'s pioneering work in sustainable packaging for the past two years, I am writing to express my keen interest in contributing my expertise in materials science to your innovative team." See the difference?

Building the Body of Your Letter

The middle paragraphs are where you make the magic happen. This is your chance to connect your skills directly to what the company might need. It's not a place to just rattle off your job history; you need to build a solid bridge between your experience and their goals.

Zero in on two or three key achievements from your career that feel most relevant to the company. And please, use numbers wherever you can. They speak volumes. Instead of saying you "improved marketing," say you "led a digital marketing campaign that increased lead generation by 45% in six months."

A strong body paragraph doesn't just say what you did; it explains the impact of what you did. It answers the silent question every hiring manager has: "How can this person help us?"

The skill of showing your impact is a universal one in professional writing. Even in academic settings, learning how to write a personal statement that gets noticed offers useful lessons in building a persuasive story. The context is different, but the goal of making a memorable impression is exactly the same.

The Proactive and Memorable Close

Your final paragraph should feel confident and forward-thinking. Your goal here is to shift from just expressing interest to actually starting a conversation. Reiterate your enthusiasm and then propose a clear next step.

Don't leave the ball in their court with a passive line like, "I look forward to hearing from you." Be bold and take the initiative.

A strong closing might look something like this: "I am confident that my background in project management and user experience design would be a valuable asset to your team. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills could support [Company Name]'s goals in a brief chat next week." It's polite, professional, and gently nudges them towards a response. You can find similar examples of effective closing statements when learning how to create a cover letter that perfectly complements your CV.

How to Research and Tailor Your Letter

Sending a generic, one-size-fits-all expression of interest letter is the quickest way to get it ignored. Let's be blunt: if you want your letter to land, you have to do your homework.

This means digging deep into the company's recent activities, its challenges, and where it's headed. Then, you need to connect your skills and experience directly to those specific needs. This isn't just about showing you're interested; it's about proving you can add real value from day one, turning a hopeful shot in the dark into a sharp, strategic career move.

Think of it as becoming a temporary expert on their business. You need to learn enough to speak their language and solve a problem they might not even know they have yet.

Digging Deeper Than the Homepage

Good research goes way beyond a quick scan of the "About Us" page. Your mission is to find timely, specific details that show you're paying attention right now.

Here's where to start:

• Recent News and Press Releases: Have they just launched a new product, secured a big funding round, or announced an expansion into a new market in the UK? Mentioning a recent win shows you're genuinely following their journey.
• Leadership on LinkedIn: What are the company's directors and senior managers talking about online? Their posts are a goldmine, often revealing key priorities, upcoming projects, and the kind of talent they're excited about.
• Industry Challenges: What are the biggest headaches for their entire sector in 2026? It could be anything from supply chain nightmares to new regulations. Showing you grasp these commercial pressures is incredibly impressive.

Spotting Potential Needs and Skill Gaps

Once you've got a clear picture of what the company is up to, you can start making some smart guesses about what they need. Your goal here is to position yourself as the solution.

For instance, if a tech firm has just published a series of blog posts about improving user experience, your letter should absolutely highlight your UX design skills and any past projects where you did just that. Suddenly, your letter isn't a simple enquiry; it's a proactive business proposal.

By aligning your skills with their visible priorities, you're not just asking for a job; you're demonstrating a strategic understanding of their business. This simple shift in framing can make all the difference.

It's not just talk. Home Office insights suggest that letters clearly explaining a candidate's motivation can boost interview callbacks by up to 30% in competitive public sectors. And for many job seekers, a smart analysis of a role can close the common 10-20% skill mismatch between their CV and the job description, making them a much stronger fit. You can see more details behind these figures in these insights from official government statistics.

Connecting Your Experience to Their Future

The final, crucial step is to weave everything you've found into your letter. Don't just list your skills. Connect every claim you make back to something specific you've learned about the company.

This proves you've not only done your research but have also given real thought to how you can fit in and contribute from the get-go.

This groundwork pays double, too. Just as with an expression of interest letter, knowing how to write a compelling CV is all about highlighting the right strengths. The research you do now will make your CV infinitely stronger. For a deeper dive, our guide on how to tailor your resume to a job description is the perfect next step.

Real-World Examples for UK Job Seekers

Theory is great, but seeing how it works in practice is what really makes the difference. Let's break down three complete expression of interest letters tailored to common UK job-seeking scenarios.

We've got a recent graduate, someone making a mid-career pivot into the charity sector, and a senior leader making a direct approach. Each one is fully annotated so you can see the thinking behind the tone, structure, and specific phrasing.

Graduate Example

Dear Recruitment Team,

I recently graduated from the University of Manchester with a BSc in Computer Science, where I developed an AI-driven chatbot that reduced customer query response time by 40%. I am writing to express my keen interest in joining TechForward's graduate programme. Your launch of the UK CloudLab project really caught my eye, and I'd be thrilled to contribute my coding skills and passion for user-centric design.

During my final-year project, I led a three-person team to optimise machine learning models for real-time analytics. This experience was fantastic for sharpening my collaboration and problem-solving abilities. Presenting our findings at the UK Data Science Conference 2026 also honed my communication skills, which I know is something you value for clear stakeholder updates.

I'd welcome the chance to discuss how my proactive approach and technical expertise could support TechForward's growth in a brief call next week.

Kind regards,

Alice Johnson

• Annotations:
  • The hook grabs attention immediately with a specific achievement and a hard number.
  • Body paragraphs connect academic projects directly to the company's own initiatives.
  • The closing suggests a clear, proactive next step.

Charity Sector Example

Dear Ms Patel,

After five years in corporate marketing, I'm eager to pivot my skills into the non-profit sector and am writing to express my interest in potential fundraising roles at CommunityRoots. Your recent UK campaign providing clean water in Malawi reflects the values I want to work for and is what motivated me to get in touch.

At GreenCorp, I led a team that increased charitable donations by 25% through targeted email campaigns and local community events. I believe I can adapt these same strategies to benefit CommunityRoots, particularly as you look to expand your youth education programme this year.

I would really appreciate the opportunity to explore how I could help over a virtual coffee. Thank you for considering my expression of interest. I hope to bring my marketing expertise to your mission.

Best wishes,

Daniel Green

Real-World Insight: When you're moving into a mission-driven sector, showing you've done your homework and genuinely align with their values is crucial. It shows this isn't just another application, but a considered career move.

Senior Leader Example

Dear Mr O'Connor,

As a Director at FinSolve with over 15 years of strategic leadership experience, I am writing to express my firm interest in executive-level opportunities at Crown Capital. Your recent strategic partnership in the UK sustainable finance sector aligns perfectly with my track record of driving £10m in revenue growth through ESG initiatives.

I specialise in forging high-impact partnerships and crafting long-term roadmaps that balance commercial goals with social responsibility. A key achievement at FinSolve was chairing the cross-functional team that launched our ESG fund, which outperformed its benchmarks by 12% in its first year.

I am keen to discuss how my leadership style and strategic vision could accelerate Crown Capital's growth. Please let me know what time would be convenient for a brief conversation.

Sincerely,

Laura Chen

Key Takeaways

So, what can we learn from these?

• Start strong. Each example opens with a powerful achievement or a specific nod to the company's recent work.
• Connect the dots. Don't just list your skills; explicitly link them to the organisation's current projects or future goals.
• Be direct. Suggest a clear next step, like a call or a meeting. Don't leave them guessing what you want.
• Numbers talk. Use specific metrics (£10m, 25%, 40%) wherever you can to prove your impact.

For more inspiration, you might find our in-depth collection of UK cover letter examples useful.

Think about how you can adapt these patterns. Your goal is to tailor every metric, every project mention, and the overall tone to fit the specific company and sector you're targeting. Getting this structure right is what will really boost your response rates.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even the sharpest candidates can undermine their chances with simple, avoidable slip-ups in their expression of interest letter. The biggest mistake? Sending something generic. A letter that feels like a copy-and-paste job will almost certainly be ignored. Your goal here is to forge a genuine connection, not just add another document to a digital pile.

Another common pitfall is focusing too much on what you want from the company, rather than what you can offer them. You need to frame your skills as solutions. Instead of saying, "I am looking for a role in marketing," try something like, "My track record of boosting lead generation by 30% could directly support your upcoming product launch." It completely changes the conversation.

Forgetting the Finer Details

Sloppy formatting and overlooked typos are instant credibility killers. These small mistakes scream a lack of attention to detail, which is a major red flag for any hiring manager. Always, always proofread your letter multiple times. Better yet, ask a friend to give it a quick once-over for a fresh pair of eyes.

In the same vein, an overly casual or arrogant tone can be a real turn-off. You're aiming for confident and competent, but also approachable and respectful. You need to strike a balance that shows you're a professional they would actually enjoy working with.

A well-crafted expression of interest letter is a strategic document. Every word, from the greeting to the sign-off, should be chosen with care to build a compelling case for why you are a candidate worth remembering.

A Final Quality Checklist

Before you hit 'send,' run through this quick checklist. These pointers will help you dodge the common traps and make sure your letter lands with the impact it deserves.

• Address a specific person: Ditch "To Whom It May Concern." A little digging on LinkedIn or the company website to find the name of the hiring manager or department head goes a long way. A personalised greeting shows you've put in the effort.
• Use strong action verbs: Kick off your sentences with dynamic words like "managed," "created," "led," or "achieved." It makes your accomplishments feel much more impactful.
• Quantify your achievements: Numbers speak louder than words. Weave in data and metrics (e.g., "increased efficiency by 15%") to give them concrete proof of what you can do.
• Keep it concise: No one wants to read a novel. Your letter should be no longer than one page. Respect the reader's time by getting straight to the point. The main reasons why generic cover letters fail often boil down to being too long and unfocused.

Your Expression of Interest Questions Answered

Once you've nailed the structure of your expression of interest letter, a few practical questions almost always come up. Getting these final details right can turn a good letter into a great one, giving you the confidence to hit 'send' and make a brilliant first impression.

Let's tackle the most common queries we see from job seekers in the UK.

Who Should I Address the Letter To?

Always hunt for a specific name. A generic "Dear Hiring Manager" is fine as a last resort, but addressing your letter to the Head of Department or a specific team lead shows you've done your homework.

A quick search on LinkedIn or the company's 'Team' page is usually all it takes to find the right person. That small bit of effort makes your expression of interest letter feel far more personal and targeted.

Should I Attach My CV?

Yes, absolutely. Attaching your CV is standard practice. It gives the hiring manager an immediate way to dig deeper if your letter has caught their eye.

Think of it as providing essential context and showing you're serious about your enquiry. Just add a simple line in your letter, like, "I have attached my CV for your convenience."

How Do I Follow Up Without Being Annoying?

Following up is a delicate dance. If two weeks have passed and you haven't heard anything, a polite, brief email is perfectly acceptable.

A simple follow-up can be: "Dear [Name], I'm just following up on the expression of interest I sent on [Date]. I remain very enthusiastic about potential opportunities at [Company Name] and would welcome any chance to discuss this further."

One follow-up is all you need. It's professional and shows you're still keen without being pushy. After that, the ball is in their court. A well-written expression of interest letter has planted the seed; now you just have to give it time to grow.

Ready to create a standout CV to attach to your letter? CV Anywhere provides the tools you need. From our AI-powered CV builder to the JD Fit Checker that ensures perfect tailoring, we help you manage your entire job search in one place. Start building your future today at https://cvanywhere.com.