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How to Write a Letter of Intent: Expert Tips, Templates & AI Best Practices

Step-by-step guide to craft compelling LOIs with the help of AI for any opportunity.

If you’re trying to get into a graduate program, finding out about job opportunities that haven’t been listed yet, or want to get a professional collaboration, you should know how to write a Letter of Intent (LOI). However, for lots of students, it is challenging because they’re never quite sure where to start or how to get the thoughts they have into a proper format. This guide is here to help you understand these things and give you practical recommendations on how to write a letter of intent with AI tools.

What is a Letter of Intent?

A letter of intent is a document that helps you say who you are and why you’d like to be a part of what someone else is doing. With an LOI, you can apply for a job position, indicate that you'd like to join up to work with a team, program, or opportunity that doesn't exist yet, effectively. These letters are used in different cases: students use LOIs when applying to grad school, professionals use LOIs in business to land deals and future gigs at a company. 

While a casual message or email could be quickly absorbed and discarded, an LOI has the form and function of an official offering. It’s a professional introduction designed to work for you both now and later.

Letter of Intent for a Job vs. Cover Letter

It’s easy to confuse a letter of intent with a cover letter, but there are key differences. A cover letter is usually tailored to a specific job opening and highlights how your skills match the job description. An LOI, on the other hand, is broader; it’s about expressing interest in an organization or opportunity, even if a specific position hasn’t been advertised.

FeatureLetter of IntentCover Letter
PurposeExpress interest in a company or intentionApply for a specific job
FocusGoals, fit, and potentialSkills match to job
When UsedNo specific openingJob is posted

How to Start a Letter of Intent 

Writing an intent letter begins with a clear introduction that mentions your name and states your reason for writing. From there, move into a few short paragraphs that present your background and connect it directly to the organization or program. 

Then, follow the standard letter of intent outline in a logical order. Contact details at the top, a greeting, and an opening paragraph that sets your purpose, a body that explains your skills and motivations, and a closing that invites further discussion. For example, in the intro you might explain what drew you to the organization's work, while in the body you give specific examples of your achievements. The conclusion should reaffirm your interest and provide a natural call to action. 

What to Include in a Letter of Intent for Maximum Impact

Every section of the intent letter should serve a purpose. In the opening, show enthusiasm and state your intent clearly. In the body, tie your skills and experiences directly to what the organization values. And in the end, express gratitude and a willingness to follow up. 

This is where you can use AI to enhance your work. For instance, with JustDone, you can refine each section so it's specific, engaging, and factually correct. The platform's fact-checking feature is especially valuable if you're mentioning company achievements, quoting program statistics, or referring to recent projects. 

How to Format a Letter of Intent

The format of a letter of intent is simple: you just need to stick to standard business letter conventions. Use a clean, professional font, keep margins consistent, and align text to the left. Paragraphs should be concise, and the overall document should fit neatly onto one page. 

JustDone can help you with a proper format for a LOI so that it will look professional on a laptop, mobile, or printed on paper. This tool can also generate multiple style variations so you can choose one that fits the tone of your goal – more formal for academia, slightly warmer for more creative fields.

AI Best Practices for Writing a Letter of Intent

Using AI while writing a LOI can save hours, but only if you follow a responsible process. Start with a draft generation, but never stop here and send it unedited. Did you know professors or recruiters check your intent letter for AI detection? So always review for accuracy, natural flow, and alignment with your personality. 

With JustDone, you can go beyond generation. The AI Humanizer rewrites robotic sentences into natural, human-like language. The built-in AI detector shows if your text can be flagged. And the fact-checker ensures every detail about the company or program that you add is correct. 

Letter of Intent Example

With the help of our tool JustDone, we generated a well-structured letter of intent example. Look at it, analyze its style and structure, and use it as a draft for your personalized LOI.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
[Recipient’s Name]
[Their Title]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I’m reaching out to express my interest in collaborating with [Company Name] as a freelance professional on your upcoming [Project Name or Type] initiative. With a strong background in [Your Industry/Field] and hands-on experience managing complex, results-driven projects, I believe I can offer valuable support to your team.

For over [Number of Years] years, I’ve worked extensively in [Relevant Skills or Services], building a portfolio that reflects both creative vision and strategic execution. One of my recent projects, [Brief Project Name or Description], led to [Key Outcome or Result], demonstrating my ability to deliver tangible results under pressure.

I’m especially enthusiastic about this opportunity because of [Mention Specific Reason – e.g., company reputation, project impact, shared values]. I’m confident that my experience in [Mention Relevant Skill or Tool] will allow me to contribute meaningfully and help achieve your goals efficiently and effectively.

If selected for this project, I would be ready to deliver:
- [Key Deliverable or Service]
- [Another Key Contribution or Responsibility]
- [Any Additional Value or Support Offered]

I’ve included my portfolio and references for your consideration and would welcome the chance to discuss how we can work together to bring this project to life. Please let me know a convenient time for a call or meeting.

Thank you for considering this proposal. I’m excited about the possibility of contributing to [Company Name] and look forward to speaking with you soon.

Warm regards,
[Your Name]

Final Thoughts on Writing a Letter of Intent

Knowing how to write a letter of intent is about balance: structure and clarity on one side, authenticity and personalization on the other.  The outline gives you a roadmap, but your voice and attention to detail make your intent letter impactful. In a world where AI can produce hundreds of LOIs in seconds, the winning letters will be the ones that sound real, reflect accurate details, and feel personally crafted for the recipient. JustDone makes it possible, from drafting to fact-checking to humanizing your text, so that your letter of intent arrives not just on time, but exactly how you want it to be read. 

by Sofia ChambersPublished at April 7, 2025 • Updated at August 15, 2025
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