A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing an Expression of Interest (EOI)

This article was co-authored by James Pak and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano. James Pak is a Career Coach and Founder of LA Career Coaching. With over eight years of industry experience, James specializes in career guidance, professional development, and graduate school and college admissions consulting for students. He offers one-on-one coaching services and works with students in college and high school. He received his MBA from Columbia Business School and a B.S. from Boston College.

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In business writing, an expression of interest (or EOI) is a document usually written by prospective job applicants. Like its name suggests, an expression of interest tells a prospective employer that you're highly interested in working for their company. Additionally, a well-written expression of interest shares why you'd be a great asset for their business' team. Here, we'll tell you everything you need to know to craft an amazingly convincing EOI that'll get you one step closer to getting hired.

Open with a formal salutation and briefly introduce yourself. Explain your work history and how your experience qualifies you for the job. Describe your relevant skills and explain why you’re the best person to work with the company’s team. Sign off with your full name and contact information.

Expression of Interest Template

Writing Your EOI

• Remember, employers love hearing why their job is more attractive to you than other ones because it makes you seem loyal from the get-go.
• For instance, if you're applying for a government IT position, you might want to talk about how a job with the government gives you a chance to use your skills to serve the greater good of the community.

• For instance, you might whittle your EOI's purpose down to something like: "The purpose of this letter is to demonstrate how I can use my unique skills and experience in a high-demand veterinary aide role."

• If you don't know who this person is, you can either call the company to ask (which shows major initiative) or use a general greeting like "Dear Hiring Professional,".
• Note that most business resources now recommend against using "To Whom it May Concern," since this opener can come across as a little stilted and impersonal.
• Whenever you can use someone's name, definitely include it—this extra step adds more warmth and personality to your letter while keeping it formal. [4] X Research source

• For instance, if you're applying for a role as a veterinary assistant, the following might be a perfectly fine introductory section — it tells who you are and why you're writing in under 3 sentences:
• "My name is Alex Lester, and I am very interested in working in your office as a veterinary assistant. Beyond my education and experience, my passion for this work and tending to people's pets make me a great addition for your practice."

• It's okay if you're just starting out in your chosen field! For instance, if you're applying for your first-ever job as a line cook in a local restaurant, you might describe your culinary background (including any cooking classes) as well as non-cooking work you've done in restaurants (like serving, hosting, etc.).

• Personality. Are you friendly and honest? Have you generally gotten along with your coworkers in the past? Employers like hiring team players — people who will keep a positive attitude at work and keep company morale high.
• Social preferences. Are you a talkative, gregarious extrovert? Are you a quiet, focused introvert? Your habits for interacting with other people can have a serious effect on your job performance — some jobs demand great talkers while others don't.
• Goals and passions. Is this job something you love to do? Can it help you make achieve what you've always dreamed about? Employers like hiring people with intense personal motivations for taking the job.

For instance, you might conclude with:

Feel free to contact me via phone at (303) 555-4444 or email at alex.lester@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Thank you for your time and consideration.

Polishing an Expression of Interest

• If you have time, take a quick break between when you complete your EOI and when you start proofreading. Most writing experts recommend looking at your writing with a fresh pair of eyes so you can spot mistakes more easily. [9] X Research source
• Avoid using overly complicated language or jargon in an attempt to impress the recipient. Hiring professionals are not likely to appreciate having to wade through a lengthy EOI just to find your skills and qualifications.

• For example, if you're talking about your work history, the sentence "From 2002 to 2006, I worked as a freelance consultant for several personal contacts" sounds much more dignified than "From 2002 to 2006, I did a little freelance work for a couple of guys I know", even though both statements have almost the same meaning.
• Take care to keep these formatting issues in mind:
  • Headings: In the top left corner of the letter, provide your name, address, phone number, and email address (each on a separate line). Leave a space between your heading and salutation.
  • Spacing: Keep the text in your paragraphs single-spaced. Leave a space between each new paragraph.
  • Indents: Either indent the first sentence of each paragraph or leave them aligned with the left side of the page. Many sources recommend against indenting if you skip lines between paragraphs. [10] X Research source
  • Closings: Leave 3 spaces between your closing (e.g., "Sincerely,") and your name.

  

  • Work from a printed page, not a computer screen. Seeing your work in a different format lets you view how it appears on the page and can help cure a case of "glazed-over eyes" from looking at a computer screen for hours.
  • Read out loud. Hearing your text with your ears in addition to seeing it with your eyes gives you a new and effective way to detect any errors. This is especially good for spotting run-on sentences that might otherwise escape you.
  • Get a friend to help. Someone who's never seen the text before may be able to see errors that you can't. Often, spending a long time writing a document can make you overlook errors in it that you've gotten used to seeing.
  Advertisement Section 3 of 5:

  Sample EOI

  

  Marcos Lupin
  Montpelier, Vermont
  (802) 555-9000
  marcos.lupin@gmail.com
  linkedin.com/in/marcos-lupin

  Dear Ms. McGonagall,

  My name is Marcos Lupin, and I am very interested in working at your dynamic and energetic workplace at Rascal Ranch as a Puppy Wrangler and Dog Training Assistant. I have devoted my life to the wellbeing of animals and have been enchanted by canine psychology from a very young age. Not only that—I received my MAP (Master of Animal Protection) from Vermont Law & Graduate School with a concentration on animal behavior and the humane treatment of animals. Based on my background, I believe I would be a perfect fit for your community of kind-hearted individuals and their furry friends.

  I graduated from my alma mater with a 4.1 GPA and received honors in my subject. Shortly thereafter, I traveled to Africa, where I took part in a task force to dye the tusks of elephants and rhinoceroses to fend off poachers. I also spent two years at California Wolf Center rehabilitating and reintegrating wolves into their natural habitats. I can safely say that I have learned the ins and outs of interacting with and serving all types of creatures, so I know that wrangling puppies would become second nature to me!

  I have always wanted to dedicate all my attention to cultivating good habits in animals and have been seeking a career path where I can serve our nation’s pets and improve their quality of lives. I am also willing to adapt to any schedule for the chance to work with your adorable clientele. I know that, with a partnership with your company, great things are bound to happen. I see many smiles and wagging tails in our future!

  Please feel free to contact me via phone at (802) 555-9000 or email at marcos.lupin@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Thank you for your time and consideration.