What Exactly is a Letter of Intent for a Job Offer?
A letter of intent for a job offer, often called a pre-offer letter or heads-up offer, is a document that a company sends to a candidate to express their serious interest in hiring them. It's not the final, legally binding offer letter, but rather a confirmation that the company intends to extend one. This document is important because it provides clarity and helps both parties ensure they are on the same page regarding fundamental aspects of the potential employment. It's a sign that you've impressed them and they want to move forward with you. Here's what you can typically find in a letter of intent:- Job title and brief description
- Proposed salary range
- Start date (often tentative)
- Reporting structure
- Key benefits overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Junior Marketing Associate |
| Salary Indication | $45,000 - $55,000 annually |
| Next Step | Formal offer letter to follow pending background check |
Example: Letter of Intent for a General Position
Dear [Candidate Name],
Following our recent conversations, we are pleased to extend this letter of intent to offer you the position of [Job Title] at [Company Name]. We were very impressed with your skills and experience during the interview process, and we believe you would be a valuable asset to our team.
This letter outlines our preliminary intentions regarding your employment. We anticipate offering you a starting salary in the range of [Salary Range] per year, with a projected start date of [Tentative Start Date]. Further details regarding benefits, vacation time, and other terms of employment will be included in a formal offer letter, which we expect to send to you within [Number] business days, pending the successful completion of our standard pre-employment screening process.
We are excited about the possibility of you joining us and look forward to discussing this further. Please feel free to reach out if you have any immediate questions.
Sincerely,
[Hiring Manager Name]
[Hiring Manager Title]
Example: Letter of Intent for a Tech Role
Hi [Candidate Name],
It was a pleasure speaking with you about the [Job Title] role at [Company Name]. We’re very excited about your technical background and think you’d be a great fit for our engineering team.
This letter serves as our intent to formally offer you the position. We're looking at a starting salary of approximately [Salary Range] annually, with a target start date of [Tentative Start Date]. We’ll finalize all details, including stock options and health benefits, in a formal offer letter that we aim to send by [Date]. This will be contingent on completing our background and reference checks.
We’re eager to have you on board and believe you’ll thrive here. Let us know if anything comes up.
Best regards,
[Hiring Manager Name]
[Hiring Manager Title]
Example: Letter of Intent for an Internship
Dear [Student Name],
Thank you for your interest in the [Internship Title] internship at [Company Name]. We enjoyed learning about your academic pursuits and enthusiasm during your interview.
This letter confirms our intent to offer you this internship position. We envision this role as a [Duration] commitment, beginning on [Tentative Start Date]. While this is a preliminary offer, we intend to provide a stipend of [Stipend Amount] per [Period] and expose you to valuable projects in our [Department Name] department. A detailed internship agreement, outlining all terms and responsibilities, will be provided shortly.
We are looking forward to the possibility of you joining our team and gaining practical experience with us.
Sincerely,
[Internship Coordinator Name]
[Internship Coordinator Title]
Example: Letter of Intent for a Contract Position
Subject: Letter of Intent - [Job Title] Contract Position
Dear [Candidate Name],
This letter outlines our intention to engage your services for the [Job Title] role at [Company Name] on a contract basis.
We are pleased to propose an hourly rate of [Hourly Rate] for this role, with an estimated project duration of [Estimated Duration]. We anticipate commencing this contract around [Tentative Start Date]. A comprehensive contract agreement, detailing scope of work, payment terms, and termination clauses, will be prepared and sent to you for review within [Number] business days. This engagement is subject to successful completion of our standard contractor onboarding procedures.
We are confident in your ability to contribute to our project and look forward to a successful collaboration.
Regards,
[Hiring Manager Name]
[Hiring Manager Title]
Example: Letter of Intent Clarifying Role Progression
Dear [Candidate Name],
Following up on our discussion for the [Initial Job Title] position, we’re excited to formally express our intent to bring you onto the [Company Name] team.
Beyond the initial role, we want to highlight our commitment to your growth. This letter of intent confirms our intention to offer you the [Initial Job Title] position with a starting salary of [Salary]. It is also our intention to review you for promotion to [Future Job Title] within [Timeframe], which would come with a corresponding salary increase to [Future Salary], contingent on your performance and the needs of the business. We believe this pathway offers a clear vision for your career development with us. A formal offer letter detailing the initial terms will follow shortly, after our standard checks are complete.
We are eager to see you succeed here.
Sincerely,
[Hiring Manager Name]
[Hiring Manager Title]
Example: Letter of Intent After Informal Discussion
Hi [Candidate Name],
It was great chatting with you informally about potential opportunities at [Company Name]. Based on our conversation, we’re very interested in moving forward and extending you a formal offer for the [Job Title] position.
This letter serves as our intent to offer you the role. We’re planning for a starting salary of [Salary Range] and aim for a start date of [Tentative Start Date]. We’ll have the official offer letter, complete with all the details on benefits and other employment terms, sent to you by [Date]. Please consider this a strong indication of our interest in bringing you onboard.
Let us know if you have any questions before we send the official document.
Best,
[Hiring Manager Name]
[Hiring Manager Title]