STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

To start, try googling "letter of interest" sample. I just did, and a whole bunch popped up.

Generally, letters of interest are written when there's not a specific position but you are still sending out your resume to the company. It sounds more like what the fellowships are asking for are closer to a cover letter.

Cover letters are relatively simple- they are really just used to explain in more detail the highlights from your resume, with a emphasis on how those highlights are applicable to the position requirements. You use this letter to tell the company what you will bring to their workforce.

In the case of a fellowship, it should be pretty similar. One of the best ways, I think, to write a cover letter is to use words or ideas (but not exact phrases!!!) from their misison statement or from the position posting. So, for instace, if I was applying for a fellowship with a non-profit public policy think tank, I would tailor my cover letter closer to what thier mission statement is. Or maybe if I was looking at doing a fellowship with a hospital, I would look at what thier statement says. Most major companies/organizations will have something similar to a mission statement on thier webpage, generally on thier "About Us" section. 

-- Edited by relrel at 12:33, 2008-10-25