What Is a Letter of Introduction?

Networking is an essential part of the working world. On the job search, you may need to introduce yourself to new employers who are hiring. In the workplace, you may be asked to introduce two of your friends or co-workers who could help each other out.

In these scenarios, you would have to write a letter of introduction. Letters of introduction are used to either introduce yourself to someone you have not met, or make a connection between two people you know. In this guide, we’re going to focus on how to write a letter of introduction between two parties.

We’re also going to discuss when you may use a letter of introduction, and the main components that make up a good letter of introduction. We’ll also provide an example of a letter of introduction that you can use to help you reinforce your understanding of the document.

What Is a Letter of Introduction?

A letter of introduction, which is often sent through email, is used to introduce two colleagues, friends, or connections to each other. You may also use a letter of introduction to introduce yourself to an employer.

Knowing how to write a letter of introduction is a valuable skill. A good letter of introduction is clear, concise, and communicates the intent behind the introduction.

How to Write a Letter of Introduction

So, now you know when you may want to write a letter of introduction. But how do you actually go about writing one of these letters? Let’s walk through the basic components that all letters of introduction should include.

#1: Opening Greeting

The first part of a letter of introduction is a greeting. This should be short, and use a friendly tone. Here is an example greeting for a letter of introduction:

“Hello Peter,

I hope your day is going well!”

#2: Explain Your Intent

Once you’ve written a greeting, you should clearly explain your intent behind breaking the introduction. Why do you think the two people you are introducing should talk? Here is an example sentence that explains your intent:

“I am writing this note to follow up on your request for referrals to contract content marketers who can help us implement the new content initiative.”

#3: Introduce the Person

Your next step is to introduce the recipient to the person you’re introducing.

To do so, you should first mention their full name. Then, you should give some background information on the person you are introducing. This is to help the reader have some context about this person. 

In our last example, the author wrote to say that they were following up on a request for introductions to content marketers. If the person the author is introducing is a content marketer, we could use the following introduction:

“I would like to introduce you to Emma Michaels. Emma is a creative freelance marketer who has five years working with clients such as ABC, EFG, and HIG.”

#4: Explain How the Person Can Help

You should also explain how the person can help the recipient achieve their goals.

In our last example, the author mentioned that Emma Michaels, the person who was being introduced, was a content marketer. Here is how we could explain how the person could help the recipient:

“I had coffee with Emma earlier today and we spoke about her availability to take on new projects. She mentioned that she has experience launching the type of initiative we are looking to spearhead and that she could help us out. Emma is willing to hop on a call next week to discuss this further.”

#6: Write a Closing Statement

Once you have made the introduction, you should add a closing statement. This will briefly summarize the next steps that you think should be taken, now that the introduction has been made. Here is an example closing statement for a letter of introduction:

“I have told Emma to expect an email from you if you are interested in talking. You can contact her either by responding to this email (Emma is CC’d), or you can send her an email directly at emma.michaels@gmail.com.”

Your closing statement should be followed by a sign-off and your signature, like this:

“Thanks,

James Haverford

Marketing Associate”

Example Letter of Introduction

Below is an example of a professional letter of introduction that you can use as inspiration when you start to write your own letter.

Hello Eric,

I hope you had a good long weekend!

"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"

Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot

Find Your Bootcamp Match

I am writing this email to introduce you to Theo Vaughn, our new HR Manager. Theo has been working in HR for seven years and has extensive experience in managing human relations in large organizations. As we begin to formalize our new HR policies, Theo’s experience will be invaluable.

Theo will be working with you closely on the upcoming HR policy project. He will be taking the lead over the new initiative and will facilitate you when discussing our past policies, what documentation we already have in place, and what needs to be done to update our policies in line with new regulations.

You can follow up with Theo by sending him an email (he is CC’d), or in our company Slack channel as appropriate. I encourage you both to meet within the next few days to get to know each other before this new project begins.

Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.

Thanks,

Carly Farrow

VP of People

Conclusion

Letters of introduction are an important part of professional networking.

A professional letter of introduction allows you to break the ice between two people and give them a written record of the introduction. This will make it easier for all parties to keep track of the fact that initial contact has been made.

In addition, letters of introduction are designed to be actionable, and so all one party needs to do is respond—all the relevant context is already in the initial letter.

By following the advice in this article, you should be able to write an effective letter of introduction that makes you look more professional in the workplace.