# Letter of Interest on current letterhead? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-of-interest-on-current-letterhead/711253 "2015-01-29T18:41:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-of-interest-on-current-letterhead/711253/1 "2015-01-29T18:41:34Z")
When applying for a job and one’s employer doesn’t _know_ that one is applying for any job, is or ain’t it appropriate to send the letter of interest on the company’s/entity’s letterhead? The letterhead names who’s on the entity’s board, if that matters. Also, what exactly is the diff between a letter of interest and a letter of introduction anymore, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-of-interest-on-current-letterhead/711253/2 "2015-01-29T18:49:27Z")
It is never appropriate to use your current employer’s letterhead to do any personal business. This definitely includes applying for a job at another company. I am, frankly, astonished that one might be possessed of any other notion. Letters of interest are written by oneself; letters of introduction are written by third parties, if one is an ambassador, and not at all otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-of-interest-on-current-letterhead/711253/3 "2015-01-29T18:53:01Z")
> [@whc.03grady](#): > > When applying for a job and one’s employer doesn’t _know_ that one is applying for any job, is or ain’t it appropriate to send the letter of interest on the company’s/entity’s letterhead? The letterhead names who’s on the entity’s board, if that matters. > > Also, what exactly is the diff between a letter of interest and a letter of introduction anymore, anyway? It’s not appropriate to send a letter of interest for a future job on your current company letterhead. ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-of-interest-on-current-letterhead/711253/4 "2015-01-29T20:27:55Z")
That’s what I suspected but the person I’m asking for was in doubt. Maybe the (strong) viewpoints of two objective strangers will count for something. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-of-interest-on-current-letterhead/711253/5 "2015-01-29T21:10:51Z")
I’m also having a hard time understanding how anyone could think this was a good idea. What possible reason would you have in using your current company’s stationary? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-of-interest-on-current-letterhead/711253/6 "2015-01-29T21:22:50Z")
> [@whc.03grady](#): > > When applying for a job and one’s employer doesn’t _know_ that one is applying for any job, is or ain’t it appropriate to send the letter of interest on the company’s/entity’s letterhead? The letterhead names who’s on the entity’s board, if that matters. You should not use company letterhead unless you are speaking on behalf of the company. It’s also a good idea not to use “ain’t” in the letter. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-of-interest-on-current-letterhead/711253/7 "2015-01-29T22:52:26Z")
Don’t use your company email account either. Some things are just tacky. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-of-interest-on-current-letterhead/711253/8 "2015-01-29T23:01:00Z")
It should take less than five minutes to create your own personal letterhead using Word on a rented computer at The-Establishment-Formerly-Known-As-Kinko’s. Otherwise, you are almost certainly going to alienate both your nearly former employer, and you’re showing poor judgment to any potential future employer. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-of-interest-on-current-letterhead/711253/9 "2015-01-29T23:07:48Z")
> [@whc.03grady](#): > > That’s what I suspected but the person I’m asking for was in doubt. Maybe the (strong) viewpoints of two objective strangers will count for something. Thanks. I’m curious what your friend wants accomplish by using the letterhead. If he wants to document his employment he should send his resume. If he wants to look professional, creating his own letterhead or using good paper and professional business letter format will do that.