Becoming a Candidate: Strategies for Preparing the Statement of Interest

Article by: Jackie Armitage, Ed.D.

When an interim opportunity is of interest to you, the Statement of Interest (SOI) can be one of the most effective tools in ensuring that you are chosen as a finalist who will participate in the campus visit. The statement is limited to approximately 400-500 words, and we ask that you comply with this length, so you must be concise in presenting yourself and your interest in the position. Recipients may be reading materials for multiple Registry members, so your Statement should be designed to capture the interest of the reader. We find that when done well, the SOI will help you to stand out.  Here are some suggestions for developing an effective statement.

Begin with a brief introduction that includes an indication of why you are interested in the position.  As you read the announcement, circle the things that are important to the institution.  In developing your SOI, be sure you cover each of these explicitly.  For example, if the institution wants you, as an experienced interim to mentor someone, give examples of when you have served as a mentor, and link it to that need; if the institution needs someone who can help to meet enrollment goals, give quantified examples of when you have done so in past positions.  This will demonstrate your fit.

Do not include information that is not directly relevant to the position or institution. Although this information may involve one of your proudest moments or accomplishments, if you are going to include it, you need to link it to the institution in some manner. Otherwise leave it to your resume!  Remember—you have limited space to present your qualifications for this position, and content within that limited space should be clearly linked to the needs of the institution.

Language and tone also matters in the SOI. Be positive in your approach—do not say “I don’t really have experience with x, but….” Rather, choose a positive, “I believe my experience with y and z give me insight into x.” Often, we have transferable skills and experiences that can be highlighted as being relevant to one of the institution’s stated needs, but we need to make the connection in an explicit way. 

Complete your SOI with a strong conclusive statement, for example: “In summary, I am confident that my experience with similar institutions and my successes in the roll of [position] means that I can contribute significantly to [name of institution] in meeting [overall goal, such as fundraising, enrollment targets, campaign contributions, etc.].

As new Registry members prepare their first Statement of Interest, there are often questions about format. The format is up to you—for example, you can use bulleted items if that works for you, but the bottom line is to be sure that your SOI is easy to read and draws the reader to the points you wish to make.

Finally, make your statement about what you can do for the institution, not what the institution can do for you!  For example, although you may be attracted to the area of the country or to the city that is home to the institution, be sure to make that a bonus, not the central reason for your interest. You should be clear in conveying your interest in the institution itself, and your belief that you can make a difference to them.

In conclusion, let me emphasize that the Statement of Interest is a reflection of who you are as an individual and as a professional, so do let it reflect your personality. The overall tone should be yours, and the suggestions presented in this article should be incorporated from your perspective! Write your SOI from your heart, and let it communicate your enthusiasm as you continue to offer significant contributions to higher education and potentially to this institution! 

Editor’s note: this article is based on an October 2017 presentation to Registry members at the 25th Registry Annual Seminar.