What is a Job Application Letter?

A letter of application, also known as a cover letter, is a

document sent with your resume to provide additional
information about your skills and experience. The letter of
application is intended to provide detailed information on
why are you are a qualified candidate for the job you are
applying for. Effective application letters explain the reasons
for your interest in the specific organization and identify your
most relevant skills or experiences.

An application letter should be professional and to the

point. Your application letter should let the employer know
what position you are applying for, what makes you a strong
candidate, why they should select you for an interview, and
how you will follow up.

Do you need to write a letter to apply for a job? Most of

the time, the answer is yes. Even in the rare cases when
employers don’t require a job application letter, writing one
will help you highlight your skills and achievements and get
the hiring manager’s attention.

Hard Copy Letter vs. Email

The formatting information below is for a hard copy,

printed out letter. If you are sending an email application
letter, the structure is quite similar, although there are a few
important differences. 

The main difference in an email is that you need to

include a subject line that clearly lays out your purpose for
writing. And, instead of placing your contact information at
the top of the letter, as you would in a hard copy, you'll
include it below your signature.
Writing Guidelines for Job Application Letters

Writing a job application letter is very different from a

quick email to a friend or a thank-you note to a relative.
Hiring managers and potential interviewers have certain
expectations when it comes to the letter's presentation and
appearance, from length (no more than a page) to font
size and style to letter spacing:

(STRUCTURE)

Length: A letter of application should be no more than one

page long.

Format and Page Margins: A letter of application should be

single-spaced with a space between each paragraph. Use
about 1" margins and align your text to the left, which is the
standard alignment for most documents.

Font: Use a traditional font such as Times New Roman,

Arial, or Calibri. The font size should be between 10 and 12
points.

What to Include in Each Section of the Letter

There are also set rules for the sections included in the letter,
from salutation to sign-off, and how the letter is organized.
Here's a quick lowdown on the main sections included in a
job application letter:

Heading: A letter of application should begin with both your

and the employer's contact information (name, address,
phone number, email) followed by the date. If this is an
email rather than an actual letter, include your contact
information at the end of the letter, after your signature.
Salutation: This is your polite greeting. The most common
salutation is "Dear Mr./Ms." followed by the person's last
name. Find out more about appropriate cover letter
salutations, including what to do if you don't know the
person's name, or are unsure of a contact's gender.

 Examples of General Salutations

 Dear Hiring Manager
 To Whom It May Concern
 Dear Human Resources Manager
 Dear Sir or Madam
 Dear Company Name Recruiter
 Punctuation

Body of the letter: Think of this section as being three distinct

parts.

In the first paragraph, you'll want to mention the job you

are applying for and where you saw the job listing.

The next paragraph(s) are the most important part of your

letter. Remember how you gathered all that information about
what employers were seeking, and how you could meet their
needs? This is where you'll share those relevant details on
your experience and accomplishments.

The third and last part of the body of the letter will be

your thank you to the employer; you can also offer follow-up
information.

Complimentary Close: Sign off your email with a polite

close, such as "Best" or "Sincerely," followed by your name.
 Example to use Closing not to use
Sincerely Affectionately
Sincerely yours Best wishes
Regards Cheers
Best XOXO
Best regards Fondly
With best regards Warm regards
Kind regards Yours
Yours truly Warmly
Most sincerely Take care
Respectfully Take it easy
Respectfully yours Have a great day
Thank you Have a nice day
Thank you for your Love
consideration

Signature: End with your signature, handwritten, followed by

your typed name. If this is an email, simply include your
typed name, followed by your contact information.

Language features

1. Use simple present tense

2. Use formal language or not slang
3. Targeted subject line, include the job title and a
branding statement
4. Explain the obvious reason why you are writing in
opening statement
5. Explain your accompliments which the company
may need to hire you
6. Write politely, effectively, and communicative
7. Use the verbs to indicate actions and feelings
8. Use the future tense for suggesting solutions to
problems the job
Tips for Writing an Effective Letter

A cover letter can either help or harm you. In order to

ensure that your job application supports your resume, rather
than detracts from it, follow these tips:

 Always write one. Unless a job posting specifically

says not to send a letter of application or cover letter,
you should always send one. Even if the company does
not request a letter of application, it never hurts to
include one. If they do ask you to send a letter, make
sure to follow the directions exactly (for example, they
might ask you to send the letter as an email attachment,
or type it directly into their online application system).
Following application directions is the first step to
getting selected for an interview.

 Use business letter format. Use a formal business

letter format when writing your letter. Include your
contact information at the top, the date, and the
employer’s contact information. Be sure to provide a
salutation at the beginning, and your signature at the
end.
 Sell yourself. Throughout the letter, focus on how you
would benefit the company. Provide specific examples
of times when you demonstrated skills or abilities that
would be useful for the job, especially those listed in
the job posting or description. If possible, include
examples of times when you added value to a company.
Numerical values offer concrete evidence of your skills
and accomplishments.

 Use keywords. Reread the job listing, circling

any keywords (such as skills or abilities that are
emphasized in the listing). Try to include some of those
 words in your cover letter. This will help the employer
see that you are a strong fit for the job.
 Keep it brief. Keep your letter under a page long, with
no more than about four paragraphs. An employer is
more likely to read a concise letter.
 Edit, edit, edit. Employers are likely to overlook an
application with a lot of errors. Therefore, read through
your cover letter, and if possible ask a friend or career
counselor to review the letter. Proofread for any
grammar or spelling errors.
 Do not copy your resume. The purpose of this letter is
to show that you are a strong candidate and to highlight
your relevant experience and abilities. Since your
application letter will be accompanied by your resume,
make sure the letter does not duplicate your resume
exactly. Your resume is a general record of your
experience, education, and accomplishments. In
contrast, your application letter should show how
exactly your background makes you a good fit for a
particular position.
 Tailor each application letter to the job. As
mentioned above, emphasize in your letter why you are
an ideal candidate for the specific job. This requires that
you personalize each letter to fit the specific company
and position. Here's information on how you can
closely match your qualifications to the job posting. 
 Be professional. Application letters have a fairly rigid
format — as hiring managers read your letter, they will
expect to see certain information included in set areas.
You have freedom within the structure to be personable,
but it is important to stick to a certain level of formality.
Pay particular attention to the professionalism of
your salutation and what you call the employer. You
 wouldn't, for instance, want to refer to the letter's
recipient by the first name unless specifically requested.

 Get off to a direct start: In your first paragraph,

explain why you are writing. Mention the job title and
company name, and also where you came across the job
listing. While you can also briefly mention why you are
a strong candidate, this section should be short and to-
the-point.
 Offer something different than what's in your
resume: It's rare to send an application letter without
also sending a resume. Your application letter,
therefore, should not duplicate your resume. Your
language can be a bit more personal than in resume
bullet points — you can tell a narrative about your work
experience and career.

 Make a good case. Your first goal with this letter is to

move on to the next step: an interview. Your
overarching goal, of course, is to get a job offer. Use
your application letter to further both of these causes.
Offer details about your experience and background
that show why you are a good candidate. How have
other jobs prepared you for the position? What would
you bring to the position, and to the company?  Use this
space to emphasize your strengths.
 Close with all the important details. Include a thank
you at the end of your letter. You can also share your
contact information. If you'd like, mention how you will
follow up.
Some Common Mistakes to Avoid

Skimming the instructions and missing the real intent of the

application questions. Read carefully and don't rush. After
all, who wants an employee who doesn't follow directions?

Writing "see attached" to avoid filling in material on the

application. Many employers will screen primarily on the
application itself, so you need to fill in all the blanks even if
the information is duplicated on an attached resume.

Supplying generic statements about your skills or

experiences. Instead, highlight and front load the skills and
experiences most relevant to your target job.

Fabricating or exaggerating your

qualifications. Dishonesty and fabricated information are
grounds for immediate dismissal, so avoid the temptation to
make up or puff up your credentials.

Related to This Is:

Applying to jobs you’re not qualified for. If the position

requires an advanced degree or a certain number of years of
experience that you don’t possess, don’t waste your or the
hiring manager’s time applying.

Submitting your application to the wrong person or

department. Make sure you direct your application to the
individual or department referenced in the ad or job post.

You might copy other contacts you have at the company: "I
thought you might want to see the materials which I
submitted to HR given our helpful informational meeting last
week."
Spelling or grammatical errors. Copy and paste online
descriptions into a spelling and grammar checker like Word
first. Put your finger on every word and make sure it is
spelled correctly. Read your document out loud to check for
grammatical errors and, when possible, have another set of
eyes review your document before submission.

Writing descriptions that don't include

accomplishments. Even though the application says job
description, take that to mean a description of how you added
value as opposed to a bland list of duties. Using numbers to
quantify descriptions is a good way to highlight
accomplishments, “Managed financial oversight of $500,000
annual fundraiser.”

Neglecting to explain job gaps. If you have legitimate

reasons for gaps in employment, find a way to explain why
you were out of work such as "I left in good standing to care
for my newborn baby or a terminally ill parent."

Listing an unprofessional sounding email address. Set up

a separate email account for job-related purposes that doesn't
include anything like partygirl@yahoo.com.
Sample Job Application Letter

Elizabeth Johnson
12 Jones Street
Portland, Maine 04101
555-555-5555
email@emailaddress.com

January 14, 20__

Mark Smith
Human Resources Manager
Veggies to Go
238 Main Street
Portland, Maine 04101

Dear Mr. Smith,

I was so excited when my former coworker, Jay Lopez, told me about

your opening for an administrative assistant in your Portland offices.
A long-time Veggies to Go customer and an experienced admin, I
would love to help the company achieve its mission of making healthy
produce as available as takeout.

I’ve worked for small companies for my entire career, and I relish the
opportunity to wear many hats and work with the team to succeed. In
my latest role as an administrative assistant at Beauty Corp, I saved
my employer thousands of dollars in temp workers by implementing a
self-scheduling system for the customer service reps that cut down on
canceled shifts. I also learned web design, time sheet coding, and
perfected my Excel skills. 

I’ve attached my resume for your consideration and hope to speak

with you soon about your needs for the role.

Best Regards,

Handwritten Signature (for a hard copy letter)

Typed Signature
 Bahasa Inggris

‘Application Letter’

Anggota Kelompok:

Teddy maulansyah

Abil launal

Ade wirda

Alfian dimas

Ananda perdana

Annisa husnul

Ardie yoga

Arini ferya

Winda sari

Kelas:

XII MIA 5
 Nama Tempat-tanggal Agama Keterangan ttd

Teddy M

Abil launal

Ade wirda

Alfian dimas

Ananda perdana

Annisa husnul

Ardie yoga

Arini ferya

Winda sari