Application letter

What are application letter?

Also known as a cover letter, an application letter is a summary of your strongest and most relevant skills
and abilities that will be expanded in your resume or selection criteria. It introduces you to potential
employers and highlights your suitability for the position you are applying for.

All written applications should include an application letter. In many cases, your application letter is just as
important as your resume. It is unlikely that your resume will be read if your application letter doesn't
make a good first impression.
An application letter should:
Be professional in appearance
Be tailored to the job under application
Be one A4 page in length
Be addressed to a specific person (only use Dear Sir/Madam if you're unable to find out the appropriate
person's name)
Include your reason for writing
Demonstrate your interest in and knowledge of the organisation
Highlight relevant skills and experience you have to offer
Include evidence that you have the skills sought after by the employer
Refer to any documents you have enclosed in the application (e.g. resume)
Express willingness for an interview
Be written using enthusiastic and positive language

An application letter should NOT:

Be generic
Apologise for qualities, qualifications or experience you don't have - emphasise what you do
Repeat exactly what is in the resume
Be copied from resume publications - employers do recognise them!
Focus on what you expect to gain from the organisation - include what the organisation will gain from you
Include unsupported claims about your skills
Have spelling mistakes and typos
Include jargon / acronyms not clear to the reader
Be sent without proofreading it first

STRUCTURE
An application letter can be structured into 3 parts:

INTRODUCTION
The beginning of your application letter should include:
The position you are applying for
Where you saw the job advertisement
A sentence or 2 about why you think you are a great fit for the role and the organisation

BODY
The body of the application letter is where you 'sell yourself. It should address the key requirements stated
in the job ad, describing how you have the required qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.

Identify keywords, phrases and skills mentioned in the ad and focus on emphasising your strengths in
these areas. It isn't necessary to include everything mentioned in the job ad. Instead, focus on three to
five of the most important elements.

Points to remember:
Keep to one theme per paragraph and support your claims with examples.
Write persuasively
Explain why you are interested in the position or working for the company / organisation
State the value you will bring to the position
Identify how your achievements and skills qualify you for the role

CONCLUSION
At the end of the letter:
Refer to any attached documentation, including your resume
Express interest in further discussing your application and the available position in an interview
Indicate your availability for an interview and your contact details
Sign off with with 'Yours sincerely' (or 'Yours faithfully' if you addressed the application to Dear
Sir/Madam)

TYPES OF APPLICATION LETTERS:

Application letter are classified into three types namely;
Job Application Letter
Academic Application Letter
Personal Application Letter

Examples of job application letters include:

Cover letters

Examples of academic application letters include:

Application letter seeking permission
Scholarship application letter
Application for leave of absence/in advance
Application for a seat in the hostel
Application for a testimonial, etc.

Examples of personal application letters include:

Loan application letter
Rental application letter
Application letter for a deduction of fine
Application withdrawal letter
Internship application letter
Transfer application letter
Application letter for a travel grant, etc.
Note that these personal letters can be written person-to-person or person-to-business.
CURRICULUM VITAE

WHAT IS CV??
CV is the acronym for Curriculum vitae.It is a list of a your profile and biodata.It contains major
achievement in one's career.

QUALITIES OF CV
PROFESSIONAL: Your CV must be professional. It must be a standard one.It's must be 2 pages.It must not
contain error or default informations.A CV can also be referred to as a resumè.A resumè is only wider than
a CV.
WELL ORGANIZED: It must follow the right procedures
IT MUST BE DETAILED: Never deduct your information.

FORMAT OF CV
The length: The length of a CV is 2 pages.
Language: The language of a CV must be clear and official. The official language of Nigeria is English so it
must be written in English
Don't use decorated fonts, select Times new Roman or Arial. Your font size must be 10 and 12.
It must follow the same style and pattern.If you did the first page in tabular form, the second too must be
the same way.Also if you highlight the headings or subheadings, you must do the same to the next page
Avoid errors: Take your time to cross-check your CV.
Make sure it's updated: always update your CV yearly.

THE STRUCTURE OF CV
Personal information (address, number, gender, date of birth, marital status)
Educational background (college, graduate, degrees).
Thesis and dissertations.
Professional experience- list out chronologically the experiences you've had.
Skills-
-- The types of language you can speak
--IT
--Administrative
Personal notes( interests, hobbies, sports and extracurricular activities).

CV CHECKLIST
This is the distribution channels at which we can advertise our CV's.
Online application
Company website
Company blogs
Personal network
Endorsement
Job vacancies
Emails
Social media's

A standard CV isn't complete without a cover letter.A cover letter is a little expression of one's
business.Contents in a cover letters are:
Find a unique way to capture your reader's mind.
Show that you understand he employers need
Give the reader reason to choose you

THE ANATOMY/BODY STRUCTURE OF A COVER LETTER

Format- it must be at most a page and be customized
Header- indicate address in the top right corner while on the left corner is your recipient address and date.

Note: your cover letter can also be referred to as your application letter and should be attached together.
Salutation and intro: address to the hiring managerBody: demonstrate that you're eligible for the position.
Closing: express gratitude then leave 3-4lines for name and signature.

SAMPLE OF AN APPLICATION LETTER

Name
Mailing address
Telephone number(s)
Email address
Today's date

Your addressee's name

Professional title
Organisation name
Mailing address

Dear Mr/Ms [last name],

RE: Application for [job role], reference number [number]

Start your application letter with a statement that establishes a connection with your reader. Briefly say
what job you are applying for and where you saw the job advertisement.

The mid-section of your application letter should include short paragraphs that make relevant points
about how your qualifications and skills make you a good fit for the position. You should not summarise
your resume. You may include bullet points here. Choose some qualifications, skills and experience that
really target the position you are applying for. Do not go overboard and save information for the interview.

Your concluding paragraph should instigate the reader to contact you for an interview. Refer to any
attachments added to your application. Show appreciation for consideration and say thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Your name

(Include your contact details here if you do not add them at the top of the letter)