JOB APPLICATION

JOB 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.
• : AN APPLICATION LETTER IS WRITTEN TO APPLY FOR A SPECIFIC JOB OPENING. THIS IS A
TRADITIONAL COVER LETTER THAT IS SENT WITH A RESUME TO APPLY FOR A JOB. REFERRAL
COVER LETTER: A REFERRAL COVER LETTER MENTIONS THE NAME OF A PERSON WHO HAS
REFERRED YOU TO A JOB.
 TYPES OF COVER LETTERS

• WHILE THERE IS NO SET TEMPLATE FOR A COVER LETTER, THE TYPE OF LETTER THAT YOU WRITE WILL DEPEND ON THE REQUIREMENTS
OF EACH INDIVIDUAL COMPANY OR EMPLOYER. THE INFORMATION THAT IS INCLUDED IN A COVER LETTER WILL VARY DEPENDING ON
THE GOALS AND PURPOSE OF YOUR APPLICATION.
• AN APPLICATION COVER LETTER IS THE MOST FAMILIAR TYPE OF COVER LETTER. THIS IS GENERALLY WRITTEN IN RESPONSE TO A
VACANCY THAT IS POSTED ON A COMPANY'S WEBSITE OR A JOB BOARD. IN ADDITION TO ANSWERING ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
POSTED IN THE JOB AD, IT MAY ALSO HIGHLIGHT ANY EXPERIENCE OR SKILLS THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR THE POSITION.
• A REFERRAL COVER LETTER IS SIMILAR TO AN APPLICATION LETTER, BUT IT INCLUDES THE NAME OF A COLLEAGUE OR EMPLOYEE
WHO RECOMMENDED THE APPLICANT FOR THE OPEN POSITION. A STRONG REFERRAL CAN HELP YOU STAND OUT AGAINST OTHER
APPLICANTS.
• A PROSPECTING COVER LETTER, ALSO KNOWN AS A LETTER OF INTEREST, IS WRITTEN BY A JOB SEEKER AND ADDRESSED TO A
COMPANY WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE TO WORK. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT AIMED AT A SPECIFIC ROLE OR VACANCY. INSTEAD, THIS TYPE
OF LETTER INQUIRES ABOUT OPEN POSITIONS IN GENERAL AND MAY HIGHLIGHT ANY SPECIAL SKILLS THAT MAKE THE WRITER
SUITABLE FOR THE COMPANY.
TAKE NOTE
• A JOB APPLICATION LETTER CAN ALSO BE KNOWN AS A COVER LETTER. IT IS A WAY TO INTRODUCE HOW
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE ARE A GOOD MATCH FOR THE JOB.
• A JOB APPLICATION LETTER SHOULD HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, EMPLOYER CONTACT
INFORMATION, AND A SALUTATION,
• A JOB APPLICATION LETTER SHOULD HAVE AN INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH, MIDDLE PARAGRAPHS THAT
EXPLAIN YOUR QUALIFICATIONS, AND A CLOSING PARAGRAPH.
• USE SPECIFIC EXPERIENCES WITH QUANTIFIABLE RESULTS TO SHOW HOW YOUR SKILLS WERE SUCCESSFULLY
PUT INTO ACTION.
• MAKE SURE TO DO YOUR RESEARCH AND EDIT YOUR LETTER BEFORE SUBMITTING.
• A COVER LETTER IS COMMONLY SUBMITTED WITH A JOB APPLICATION EXPLAINING THE APPLICANT'S
CREDENTIALS AND INTEREST IN THE POSITION.
• A GOOD COVER LETTER COMPLEMENTS THE RESUME AND EXPLAINS WHY THE CANDIDATE IS THE IDEAL
PERSON FOR THE JOB.
• COMMON COVER LETTER MISTAKES CAN SINK A JOB APPLICANT.
TO DO …
• TAILOR THE APPLICATION LETTER TO EACH JOB. YOUR LETTER SHOULD ADDRESS KEY POINTS IN THE JOB
DESCRIPTION FROM THE LISTING, AS WELL AS HOW YOU CAN APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO THE
POSITION. YOU WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHY YOU ARE THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THIS SPECIFIC JOB.
• DON’T COPY INFORMATION STRAIGHT FROM YOUR RESUME. YOUR RESUME IS MEANT TO ACT AS A FORMAL
RECORD OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE JOB APPLICATION LETTER
IS WHERE YOU HIGHLIGHT A FEW PARTICULAR DETAILS FROM YOUR RESUME, AND USE THEM TO DEMONSTRATE HOW
YOUR EXPERIENCE CAN APPLY TO THE JOB.
• FOLLOW THE BUSINESS LETTER FORMAT. THESE LETTERS HAVE VERY STRICT FORMATTING RULES, TO ENSURE THAT
THEY APPEAR AS PROFESSIONAL TO HIRING MANAGERS. A POORLY FORMATTED LETTER COULD PREVENT EMPLOYERS
FROM TAKING YOUR APPLICATION SERIOUSLY.
• PROOFREAD. HIRING MANAGERS WILL DEFINITELY OVERLOOK LETTERS RIDDLED WITH PROOFREADING MISTAKES.
READ YOUR LETTER SEVERAL TIMES OVER TO FIX ANY GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, OR SPELLING ERRORS. YOU COULD
ASK SOMEONE ELSE TO LOOK OVER IT AFTERWARDS OR RUN IT THROUGH ANY NUMBER OF ONLINE GRAMMAR
CHECK PROGRAMS.
• DECIDE ON PRINTING AND MAILING YOUR LETTER OR SENDING IT IN AN EMAIL. AN APPLICATION LETTER SENT
THROUGH EMAIL REQUIRES A SUBJECT LINE THAT DETAILS YOUR PURPOSE FOR WRITING— CONSIDER “[JOB TITLE],
[YOUR NAME].” THE PLACEMENT OF YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION IS ALSO DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE MEDIUM.
IN A HARD COPY, THIS GOES AT THE TOP OF YOUR LETTER, AS A HEADER. IN AN EMAIL, IT GOES BELOW YOUR
SIGNATURE.
 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• HOW LONG SHOULD A COVER LETTER BE?
ACCORDING TO INDEED, A LEADING JOB-SEEKING SITE, A TYPICAL COVER LETTER SHOULD BE ABOUT
THREE OR FOUR PARAGRAPHS LONG AND HIGHLIGHT ANY SPECIAL EXPERIENCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS
THAT MAKE THE APPLICANT EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-SUITED TO THE POSITION.
• HOW DO YOU START A COVER LETTER?
A COVER LETTER SHOULD START WITH A FORMAL GREETING, PREFERABLY ADDRESSED TO THE HIRING
MANAGER. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO WILL BE READING YOUR COVER LETTER, A GENERIC "TO
WHOM IT MAY CONCERN" IS AN ACCEPTABLE, ALBEIT OLD-FASHIONED, WAY TO ADDRESS A COVER
LETTER. IT IS ALSO ACCEPTABLE TO ADDRESS THE LETTER TO A TITLE, SUCH AS "DEAR HIRING
MANAGER," OR "DEAR TALENT ACQUISITION TEAM."
• WHAT SHOULD A COVER LETTER CONTAIN?
AN EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER SHOULD HIGHLIGHT THE APPLICANT'S SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND
ANY ACHIEVEMENTS THAT MAKE THEM A GOOD FIT FOR THEIR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER. IT IS
ALSO A GOOD CHANCE TO MENTION ANYTHING THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RESUME: FOR
EXAMPLE, IF AN APPLICANT IS DRAWN TO A CERTAIN EMPLOYER BECAUSE THEY LOVE A CERTAIN
PRODUCT, THE COVER LETTER IS A GREAT PLACE TO MENTION IT. MAKE SURE YOUR COVER
LETTER ALSO INCLUDES YOUR NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION.
• THE BOTTOM LINE
IN A COMPETITIVE JOBS MARKET, AN EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER IS ONE WAY TO MAKE A JOB
APPLICATION STAND OUT. THIS IS A CHANCE FOR AN APPLICANT TO DEMONSTRATE WHY THEY
THINK THEY WOULD BE A GOOD FIT. HOWEVER, A POORLY-WRITTEN OR MEANDERING COVER
LETTER CAN HURT AN APPLICATION MORE THAN IT HELPS.
NOT TO DO …
• MAKE SURE YOU AVOID MAKING THESE BLUNDERS.
• NAMES MATTER. THIS INCLUDES THE NAME OF THE HIRING MANAGER, THE COMPANY, AND YES, EVEN YOURS. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
THE RIGHT NAMES AND THE CORRECT SPELLING. AND DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE THE NAMES IF YOU'RE USING THE SAME COVER
LETTER FOR MULTIPLE JOBS.
• RESTATING YOUR RESUME. SINCE THE COVER LETTER IS USED TO IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS AND EXPLAIN HOW YOUR PREVIOUS
EXPERIENCE IS APPLICABLE TO THE DESIRED POSITION, DON'T RESTATE THE STUFF ON YOUR RESUME. REMEMBER, THE COVER LETTER
SHOULD COMPLEMENT YOUR RESUME, NOT JUST SUMMARIZE IT.
• KEEP YOUR LETTER TIGHT. RECRUITERS OFTEN GO THROUGH HUNDREDS OF APPLICATIONS AND DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ
THROUGH A THREE-PAGE MISSIVE. THE ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM LENGTH FOR A COVER LETTER SHOULD BE ONE PAGE, WITH A FEW
CONCISE PARAGRAPHS.
• OMIT UNNECESSARY DETAILS. STAY ON TOPIC. THERE'S NO NEED TO MENTION YOUR GRAPHIC-DESIGN SKILLS IF YOU'RE APPLYING
FOR AN ACCOUNTING POSITION. IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO LEAVE OUT PERSONAL THINGS LIKE YOUR IQ, RECREATIONAL
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, INTERESTS, AND HOBBIES. THAT IS UNLESS THEY RELATE TO THE JOB OR COMPANY.
• AVOID SOUNDING ARROGANT. ENSURE YOUR COVER LETTER DOES NOT MAKE YOU APPEAR ARROGANT. WHILE THE COVER LETTER IS
ABOUT YOU AND YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FIND A WAY OF SAYING "I'M THE BEST" WITHOUT ACTUALLY SAYING IT. AVOID
OVERUSING WORDS LIKE "I," "ME," OR "MY."
• REMEMBER THAT SPELLING COUNTS. TYPOS AND GRAMMATICAL ERRORS CAN SHOW YOU DIDN'T BOTHER TO PROOFREAD YOUR
OWN LETTER. AND MAKE SURE TO BE CONSISTENT—DON'T CONVEY A DASH WITH "--" IN ONE PLACE AND "—" IN ANOTHER.
• DESIGN MATTERS: WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF PUBLISHING, DESIGN TRENDS, AND SOFTWARE, CANDIDATES HAVE BECOME CREATIVE
IN MAKING THEIR COVER LETTER STAND OUT FROM A DESIGN PERSPECTIVE. MAKE SURE YOUR COVER LETTER PROJECTS YOUR
PERSONALITY IN TERMS OF DESIGN WHILE REMAINING PROFESSIONAL. THAT IS PERSONAL SIGNATURE AND BRANDING.
RESUME
• RESUME' IS A WORD YOU'LL HEAR A LOT DURING THE JOB-HUNTING PROCESS.
A RESUME, SOMETIMES CALLED A CV OR CURRICULUM VITAE, IS A DOCUMENT
THAT LISTS YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, SKILLS AND ACHIEVEMENTS.
YOU'LL NEED A RESUME FOR ALMOST ANY JOB APPLICATION.
• WHAT IS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF RESUME?
THE PURPOSE OF A RESUME IS TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EMPLOYERS,
PRESENT YOUR QUALIFICATIONS, AND SECURE AN INTERVIEW. THE GOAL OF
WRITING A RESUME IS TO SHOWCASE YOUR EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, AND
SKILLS IN A STANDARDIZED FORMAT WHICH IS EASY FOR RECRUITERS TO READ.
 HOW TO MAKE A RESUME - STEP BY STEP
• PICK THE RIGHT RESUME FORMAT & LAYOUT
• MENTION YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS & CONTACT INFORMATION
• USE A RESUME SUMMARY OR OBJECTIVE
• LIST YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
• MENTION YOUR TOP SOFT & HARD SKILLS
• (OPTIONAL) INCLUDE ADDITIONAL RESUME SECTIONS - LANGUAGES, HOBBIES, ETC.
• TAILOR YOUR INFORMATION FOR THE JOB AD
• CRAFT A CONVINCING COVER LETTER
• PROOFREAD YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER
 KEY ELEMENTS OF A RESUME

• RESUMES TELL THE EMPLOYER ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES, SKILLS AND WORK HISTORY. USE YOUR
RESUME TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS THAT INDICATE YOU ARE A GOOD WORKER, ARE QUALIFIED FOR THE
POSITION AND BRING DESIRABLE SKILLS TO THE JOB. IF YOU ARE A STUDENT AND HAVE LITTLE OR
NO PREVIOUS JOB EXPERIENCES, ENHANCE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL AND
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
• NAME CURRENT AND PERMANENT ADDRESS (MAY BE OMITTED FROM A RESUME POSTED ON THE
WEB)
TELEPHONE NUMBER
E-MAIL ADDRESS
OBJECTIVE
• IN ONE SHORT SENTENCE SUMMARIZE YOUR GOAL FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH.
THE GOAL STATEMENT SHOULD BE RELATED TO THE SPECIFIC POSITION FOR WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING. IT IS
ALSO EFFECTIVE TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR SKILLS IN THE GOAL STATEMENT.

EXAMPLES:
SEEKING A POSITION AS A SOCIAL WORKER PROVIDING SERVICE TO THE AGED.
SEEKING A POSITION THAT UTILIZES MY SKILLS IN COUNSELING, RESEARCH, AND PROPOSAL WRITING.
EDUCATION
• HIGH SCHOOL NAME
CITY AND STATE
DATE OF GRADUATION
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS (COURSES DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE JOB OR YOUR CAREER FIELD AND SPECIAL ABILITIES)
CERTIFICATES
WORK AND RELATED EXPERIENCE
• SUMMER JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK
(INCLUDE POSITION TITLE, COMPANY/ORGANIZATION, CITY/STATE, DATES AND A BRIEF LIST OF THE JOB
DUTIES)
AWARDS AND HONORS
• ACADEMIC, MUSICAL, ATHLETIC AND OR OTHER RECOGNITION. (INCLUDE NAME OF THE AWARD/HONOR,
WHO AWARDED IT, AND WHEN IT WAS AWARDED.)
ACTIVITIES/HOBBIES
• INCLUDE YOUR ROLE IN THE POSITION, THE ORGANIZATION AND DATES.
• EXAMPLE:
CAPTAIN, SHOREWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, VOLLEY BALL TEAM, 1999 2001
SKILLS
• SOFT SKILLS: (BEING RESPONSIBLE, LOYAL, HARDWORKING, ENERGETIC, OUTGOING.)
HARD SKILLS: (RESEARCH AND WRITING, MICROSOFT WORD 98, MICROSOFT PUBLISHER 2000, PUBLIC
SPEAKING.)
REFERENCES (3-5 PEOPLE)
• TEACHER/PROFESSOR
WORK SUPERVISOR (CURRENT OR PAST)
CHARACTER REFERENCE (PASTOR, HEADMASTER, YOUTH GROUP LEADER OR SOMEONE WHO KNOWS YOU
WELL)
INCLUDE THE NAME, RELATIONSHIP TO YOU, ORGANIZATION, CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS.
• OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
LIMIT YOUR RESUME TO ONE OR TWO PAGES.
DO NOT INCLUDE BIRTH DATE, HEALTH STATUS OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
LIMIT THE USE OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS SUCH AS "I”. BEGIN SENTENCES WITH
ACTION VERBS.
BE HONEST BUT AVOID WRITING ANYTHING NEGATIVE IN YOUR RESUME.
MAKE YOUR RESUME ERROR FREE. HAVE SOMEONE PROOF READ IT FOR YOU.
USE A SIMPLE, EASY TO READ FONT STYLE, 10-14 POINT.
USE HIGH QUALITY PAPER.
 LETTER FORMAT
• FORMAL LETTERS FORMAT
• FULL BLOCK STYLE
• SEMI- BLOCK STYLE
• MODIFIED BLOCK STYLE
• MODIFIED SEMI-BLOCK STYLE

• INFORMAL LETTERS FORMATS

• FORMAT 1
• FORMAT 2