HOW TO WRITE APPLICATION

LETTER
 APPLICATION LETTER
• What is a job application letter?
• A job application letter, also known as a cover letter, should be sent or
uploaded with your resume when applying for jobs.
• While your resume offers a history of your work experience and an outline
of your skills and accomplishments, the job application letter you send to an
employer explains why you are qualified for the position and should be
selected for an interview.
• Writing this letter can seem like a challenging task. However, if you take it
one step at a time, you'll soon be an expert at writing application letters to
send with your resume.
 HOW TO GET STARTED
• Before you begin writing your job application letter, do some groundwork. Consider what
information you want to include (keeping in mind that space is limited). Remember, this letter is
making a case for your candidacy for the position. But you can do better than just
regurgitating your resume — instead, highlight your most relevant skills, experiences, and
abilities.
• To include the most convincing, relevant details in your letter, you'll need to know what the
employer wants.
• The biggest clues are within the job advertisement, so spend some time decoding the job ad.
Next, match your qualifications with the employer's wants and needs. Make a list of your
relevant experience and skills. For instance, if the job ad calls for a strong leader, think of
examples of when you've successfully led a team.
• Once you've jotted down some notes, and have a sense of what you want to highlight in your
letter, you're ready to get started writing.
 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:
• 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 you 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 salutation, including
what to do if you don't know the person's name, or are unsure of a contact's gender.
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.
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.
• Simple formatting using a template

Overwhelmed by all these formatting and organization requirements? One way to make the process of writing a
job application easier is to use a job application letter templateto create your own personalized job application
letters for applying for a job. Having a template can help save you time if you are sending a lot of application
letters. Do be sure that each letter you send is personalized to the company and position.

• Proof and edit your letter

Remember to proof and edit your letter before sending it. It may sound silly, but also be sure to include the correct
employer and company names - when you write many letters of application at once, it is easy to make a mistake.

If you are applying for a job in advertising or another field that emphasizes creativity, you might be able to be
more flexible with these guidelines. However, think closely about the position and the company before deviating
drastically from this format.

• Sample job application letters

Review these sample job application letters and edit them to create your own. Customize each letter you send -
include information on your skills and experience that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
Your letter should show the hiring manager, at a glance, why you are a good candidate. Browse through
these cover letter samples to help you get started writing your own letter.
 JOB APPLICATION LETTER FORMAT

• Sample format for a job application letter

A job application letter (also known as a cover letter) is a letter you send with your resume to
provide information on your skills and experience. This letter is your chance to “sell” yourself to
an employer, explaining why you are an ideal candidate for a position.
The following application letter format lists the information you need to include in a letter of
application that you send with your resume.
Also read below for tips on writing a job application letter.
TIPS FOR WRITING A JOB APPLICATION LETTER
• Do not duplicate 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 first name, unless specifically requested.

• Use business letter format. Use the official 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. The format listed below provides more information on how to
format your letter using official business letter format.

• Edit, edit, edit. Employers are likely to overlook an application with a lot of errors. Therefore, read through
your cover letter, and even consider asking a friend or career counselor to read the letter. Proofread any
grammar or spelling errors.
• . 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 in the email message that clearly lays
out your purpose for writing.

• Another important difference is that, while you include your contact information on the top of a hard copy letter,
you include that information after your signature in an email.
Use this formatting information as a guideline when writing your customized application letters, so you know what
information goes where.

• CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
PHONE NUMBER
EMAIL ADDRESS

DATE

EMPLOYER CONTACT INFORMATION (IF YOU HAVE IT)

NAME
TITLE
COMPANY
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE

SALUTATION

• Dear mr./Ms. Last name, (leave out if you don't have a contact)
• .
• Body of application letter
the body of your application letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why the employer should
select you for an interview, and how you will follow up. See below for a paragraph-by-paragraph breakdown of the body
of the letter.

• First paragraph
the first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing.

• Mention the job you are applying for and where you found the job listing. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you
have one. You might conclude by briefly and concisely saying why you think you are an ideal candidate for the job.

• Middle paragraph(s)
the next section of your application letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. It can be a single
paragraph, or you can break it up into a couple of paragraphs. If the section gets lengthy, you may use bullet points to
break up the text. Remember, you are interpreting your resume, not repeating it.

• Mention specifically how your qualifications match the job you are applying for. In this portion of the letter, make your
case for your candidacy. It can be helpful to spend some time researching the company — when you know a lot about the
company, it helps you make an informed and persuasive argument for your candidacy.

• Use specific examples whenever possible. For example, if you say that you have lots of experience working successfully
on team projects, provide an example of a time you worked in a group and achieved success.

• Final paragraph
conclude your application letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on
how you will follow up.
• COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE

SINCERELY,

SIGNATURE (FOR A MAILED LETTER)

TYPED SIGNATURE