LESSON 5 WRITING AN APPLICATION LETTER

PART III
Exploring Toolkit for Workforce Readiness

Lesson 5
Writing an Application Letter
At the end of the lesson, you shall have:
 identified the different features of an application letter;
 written an application letter; and,
 submitted a job-specific application letter.

B usiness letter or business correspondence is a letter written in a formal language used by

an organization within or for correspondence between such organizations and their
customers, clients, and other external parties. Office correspondence is any written,
typewritten, or digital communication exchanged between two or among various pertinent
addressees. An application letter is a business letter.

What is an Application Letter?

The application letter is a one-page cover letter, a sales letter, and a marketing tool all in
one. The main objective is to get the applicant a job interview. It emphasizes how right is
the applicant for the job as it selectively mentions information from the résumé. Most
importantly, it complements the résumé.

What is the format of an Application Letter?

The most popular business letter layout today is the full block. It is the most comfortable
format because everything starts at the left margin. It is printed in a plain or off-white
bond paper with a 0.5- 1-inch margin on all sides. The paper (A4) you select for your cover
letter matches the paper on which your résumé is printed. It is formatted in a 10-12 font
size with a very decent font style (Palatino Linotype).

What are the basic features of an Application Letter?

1. Dateline
The dateline is the exact date the letter is written (printed). The month and the years
must be spelled out and in full. It starts on the first line of the letter.
May 17, 2020

2. Inside Address
The inside address is the information of the receiver. This includes the recipient’s full
name, position or designation, organizational affiliation or company, and corporate or
company address. It is typed three spaces below the Dateline.
RONALD JOHN B. ALCANTARA, CPA, REB, REA, MBA
Internal Auditor II
Bureau of Internal Revenue
Revenue District Office XIII, Butuan City

3. Salutation
Salutation, also known as the greeting, is the hello part of the letter. It should include
a greeting word and recipient’s title and last name. It uses a colon and is typed two
spaces below the Inside Address.
Sir: Ma’am:
Sir Alcantara: Ma’am Valdehueza:

© 2020 Caraga State University EEP 3 (English for Employability) 39

 LESSON 5 WRITING AN APPLICATION LETTER

4. Body
The body contains the message in the form of paragraphs. It includes four paragraphs
and is typed two spaces below the salutation. In creating a brand for CSU graduates
when applying for a job, the body of the application letter is designed on the
specifications below.
First Paragraph
It contains the purpose of the letter and the source of the job vacancy (networking,
prospecting, or job recruitment). It also states how fit are you for the job.

I am writing this letter to apply as Engineer I in your construction company. I have known of
the job vacancy from Engr. Baudivir E. Garcia, a Senior Engineer in your company. I believe
that my acquired knowledge and experiences would make me the best match in your company’s
corporate values.

I am sending this letter to apply as Teacher I in your esteemed academic institution. I have
read from your school’s website that you need one. I believe that the teaching post and my
skills and experiences would make me a great asset to your institution.

Second Paragraph
It highlights the professional summary or the qualifications of the applicant. It
contains four bullets. The first bullet emphasizes educational attainment. The
second bullet lists the eligibility (board examination, civil service eligibility). The
third bullet points to the on-the-job training/ internship or work experience. The
fourth bullet inclines the training and seminar very related to the job applied.

In line with this, I am highlighting my qualifications which make me a viable candidate for the
post:
 A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering at Caraga State University,
Ampayon, Butuan City last May 2019;
 A Civil Service Eligible (Professional) achieved last March 2018, and Geodetic Board
Examination passer completed last August 2019;
 Had underwent three-month on-the-job training in Taganito Mining Corporation,
Claver, Surigao del Norte as Junior Field Engineer; and,
 Has attended various seminars and training relevant to mining engineering to
expound my knowledge and skills in the field.

Third Paragraph
This section highlights the soft skills or the values of the applicant. For fresh
graduates, discuss your goals, objectives, the focus of your career, and what you
are doing or want to do professionally; and redeeming traits that are worth noting.

I am a reliable and trustworthy employee and can work with minimum supervision. I am
punctual and capable of always bringing into safety my colleagues under any circumstances. I
am confident that I could do very well in your company as I usually did when I was studying.

Fourth Paragraph
This is the call for action to be considered for an interview or to contact you. Thank
the reader for considering your position. Make a robust and compelling closing
statement

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to be speaking with you about this
employment opportunity.

© 2020 Caraga State University EEP 3 (English for Employability) 40

 LESSON 5 WRITING AN APPLICATION LETTER

5. Complimentary Close
The complimentary close is the goodbye of the business letter. Only the first letter of the
word is capitalized. It uses a comma and is typed two spaces below the last line of the
Body.

(formal) (casual) (informal)

Respectfully yours, Sincerely yours, Always the best,

Very truly yours, Cordially yours, As always,

6. Signature Block
The signature block is the sender’s typed name and title. Affixing the signature using a
blue-inked sign pen authenticates the letter. It is typed five spaces below the
Complimentary Close.

ENGR. GROVER JOHN G. GUALDAQUEVER

7. Enclosure
The enclosure is the listing of documents enclosed in the folder other than the application
letter applying for the job, e.g., résumé, certificates, diploma, TOR.

Enclosure:
1. Résumé
2. Transcript of Records
3. Diploma
4. Certificates

What phrases should not be included in your application letter?

 To whom it may concern
 I need a chance… (victim mode)
 Salary expectations
 The reason I left… (therapeutic monologue)
 General objective statements (too cliché)
 Reference available upon request
 It was a dark stormy night…

© 2020 Caraga State University EEP 3 (English for Employability) 41