‭Matthew Clint Dureas BSIT 2M1‬

A‭ pplication Letter‬
‭(Definition and Examples)‬

‭What is an application letter?‬

‭An application letter is a document that you send to potential employers to secure a‬
‭position or get an invitation to an interview. The letter provides the recruiting managers‬
‭with essential information that describes your skills, passion, experience and educational‬
‭background. It should also inform the employer why they should consider you for the‬
‭position. When written well, the application letter positions you as a better candidate than‬
‭other applicants. Although most employers don't request an application letter, you can‬
‭include one while sending your cv.‬
‭How to write an application letter‬
‭Here are the steps to follow while writing your application letter:‬

‭1. Create a draft featuring what you'd like to write‬

‭First, analyze the job advertisement several times to find out what to include in your‬
‭application letter. Before sitting down to write the official letter, write some notes on what‬
‭you'd like to say in your letter. Note down the top keywords to use in your letter to tailor it‬
‭to the job. Creating a draft of an application letter can help you craft your sentences‬
‭correctly and notice information that you find lacking as you craft it.‬

‭2. Create an outline for your letter‬

‭You should divide your application letter into three essential parts: the introduction, the‬
‭body paragraph, and the conclusion. Each section should contain information that will‬
‭address specific issues as per the section. In the Introduction, the aim is to capture the‬
‭attention of the readers. In the body paragraph, show the reader why you are the ideal‬
‭candidate for the job, while the conclusion reiterates your strengths and what you will bring‬
‭to the team if given a chance.‬

‭3. Write an introduction‬

‭Introduce the reasons for your writing, in this case, why you need the job. Ensure to keep it‬
‭brief and direct to the point. Here, ensure to include a heading that mentions your‬
‭employer's name, address, email and phone number. However, if you are writing an email,‬
‭you can include this information at the end of the email. Second, include salutations or‬
‭polite greetings to the reader by addressing their last name. You can address it to the‬
‭recruiting manager. If you are emailing, find out their business email and send it to them‬
‭directly.‬

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‭4. Introduce your reasons for the application‬

‭This body section aims to convince the employer you are the person they are looking for to‬
‭fill the position. You can divide the section into two paragraphs with one mentioning your‬
‭relevant education and skills and the other, your experiences. When writing this section,‬
‭include useful information that makes your employer see you as a strong and most suitable‬
‭candidate for the job.‬

‭5. Write a conclusion‬

‭Come up with a strong closing remark that will challenge the hiring managers in‬
‭considering you. In your last conclusion line, include a call to action where you ask the‬
‭hiring team to contact you. You should ensure that your concluding paragraph is precise‬
‭and should summarize the entire letter. At this point, you should not consider introducing‬
‭new information in your writing.‬

‭Tips for writing a convincing application letter‬

‭By following the right procedure in writing your letter, you can successfully get invited to an‬
‭interview. Here are basic writing tips you can follow while writing an application letter:‬

‭Tailor the letter to the job‬

‭Before writing an application letter, check the background information of the specific‬
‭organization you are applying to. This can help you tailor your message to their style and‬
‭figure out how to approach them and share your ideas. Second, read the job description‬
‭thoroughly to understand what the company is looking for. You can also check out some of‬
‭their products or services and find out if your skills match their needs. This will let your‬
‭employers know you understand the job you intend to do in their company.‬

‭Ensure to personalize the letter to fit the specified position by highlighting your‬
‭experiences, skills and requirements as listed in the job description. Keep your‬
‭qualifications brief to match the job posting. Use your letter to describe why you are the‬
‭perfect fit for the job by showing you understand what it takes to work in that position.‬

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‭Make it different from your resume‬

‭The application letter should be engaging and easy to read. Unlike your resume, it's‬
‭personalized and the reader will feel that you are talking to them directly. The work of your‬
‭resume is to highlight your background, while the application letter shows the relevance of‬
‭your skills to the job. Therefore, instead of going back to your general qualifications, the‬
‭letter should be specific and relevant. It should bring a balance between your education,‬
‭experiences, accomplishments and the job position.‬

‭Research‬

‭Including credible information in the letter shows you are an excellent researcher. In‬
‭addition, you can address the reader by name to show them how resourceful you can be.‬
‭This letter can talk more about you and the things you can bring on board. However, your‬
‭skills, experiences, and accomplishments should match both the resume and the‬
‭application letter.‬

‭Maintain professionalism‬

‭An application letter can determine whether the employer will consider reading your‬
‭resume. Keep the letter interesting and professional to match the job position. Greet the‬
‭readers formally, even if you have a close relationship with the employer. This allows your‬
‭employers to reflect on the type of service you will bring to the company. Writing your‬
‭application letter in a professional style also helps your employer feel comfortable reading‬
‭it, as they may prefer professionalism at work.‬

‭Keep it brief‬

‭Limit your application letter's length to at least one page but ensure to include all critical‬
‭details. Since your letter is among a list that the employer has to read in a day, keep it brief‬
‭to make it easy to scan and find essential information. A simple application letter‬
‭communicates your skills and shows your ability to communicate concisely. In addition,‬
‭organize the letter to ensure that it flows well as the reader goes through it.‬

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‭Work on format‬

‭Most hiring managers expect an application letter to follow a business letter format for‬
‭relevance. However, you may also consider the type of letter you'll be sending whether it's‬
‭a hard copy or email. If you are sending a hard copy, the top paragraph should contain your‬
‭address and date at the top right of the page, followed by the recipient address on the left.‬
‭This may not be relevant when you are sending it via email.‬

‭Proofread‬

‭Before sending your application letter to potential employers, take the time to edit your‬
‭writing. Identify and correct any errors in the letter to allow the readers a simple time as‬
‭they read it. Employers may also value your skills if they find your work error-free in your‬
‭application. Correct any grammatical and spelling errors that you find in your letter before‬
‭submitting it. You can also find someone to proofread your letter for you and inform you‬
‭about areas that may need improvement.‬

‭Application letter example‬

‭Here's an application letter sample that you can use to craft your own application letter:‬

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‭Sample of a hard copy application letter;‬

‭[Your Contact details]‬

‭[The contact details of the employer]‬

‭[The date]‬

‭Dear [Employer],‬

‭I am writing to apply for the developer position advertised on Indeed. Attached is my complete job‬
‭application with two references and my resume as requested.‬

‭I have the relevant education and strong technical experience, which makes me the best fit for the‬
‭position. To support my success in the position I have various key strengths which include:‬

‭I continuously strive for excellence and self-improvement‬

‭I have successfully developed, designed, and supported several applications in a range of‬
‭programming languages‬

‭I am eager to improve further as a programmer and developer‬

‭I am an excellent programmer and have a BS degree in computer science, which is an added‬

‭Thank you for your time and consideration. Looking forward to getting in touch with you for a‬
‭possible interview and employment opportunity. You can reach me anytime via [your contact‬
‭details].‬

‭Sincerely,‬

‭[Your signature]‬

‭[Your name in print]‬

‭Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organizations mentioned in this article are‬
‭affiliated with Indeed. The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional‬
‭formatting to meet accepted standards.‬

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