Applying for a job
Cover Letter
There are many websites with ready to use formats for writing cover letters / application letters
for jobs and for writing resumes. Yet, it is better for us to put in some effort to customize those
to our requirements. Remember the following tips for writing a good cover letter.
Before applying,
● Read and reread the advertisement to know whether the post to be applied for suits
your interest and qualifications.
● Collect information about the company and its requirements in the department you are
applying for.
● Think of some specific ways through which you can make a positive contribution to the
growth of the company.
In the cover letter,
● Be brief but take care to provide the important information.
● Your cover letter can be personalized but make sure to adopt a courteous but not a
familiar or tone.
● Be direct and use a simple comprehensible language. In other words, do not be verbose
to impress others.
● Highlight your past achievements and future career goals.
● You can close the letter expressing your desire for an interview. You can also state how
and when you will follow it up.
● Edit your letter before sending.
Basic Format for a cover letter
1. Heading (Post applied for.)
2. Address of the Applicant
a. Do not use any comma or full stop
b. Mention only the flat or door numbers (E.g. Do not write NO. 47)
1. Date
Write as DD/M/Y or M/DD/Y (E.g. 30 August 2009 or August 20, 2009 (Do not write
30/08/09)
2.Recipient’s Address
Take care of the spelling while you write words like for Personnel Manager
3.Salutation
Start as Sir or Dear Sir
4. Subject
Mention clearly the post applied for.
5.Reference
Mention the source (the advertisement, date.)
6.Content
It should contain six or seven sentences.
a. First sentence about the reference
b. Two sentences on your highest qualification and the merits (Rank) if any
c. In what way you are suitable and competent to hold the post and reason for applying
(Experience)
d. Some remarks about your expectations (Work ambience, your contribution to the
growth of the company)
e. Appealing closing remarks.
9.Subscription
10. Enclosures
Sample Cover Letter
Application for the Post of Senior Engineer
Naveen Karthik
A 15, Vivek Apartments
27, Gandhi Road
Kilpauk
Chennai 600 030
20 August 2009
The Personnel Manager
Wheels India Ltd.
330, Avadi Road
Chennai 600 321
Sir,
Subj : Application for the Post of Senior Manager – reg.
Ref : The Daily Times dated 20 August 2009
With reference to the above cited advertisement, I wish to apply for the position of the senior engineer
in your industry. Having graduated from BITS, Pilani, I completed my Master’s Degree in Production
Engineering from IIT Karaghpur with a I rank. During my 5-year tenure as Manager in Tata Motors, I
gained the talents and techniques that are most required in any industry. I am known for meticulous
planning, execution and team work which have brought so many laurels in my present assignment.
Considering the future prospects and scope to make the best use of my expertise, I wish to associate
myself with your industry.
Looking forward to an early reply,
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
SIGNATURE
(Naveen Karthik)
Encls:
Resume 1
Certificates 8
Testimonials 4
C. 1. 2 Resume
Before going into the details of writing a resume, let us first know the difference between a bio
data, resume and curriculum vitae.
Bio data is the information that is stored in a data base regarding a person’s name, gender,
blood group and other details about his education, profession and financial condition being
used in banking, marketing and other service industries. This form of document is no more
preferred by the employers nowadays.
Resume having its origin from French means summary. It’s a short account of one’s educational
qualifications, work experience prepared to be sent to an employer. Generally, it is not more
than a page.
Curriculum vitae means course of life and is similar to a resume. The difference is this is a more
detailed document and is hence longer than a resume.
Points to remember
● Use the best type of resume (there are many types) that suits the kind of job you are
applying for. Highlight your experience, skills you have gained and the qualifications you
have particularly related to that.
● Write an effective statement of ‘Objective’ presenting in concrete terms your short term
goals and your long term achievable vision.
● Use the key words from the advertisement to fit in with your experience and
qualifications so that your resume looks tailor made for the post applied for.
● Give a convincing account for the years of gap in studies and / or service if any.
● Double check the data such as years of experience, study, date of birth etc before
finalizing the Resume. Make sure you are sending in your updated your resume.
● Before giving references, get the consent of the referees and verify whether they
possess the relevant information about you and discuss with them what kind of
remarks will they offer regarding you.
● When you are applying for more than one post, make sure you are sending them to the
correct employers or companies.
● As your application is the first step to impress the recruiter and get an interview, put in
careful efforts while writing and designing it.
Sample Resume
Naveen Karthik
A 15, Vivek Apartments
27, Gandhi Road
Kilpauk E .mail. nveen_56@ yahoo.co.in
Chennai 600 030 Mobile: 9999444422
Objective
Aspiring for a challenging career that paves way to get in touch with the latest trends in the
field, to attain a position of excellence and to become a good professional and selflessly
contribute towards the growth of the organization.
Educational Details
S. No. Course Institution Period Class/ Remarks
Percentage
1 M.Tech SRM University 2005─07 8.7 CGPA University Gold
(Mechanical) Medalist
2. B.Tech (Mechanical) BITS 2001─05 92% Department
First
3. HSC Montford 1999 ─2001 97% Class
(Patna) First
4 SSLC Victor school 1998─99 96% School First
Experience Details
S. No. Designation Company Period Remarks
1 Team Manager Mahindra Trucks June 08 to till Won the best team
date award in 2009
2 Asst. Production Manager Allwyn Nissan June 2007─ May Known for
08 meticulous
planning
Training Details
Underwent one year training in TVS Automotive as Graduate Engineer Trainee from June 2006
to May 2007
Co-curricular Activities
1. Won the best project award in M. Tech. for designing the working model “Driverless car”
in 2007
2. Presented a paper on “Latest Tools in Machine Designing – A Study” in the International
Conference at Allahabad University, Lucknow, December 2007.
3. Presented a paper on “Total Quality Management” in the National Conference at the
University of Hyderabad in March 2005.
Extra Curricular activities
● Member of NCC, NSS, Scout and Rotaract Club
● Participated in a ten-day NSS camp in May 2000
Computer Skills
Have worked on projects using C, C++, Java, J2EE, and Computer Architecture
Personal Details
Date of Birth /Age : 14.02.81, 27 yrs
Permanent Address : No 14/3/A, Himalaya Avenue,
Chameli, UP – 98.
Languages Known : English, French, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Sports : National level athlete 200m
South India Karate Champion
Hobbies : Singing, Gardening, Cooking, Stamp Collecting
References : 1. Mr. George D’Souza
Director
Vertin India Ltd.
Chennai – 48
Mobile no: 9190008282
2. Dr. Vandana Srinivasan
Head of the Department
Mechanical Engineering
XEC College of Engineering
Chennai – 46
Mobile no: 90913244547
Declaration
The above stated details are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
(Signature)
Naveen Karthik
Place: Chennai – 600323
Date: 20 August 2009
