How to write an application letter for a job in english

How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english How to write an application letter for a job in english

ASSIGNMENT ON ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS (6)

Write about the topic “How to write an application letter for a job in English”.

Notes:

You should write in 1200-1500 words.

Your assignment should be in 3 parts: Introduction, Development (the main one) and Conclusion

Your writing should focus on some aspects: layout, language, strategies…

You should list some common phrases and expressions found in application letter You should also include some Do and Don’ts when writing an application letter.

INTRODUCTION 3

DEVELOPMENT 4

1 Contents of an application letter 4

2 Layout 6

3 Language style 7

4 Strategies 7

5 Sample 8

6 Dos and Don’ts 10

CONCLUSION 12

INTRODUCTION Whether you’re in high school, college, or a certificate program, you’ve probably heard more than you care about the importance of a good resume But did you know that a good application letter is also essential for a successful job search?

An application letter is sent with your resume during the job application process A letter adds more personality to your application by providing more details about your

background and interest in the position, while a resume outlines your professional skills and experience more

The power of the cover letter in making an effective job application should never be underestimated A good cover letter will grab the employer’s attention and make them want to read your CV The purpose of your application letter and CV together is to whet the employer’s appetite, to establish you as a serious contender for the post and to

persuade the recruiter that you are worth an interview

Even if you won’t be starting your professional job search in the near future, learning how to write good cover letters can help you prepare for your career After all, you may

be working part-time — or even full-time — while you pursue your degree And, you’re almost certainly planning to look for employment upon completing your education

1 Contents of an application letter

Address and salutation:

 Information about applicant: Name; Current home address; Telephone number

 Date

 Information about recipient: Contact Person's Name, Title, Employer, and Address Including a specific name can get your letter and resume to the hiring manager more quickly and can be an effective personal touch If you are applying for an advertised position that does not give a name to contact, call the company and ask for the

department manager's name

Salution : Choose the appropriate way to address the contact person.

For example:

 Dear Mr Johns (if a man's name is the contact)

 Dear Ms Smith (if a woman's name is the contact)

 Dear Prospective Employer (if there is no contact name)

An application letter is a formal letter, which is divided into four paragraphs

Introduction

The beginning of your application letter should include:

 The position you are applying for

 Where you saw the job advertisement

 Convincing the employer that you fit the job

Body

The body of the application letter is where you sell yourself

 Describe your practical work experience and include details of experience,

achievements or relevant skills

 State your enthusiasm and interest Show that you know something about the organization you want to work for

Identify keywords, phrases and skills mentioned in the ad and focus on emphasising your strengths in these areas It isn't necessary to include everything mentioned in the job ad Instead, focus on three to five of the most important elements

Points to remember:

 Keep to one theme per paragraph and support your claims with examples

 Write persuasively

 Explain why you are interested in the position or working for the company /

organisation

 State the value you will bring to the position

 Identify how your achievements and skills qualify you for the role

Conclusion

Promoting action in the Close: Ask for an interview Tell when you are available to be interviewed and to begin work End on a positive, forward-looking note

Closing

At the end of your letter you should include a short sentence like I look forward to

hearing from you, or Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need further

information Below that, you should put a closing phrase:

 Yours sincerely (formal, for letters beginning Dear + name)

 Yours faithfully (formal, for letters beginning Dear Sir/Madam)

2 Layout

[Your name] [Your address] [Your phone number]

[Date] [Name of hiring manager or supervisor]

[Title of hiring manager or supervisor]

[Company name]

[Company address]

Salutation [Dear Mr./Ms.],

[Outline where you saw the job posting and express your interest in working in this role.]

[Discuss some of your qualifications that would make you a good fit for the job.]

[Describe your past experience in a way that emphasizes your personality and skills, while also showcasing how you align with the goals of the company.]

[Express your appreciation to the hiring manager for reviewing your letter Include any follow-up information, if applicable.]

[Conclusion]

[Closing]

3 Language style

An application letter should be formal A conversational style is, therefore, not

appropriate and you should avoid contractions, for example Try to use verbs in active, not in passive forms as this will make your letter more dynamic You should also avoid writing sentences that are too long and that include complicated or unnecessary language

A straight forward letter will get your message across more effectively than a long wordy one There are certain conventions concerning the correct way to address people and to close your letter

4 Strategies

Before you write your letter, you need to be clear on what your Unique Selling Points are for the role in relation to the key job criteria

Think about what will differentiate you from the competition Consider who else might apply, internally and externally, and what they might offer Consider what makes you stand out from them This might include:

• Greater depth of expertise in this field or a higher research profile than other likely applicants

• A particular blend of experiences which give you a unique perspective (e.g having worked in both academic research and industry, or having research experience in more than one discipline)

• Specific achievements in your current and previous roles

• A qualification which is highly relevant to the role, but which not all the other

applicants will have

• A passion for and commitment to this area of research or working for this institution (e.g perhaps you completed your PhD there)

• Well developed research or funding networks which could prove helpful in the job

• Or anything else you think might make the stand out in a way which is relevant to the role

5 Sample

John T Smith

1600 Campus Road, Box 123 Los Angeles, CA 90041

March 6, 20xx

Mr John Bowman, Vice President

California Federal Credit

800 Travis Avenue, Suite 1404

Houston, TX 77002

Dear Mr Bowman

I am writing to apply for the programmer position advertised in the Times Union As

requested, I enclose a completed job application, my certification, my resume, and three references

The role is very appealing to me, and I believe that my strong technical experience and education make me a highly competitive candidate for this position My key strengths that would support my success in this position include:

 I have successfully designed, developed, and supported live-use applications

 I strive continually for excellence

 I provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers

With a BS degree in Computer Programming, I have a comprehensive understanding of the full lifecycle for software development projects I also have experience in learning and

applying new technologies as appropriate Please see my resume for additional information

on my experience

I can be reached anytime via email at john.donaldson@emailexample.com or by cell phone, 909-555-5555

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

Sincerely,

John T Smith

6 Dos and Don’ts

Do:

 Put your most convincing evidence first You need to make an impact in the first few sentences Talk about your current or most relevant job first

 Focus on achievements in your current and previous roles rather than merely your responsibilities Quantify these wherever possible

 Illustrate your achievements with brief but specific examples, explaining why these are relevant to this role

 You can refer the employer to the CV for more detail

 Concentrate on the areas which differentiate you from the competition rather than the basic job criteria

 Demonstrate how well you have researched the role and the job context when explaining your career motivation

 Explain your rationale if you are seeking a career change or sideways move

 Be succinct Ask a friend to go through it with you and edit out any wordy

sentences and redundant words

 End on a note of enthusiasm and anticipation

Don’t:

 Try to summarise your CV or give too much detail – you need to be selective about the points that you highlight

 Make unsubstantiated statements about relevant skills and experience without giving examples

 Send the same or a similar letter to more than one employer Never ‘cut and paste’

as employers will suspect a lack of research and career focus

 Make generalised statements about why you want to work for the institution (e.g referring to ‘a top 50 global institution’ or ‘a department with a high reputation’)

 Use jargon specific to your employer or profession which the employer might not understand

 Focus on what the employer can do for you – it’s more about what you can do for the employer

CONCLUSION The cover letter is a marketing tool; it communicates to the employer that you are

interested in their position and their company and that you have something valuable to contribute

The cover letter exists to:

• Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the post, based on the research you have done about the role and the institution (after all, you are applying for a job as a researcher!)

• Explain your rationale for applying and how the role fits with your career plans •

Answer the question “Why should we hire you?” by demonstrating how you meet the key criteria for the post and what sets you apart from other candidates

• Provide evidence of your written communication and language skills, including the ability to be clear, succinct and articulate This is especially important for research roles

as the combination of strong technical research ability and excellent communication skills is highly sought after

Writing cover letters can be tricky You need to be professional enough to make a good impression and personable enough to demonstrate why you’d make a good member of the team Walking that line while also trying not to regurgitate your resume is tricky, even for the most gifted writer To pull it off, it helps to understand what you’re really trying to accomplish with your cover letter in the first place