ENG200

• Business letter


  An effective business letter elicits the expected response from the readers. This can be achieved through a concise, tactful, and accurate writing style.
• Purposes of a business letter


  • For sales efforts
  • For complaints
  • For information dissemination
  • For relationship building
  • For problem-solving
• Parts of a business letter


  • Letterhead
  • Date
  • Inside address
  • Attention line
  • Salutation
  • Body
  • Complimentary close
  • Signature block
  • Identification initials
  • Enclosure notation
  • Copy notation
• Letterhead

  Identifies the writer, their address, and contact number
• Date

  Placed between the letterhead and the inside address
• Inside address

  Identifies the reader's name, position and company, and address; it is placed immediately below the date
• Attention line


  Used when the writer wishes to address the whole company but wants to bring it to the attention of a particular person in the company
• Salutation


  The writer's greeting to the reader
• Body


  Contains the message of the letter
• Complimentary close


  The expression used to end a letter
• Levels of formality for complimentary close


  • Highly formal: Respectfully yours, Respectfully, Very Respectfully
  • Polite and formal: Very truly yours, Yours very truly, Yours truly
  • Less formal: Sincerely yours, Yours, Cordially yours
  • Informal and friendly: As ever, Best regards, Kindest regards, Regards
• Signature block


  Includes the signature and the typed name of the sender
• Identification initials

  Indicates the typist's initials if the sender is not the one who personally typed the document
• Enclosure notation


  Indicates the attachments to the letter
• Copy notation


  Indicates the name of the secondary recipients of the letter
• Formats of a business letter


  • Full block
  • Modified block
  • Semiblock
• Guidelines in writing a business letter


  • Use correct format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar
  • Present ideas clearly using appropriate language for the target readers
  • Arrange ideas logically
  • Use active voice as much as possible
  • Focus on the readers by using the "you" approach
  • Specify the name of the receiver
  • Leave 3-5 blank lines for signature
  • Never use plain numerals for dates
• Resume

  A tool that summarizes your skills, educational background, experiences, and other qualifications
• Components of a resume


  • Contact information
  • Summary of qualifications
  • Objective statement
  • Employment history
  • Education
  • Skills
  • Training
  • Organizations
  • Professional licensure and certifications
  • Honors and awards
  • References and signature
• Contact information


  Includes your name, address, contact number, and e-mail address. Does not include marital status, height, weight, religion, name of parents, and color of eyes and hair.
• Summary of qualifications


  Used when you have at least five years of professional experience. Highlights your experiences and accomplishments in 1-4 strong sentences written in the third person active voice.
• Objective statement


  An optional part that includes job title, function, industry, and what you can offer to the company. Appropriate for recent graduates.
• Employment history


  Begins with the most recent experience. Never includes anything that is not 100% true. Each job includes the name and address of the employer, inclusive dates, and brief job description.
• Education

  Starts with the most recent educational attainment. Includes the name and address of the school, years attended or year of graduation, degree and specialization, academic honors, scholarships, and extracurricular activities.
• Skills

  Shows your skills through past events. Communicates your strengths clearly. Includes transferable skills.
• Training


  Includes only trainings that have a bearing on the job position you are applying for. Includes the title of the training, organizer, date, and venue. Starts with the most recent training.
• Organizations


  Includes professional and civic affiliations. Includes the name of the organization, your position, and inclusive dates. Starts with the most recent affiliation.
• Professional licensure and certifications


  Includes the name of certification, rating (optional for low ratings), date issued, and place of issuance.
• Honors and awards


  Lists your recognized achievements that are relevant to work. Includes title of the award or honor, inclusive date, sponsor or award-giving organization.
• References and signature


  The list of references should not be included in the resume. Simply state "References available upon request."
• Types of resumes


  • Reverse chronological
  • Functional
  • Targeted
  • Combined format
• Reverse chronological resume


  • Listed in reversed chronological order, which includes company and job title, dates of employment, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Commonly favored by employers. Best for applicants with steady career progression, in business, in government, and whose employer is a respected name.
• Functional resume


  • Focuses on skills and not on job titles. Best for job-hoppers, career changers, new graduates, or people with minimal work experience.
• Targeted resume


  • Contains career objective that you want to achieve. Written to match point-for-point an offered specific job. Best for people with only one career pattern and multi-track job history.
• Combined format resume


  • Contains both the features of the reverse chronological and functional type.
• Context


  The situation where professional writing is performed
• Message


  The content of your document, including the main topic and supporting details
• Language


  The channel used to convey the message, can be visual, textual, formal, informal, verbal, or non-verbal
• Purpose


  The reason or motive for communicating
• General Purposes


  • To inform
  • To persuade