application letter

• Steps to compose a compelling application letter

  1. Research the company and job opening

  2. Use a professional format

  3. State the position you're applying for

  4. Explain why you're the best fit for the job

  5. Summarize your qualifications

  6. Mention why you want the job

  7. Include a professional closing
• Letter of Application for Employment

  Also called a Cover Letter
• 3 parts of Application Letter

  • Information about you
  • Date
  • Contact Person's Name, Title, Employer, and Address
• Key Elements of a Cover Letter

  • Information about you (name, current home address, telephone number)
  • Date
  • Contact Person's Name, Title, Employer, and Address
  • Salutation
  • Opening Paragraph
  • Middle Paragraph
  • Second Middle Paragraph
  • Contact Information and Closing
• Information about you


  Begin your cover letter with your contact information. It should be in block style, on the left margin of your paper, towards the top.
• Date


  Include a date as you would do with any business letter.
• 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.
• Salutation


  Choose the appropriate way to address the contact person (e.g. Dear Mr. Johns, Dear Ms. Smith, Dear Prospective Employer)
• Opening Paragraph


  In the opening paragraph tell how you learned about the position (e.g. classified advertisement, unsolicited mailing, the Internet, personal referrals)
• Middle Paragraph


  This paragraph gives a summary of your background and critical skills (hard skills) that make you qualified for the position
• Second Middle Paragraph


  This paragraph can be used to demonstrate your persuasive skills (soft skills)
• Contact Information and Closing

  At the end of the letter talk about your availability for the job, where you can be contacted, and when you are going to contact the hiring person for an appointment to discuss your application. If you have no contact name you may simply want to indicate your anticipation for a response in this part of the letter. Thank the person to whom you are writing for his/her time and consideration of your application.