Job

Application
Letter
What is a job application letter?
A job application letter or cover letter is a type of
personal business correspondence which states your
intention to work in a particular organization. It
should be enclosed every time you send your
resume. While some online job application do not
require an application letter, corporates experts say
that employers are more likely to read a resume
which is accompanied by a cover letter.
 A cover letter can be a response to a job
advertisements, an unsolicited inquiry to a
prospective employers as part of your direct mail
strategy, or a letter to a recruitment agency.
Regardless of the circumstances you may find yourself
in, it is wise to research about the company and the
job you are interested in. You may also call the
company’s HR department for further information or
to get a copy of the company brochure.
PART OF A
COVER
LETTER
Introduction
1. Introduce yourself and state your purpose in writing
to the receiver
2. Indicate your source of information in learning about
the job vacancy. Was it through a newspaper,
magazine the Internet, or a personal contact?
3. Add an interest statement about yourself that will
cause the reader to continue reading your credentials
4. Show your enthusiasm to work in the company
Body
1. Present your work experience, academic
qualification, trainings, and some personal
qualities with specific evidence
2. Organize your paragraph accordingly, you may
segregate them by theme (one paragraph for
work experience and one for education) or by
function (management, financial, technical)
3. Explain the benefits to the employers if they hire
you. Do not simply give fact; explain how these facts
will contribute to the company
4. For instance, instead of merely telling the
company about all the trainings you had, you may
say, “I have extensive training in copyediting. You
will save both time and money because I will need
little trainings on this area”
5. In the last part of the body, refer the reader to a
specific part of the resume that suggest your
strongest credentials for the position.
Conclusion
1. Indicate your interest for an interview at a time
most convenient to the employer. If required,
specify the time you are available for an
interview
2. Indicate how the interview you can contact
3. Express an expectation of a positive response
from the employer
4. Thank the employer
 TIPS IN
PREPARING A
COVER LETTER
Content
1. Never begin your letter with bland and
generic phrases such as, “Enclosed is my
resume for …” To be more creative , you may
use the following strategies:
a. Begin with a question that stimulates the
reader’s interest
b. Lead in with a name of someone you both know
(e.g., When Dr. Gilda Nomer mentioned your name in
a conference…)
c. Start out with a quote that applies to the type of
business of the employer
d. Explain how you learned about the job opening
you are applying for.
Remember that although readers,
especially employers, want attention-
getters, you do not have to resort to a
shallow and contrived pitch. It might
sound fake, and this alone might harm
your chances of being hired.
2. A cover letter must not simply repeat the content of
your resume. Emphasize concrete examples.
3. Address the letter to a specific person. If do you not
know the specific addressee, call the company and
ask.
4. Be specific with the position you are applying for. Do
not use general vacancies.
5. Avoid superfluous information. Do not begin with
“Let me tell you something about myself. My name is
…” Moreover, do not include too much specific
information (dates, numbers, names, places). Choose
and include hard factual information.
6. Focus on what you can do for the company.
Remember that they are looking for their own benefit.
7. Avoid mentioning opinions about yourself. When
you claim one, be sure to support it with specific and
factual evidence.
8. Highlights two or three of your most significant
accomplishments or abilities.
9. Use the active voice to indicate a dynamic tone, as
well as powerful verbs that denote action.
10. Be sure to have correct grammar, spelling,
vocabulary, and usage. Avoid jargon, clichés, and
verbosity. Any typographical and grammatical errors
may cause the reader to doubt your competence.
11. Be direct to the point to keep the attention of your
reader.
12. Be factual. Never misrepresent yourself by
overstating your experience and skills. In short, do not
exaggerate.
13. Do not beg for the job; that is, do not write
sentence such as, “Please call today! I’ll be waiting by
the phone. I am desperately eager to start.
14. As you write, imagine that you are writing a script
for your interview. Translate into words how you could
break the ice at the beginning of the interview, how
you can convey a positive personality while discussing
the things you want to talk about, and how you will
express what you hope to get from the interview.
15. Match your letter to the job description and job
requirements. This means that each letter should be
tailored to the specific job you are applying for.