Application Letter

What is a job application

letter?
• An application letter is a standalone document you submit to
a potential employer to express your interest in an open
position.
• The job application letter explains who you are as a
professional and an individual.
• The letter should highlight your achievements and skills,
helping to get the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter
responsible for reviewing applications.
• When written well, this letter explains to the reader why they
should ask you in for an interview and highlights the key
qualifications that make you a fit for the role.
How to write an application letter
When writing an application letter for a job, follow these steps to
make sure you include information about yourself and your

professional experience that will appeal to a hiring manager:

▫ Review information about the company and position

▫ Use a professional format

▫ Create the heading

▫ Address the letter to the hiring manager

▫ Open the letter by describing your interest

▫ Outline your experience and qualifications

▫ Include aspects of your personality

▫ Express appreciation

▫ Close the letter

Review information about the company and
position

• It’s best to write a new application letter for each position

you’re applying for, so you can include pertinent details and
show your interest in the particular open role.
• Spend some time reviewing the company information, which
you can likely find on the website, as well as the position
listing.
• Compare your qualifications and experience with the list of
skills in that posting.
• You may also want to think about specific experiences that have
prepared you for the role, such as leading a team or managing
a major event.
Use a professional format
• A job application letter should be more professional than a thank-

you card or an email to a coworker or friend.

• The alignment of the document should include single spacing,

one-inch margins and left alignment.

• It’s best to use a professional and traditional font, such as Times

New Roman, in a size from 10 to 12 points.

• Try to keep your job application letter to one page.

• When a hiring manager reviews your job application letter, they

will get their first impression of you as a potential employee, so

take time to format it professionally and keep it concise.

Create the heading
• Use a formal business heading for your job
application letter.
• The heading should include your name and
contact information, the date and the company
name and address.
• If you send your job application letter via email,
you can eliminate your name and contact
information from the header and put it at the
bottom of the email after the signature instead.
Address the letter to the hiring
manager
• In your research, try to find the name of the person
reviewing applications for the job.
• Address your letter to this person with a common business
greeting, such as “Dear Mr./Ms.” and their last name.
• If you’re not sure of the name or gender of the individual
reviewing your application, you can use the generic “To
Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”
Open the letter by describing your
interest
• In the first paragraph of your letter, mention the job title
for which you’re applying and where you saw the position
posting.
• Include your interest in the role and briefly state the main
experience or qualification you have that makes you a
good fit.
• This is the section that will draw in the hiring manager as
the reader of your application letter, so it is important to
appeal to that person quickly and succinctly.
Example
• “I saw the posting for the Marketing Intern role on
my university’s online job board and I am very
interested in the role. I am in my final year of
earning my bachelor’s degree in marketing with a
minor in communications, so I feel my educational
experience has prepared me to work in a fast-
paced marketing department like the one within
your organization.”
Outline your experience and qualifications

• The next few paragraphs of your letter should highlight your

experience, qualifications and skills, positioned in a way that
aligns with the company’s goals and mission.
• For example, if you are applying for a job with a non-profit
organization that provides educational opportunities to
underserved community members, you could talk about your
experience with non-profit organizations or educational
offerings.
• Since a job application letter should stand on its own without
a resume, it’s helpful to include details about your experience
that relate to the position to which you’re applying.
Include aspects of your personality
• As you’re writing your job application letter, consider
how you can incorporate aspects of your personality.
• A friendly and engaging letter is likely to appeal to the
reader, especially when they can get an idea of how well
you might fit with the team.

• For example, in the situation mentioned above, explain in

your letter you are good at connecting with children or
how you value community spirit.
Express appreciation
• Before you sign off on your letter, express your appreciation to the
hiring manager for reviewing your letter and considering you for
the position.
• The hiring manager is taking time out of their day to read what
you have written, so expressing your gratitude for that time spent
is a polite and professional way to close the document.

• Example: “I appreciate the time you have taken to review my

application letter. Since you likely received a number of
applications and letters for this open position, I am extremely
grateful for the time you have spent reading about me and what
would make me a good fit for this role.”
Close the letter
• Many people use “Sincerely” or “Best” to close the
letter, although any professional sign-off is fine to
include.
• The final line of the letter should be your full name.
• If you submit a hard copy of the letter, include your
signature above your typed name.
• When submitting an application letter via email, you
should include your contact information beneath your
name, rather than including it in the header.
Job application tips
• Emphasize your skills and abilities:
▫ An application letter is your opportunity to sell yourself as an excellent
candidate for the open position.
▫ Include specific examples of situations in which you applied your
experience, abilities and skills to benefit the organization
▫ It is also helpful to include data that supports your claims.

• Stay concise:
▫ Although it may be tempting to include a lot of detailed information
about yourself, it is important to be concise.
▫ If a hiring manager receives a letter that is multiple pages, they may
not take the time to read it.
▫ A brief letter is more manageable and appealing.
• Proofread the letter:
▫ Since this letter is serving as your first impression, you want
to make sure It is as positive as possible.
▫ Make sure your letter does not have any grammatical or
spelling errors to avoid a potentially negative first impression.

• Review the job listing keywords:

▫ Most job postings will include certain skills and abilities that
the hiring manager and supervisor want applicants to possess.
▫ Including these keywords in your application letter helps to
show the person reviewing it you would be a good fit in that
specific role.
• Send a letter for every position to which you
apply:
▫ Unless a job posting specifically states not to send
an application letter, it is smart to send one for
each job to which you apply.
▫ This letter offers the opportunity for a potential
employer to learn more about you and gives you the
chance to set yourself apart from other applicants