How to write an application letter?

Letter of application

How to write an application letter?

It is necessary to mention when people start thinking how to write an application letter properly. In every student’s life comes a moment when he or she doesn’t want to depend on their parents’ money and makes a decision to go working.

Reasons for working vary from an opportunity to use company car to a strong wish to become the best specialist among the others. Whatever your own reasons to be employed are the first thing to do is to look at your experience your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes – and decide what sort of job you want and able to do.

Every person’s career history begins with seeing an appropriate advertisement. There are a lot of different sources which can help you in your job searches. You may use adverts published in local newspapers and magazines, either professional or not. You may also address Local Job Centre or Employment Office.

As a result, you have got one or more job adverts. If you consider some of advertised posts to be your possible future position, you will have to write a special paper called an application or covering letter accompanied by a CV, another special paper, required by almost every employer.

You should understand that writing such papers is not an easy task. There are some stable rules describing how to write your covering letter in an acceptable manner. Obviously, the letter must be written in a formal way and must not contain any contractions or too emotional and expressive sentences. Keep being neutral.

Another main thing to tell you about is the letter structure. First of all, you should begin writing that kind of letter with your own post address in the top right corner of a sheet. Do not write your name there, you will have the opportunity to do this in the very end of the application. Then, under the address the date of writing should be put.

Secondly, you must be sure that you have written an employer’s address. Otherwise, your application letter will not be delivered, you see.

After having done this, you come to the main body of the letter. It must be started with a salutation. There are two variants. First – when you know the person’s name, second – when you do not. In the first case you must write “Dear Mr.” and his surname or “Dear Ms.” and her surname. In the second case you just write “Dear Sir/Madam”.

Next part mentions the job you are applying for and where and when you saw it advertised. This information should be followed by your age, education (diplomas, certificates, etc.) and training or qualifications which are relevant to the vacancy.

The following paragraph should be devoted to your previous work experience, if you had any. Then point details describing your personality, hobbies, skills and abilities, but only those which can help you to interest the employer. Do not forget to write why you are interested in the job.

In the conclusion you should write how available you are for interviews. Make sure that you have given your phone number. Remember to put a state phrase: I am looking forward to hearing from you.

The last thing you must remember about writing the application letter is to finish it properly. It means that if you write “Dear Mr. (surname) /Ms. (surname)”, you must close the letter with “Yours sincerely”. If you write “Dear Sir/Madam”, then the closing remark must be “Yours faithfully”. In the very end of the letter write your signature and name.

How do you need fill in the application form?

If you are looking for a new job, the first thing, that you should do is to look at your experience, your strengths and weak­nesses, likes and dislikes - and decide what sort of thing you want to do, and can do, next. In general, you can look for the same sort of job as you've done in the past, look for a different sort of job, start up your own business, retrain or take further education, move to another area, go abroad, do voluntary work, take vocational guidance. (профессиональная ориентация)

Looking for a new job is a full-time occupation in itself, so it's important to get yourself organized. You can use many different sources to help yourself to find a job such as: job center or Employment Office, (бюро по трудоустройству), local Careers Service, private employment agencies, national and local newspapers, newspapers and journals, applications to possible employers, your previous employers, colleagues or work contacts, your professional association or trade union, local radio stations, friends and relatives and many other sources.

If you see an advertisement for the job you would like to get, you should send off for an application form and fill in the form. The main aim of your application form is to get you an interview. If an interview is a success, you will get the job.

Your application form must be separate into paragraphs. Every paragraph must include only relevant information. The first paragraph is the paragraph in which you addresse the manager in a formal way, for an example dear Sir or Madam. In the second paragraph you must mention the reason for writing, the type of job and say where you saw the job advertised. Then you should say what you are doing now, how old you are, where you live, what you are interested in and what you are good at, mention relevant experience and yours academic qualifications. In next paragraph you should write about your personal qualities, for an example I am enthusiastic, flexible, confident (уверенный (в успехе и т. п. - of)), careful (старательный), punctual, literate (oбразованный), energetic and so on. After that in next paragraph you must give contact details for an example the number of phone and mention about enclosed CV and write when will you be available for the position. In the last but one paragraph you must conclude the letter in a polite way for an example I look forward to hearing from you. In the end of the letter you must put your signature for an example yours faithfully, Demushina Kristina. The letter of application must be written in formal way, for what you must use formal words such as: instead of ''to answer'' you should to response, instead of ''to think about'' you should to consider, instead of ''job'' you should position, instead of ''chance'' you should opportunity and other words.

If the employer considers you to be the right person, he will invite you an interview. I hope you will do everything right and you will be given the job. Good luck!

1. Who is the target reader?

2. What information should you include in the introduction?

3. How many main body paragraphs will you need?

4. What should they contain?

1. Making an application

The aim of your application is to get you an interview; the aim of the inter­view is to get you the job.

The first thing to do is to draw up a personal information chart or curric­ulum vitae (CV).

- CV also curriculum vitae (BrE) or resume (AmE) - a short written account of a person's education and past employment, used especially when she/he is looking for a job

- A covering letter

You should send a short covering letter with your CV or form, setting out:

• the job you're applying for, and where you saw it advertised.

• how your work experience is rele­vant to the vacancy (read through the ad carefully).

• how your education, training or qualifications are relevant.

• why you're interested in the job.

• how available you are for interviews. Make sure that you've given your phone number.

2. Read this letter of application.

The address of the person / company you are writing to If you don't know the person's name Dear Sir / Madam = Yours faithfully Dear Mr White/ Ms Black = Yours sincerely Sign your name

91 Heron Avenue Swanage Dorset BH 12 4QA 8^th May 2004 BVJ Airlines Personnel Dept Crescent House 32 Crescent House London SW12 1JB Dear Sir / Madam I am writing to apply for the position of Air Steward which was advertised in the Standard on the 5th May. At present I am working as a telephone sales operator for an international travel agency, where I have been working for the last two and a half years. As you can see from my CV, I have several years' experience of working in customer services with people of all ages and nationalities. I have a Travel and Tourism Diploma, and I can speak Spanish and French fluently. I visit Spain and France regularly, and I am a keen traveller. I am motivated, enthusiastic, and keen to learn. I am good at working in a team. In addition, I am a qualified first-aider, and I am familiar with both Word and Lotus. I enclose my CV. Please contact me at the above address if you require any further details. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully Jerry \Jarner Jeremy Warner

Your address, not name Date No contractions

3. Fill in gaps 1-10 with a suitable form of the verb in brackets.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I (1)..................... (write) to apply for the position of Secretarial Assistant, as advertised in the October issue of 'International Jobs'.

I am aged 19 and (2)..................... (be born) in Italy, but for the last three years I (3)..................... (live) in London. Last June I (4)..................... (pass) Cambridge First Certificate with a Grade A. In addition to English I speak Spanish and Catalan quite fluently, owing to the fact that I (5)..................... (live) in Barcelona for several years before we (6)..................... (move) to Britain.

As you will see from my enclosed curriculum vitae, I (7)..................... (have) four temporary positions as a secretary and I can provide you with excellent references from each one. I like to work hard and I would particularly enjoy (8)..................... (work) with staff from different countries.

I (9)..................... (be) available for the position from next January as my contract with my current employers ends in December, and I could attend an interview this month on any Tuesday or Thursday. I look forward to (10)..................... (hear) from you.

Yours faithfully,

Annabella Tarantino

4. Find more formal equivalents in the letter for these expressions, as in the example.

1 job position 4 give......... 7 free.........

2 as well as......... 5 really good......... 8 go to.........

3 because......... 6 very much......... 9 please write soon..

5. How would Annabella answer these questions when planning her job application?

1. Who are you writing to? Do you know the person's name?

2. Why are you writing? Which job?

3. Where and when did you hear about the job?

4. How old are you? What experience relevant to the job do you have?

5. Why do you want the job? Why would you do it well?

6. Are you enclosing / sending anything with the letter?

7. How will you end the letter?

8. In what style should you write?

9. Which of the following beginnings and endings are appropriate? Give reasons.

A. Dear Sir/Madam,

I thought I'd drop you a line about the advertisement for the summer position advertised in the Derby Times.

B. Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing about the job. I am a student and I think I have all the right qualifications and a lot of experience.

C. Well, thanks for giving me the chance to apply for this. I'm sure it'll be great fun working in your London branch.

Yours,

Jim Smith

D. I think I'm the right person for the job. Call me if you like.

Yours faithfully,

James Smith

Analyzing a letter of application

a. Read the model and find:

1. where the job was advertised

2. what the writer is doing now

3. future plans

4. a reference to past work experience

5. details about the writer's personality

6. a reference to further communication

Dear Sir/Madam,

1. I am writing in response to your advertisement in yesterday's Student News. I would be grateful if you would consider my application for the vacancy in your

London office.

2. I am a sixteen-year-old high school student and am very interested in this position. When I leave school, I plan to study business administration and this would be a perfect opportunity for me to gain some experience.

3. Although I have no formal work experience, I have often helped out in the family business, where I have been responsible for duties such as filing and taking telephone messages.

4. As far as my personality is concerned, I would describe myself as industrious and motivated. I am a sociable person and I enjoy working with others as part of a team. I also believe that I am capable of working alone and able to use my own initiative.

5. If you wish me to attend an interview, I am available at any time. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Dora Collier

Dora Collier

b. Suggest an alternative beginning and ending for this letter.

c. Read the model again and find formal words/ phrases which mean the same as the informal ones given in the table, as in the example.

to answer
think about
job
chance
I haven't got any
done things like
answering the phone
as for what I'm really like
can
If you want
free
can't wait to hear

d. Now use the formal words and phrases to make sentences that you could use in your own letter of application.

6.

A. Put the paragraphs of this letter of application in the correct order.

B. Match each paragraph with its function.

LETTER OF APPLICATION	The paragraph in which the applicant:
a) I look forward to hearing from you.	1. shows enthusiasm in spite of lack of experience
b) Apart from selling some hand-made things at a school fair, I have had no experience of working as a salesperson. However, I think I would enjoy working in the shop as I am always happy to help people.	2. addresses the manager in a formal way
c) I am writing in reply to your advertisement for the position of a shop assistant advertised in the St Petersburg Times. I would like to apply for this position.	3. gives relevant personal information
d) Yours faithfully, Maria Romanova	4. states her interests and proves she is suitable for the job
e) I am 16 years old and live in St Petersburg. At the moment I am in the 11th grade but I am finishing school this June. I would like to get some work experience before going to university, so I will be available to start work immediately after the school-leaving examinations.	5. concludes the letter in a polite way
f) If you require any further information, I can be contacted by phone on 8123544482 I am also enclosing my CV for your information.	6. supplies a reason for writing
g) I am very interested in communicating with people and, my classmates say, I am good at dealing with problems. In addition, by the time I finish school I will have taken the Cambridge First Certificate Examination. My teacher thinks I will get at least a pass grade in it, so I'll be able to assist both Russian and foreign customers.	7. gives contact details
h) Dear Sir / Madam,	8. signs the letter

7. Write your letter of application.

1. What do you have to write?

2. Who is the target reader? What style is appropriate?

3. What would be a suitable way to begin?

4. Will you use section headings? If so, suggest suitable ones.

5. What information should you include in the main body?

6. Which linking words and phrases could you use?

7. How could you end your piece of writing?

Using the information you have learned in this unit, write one of the tasks above. You should write between 120 and 180 words.

8. Write your letter of application to the tourist company. Say why you are interested in the job and when you will be available.

1. What style of writing should you use? Why?

2. Which of the following greetings/salutations are suitable for your letter?

a. Dear Sir/Madam,... Yours sincerely,...

b. Dear Manager,... Yours sincerely,...

c. Dear Sir/Madam,... Yours faithfully,...

3. Which of the following topics should you include in your letter?

a. your age

b. what languages you speak

c. your previous experience

d. hours you can work

e. where you live

f. where you saw the advertisement

g. your present occupation

h. your reason for applying for the job

4. How will you organize your writing into paragraphs?

10. Write your own job application for one of the jobs above, making sure that you include all the information that is asked for. Write your letter in 120-180 words in an appropriate style. Do not include any addresses. Follow this plan:

Dear Sir/ Madam

I am applying for... (name of job), advertised... (where and when?)

Ihave always been interested in... (what?), and during the school holidays I used to... (what relevant experience do you have?). Please find details of my qualifications and work experience in the enclosed curriculum vitae.

Last year I was a student at... (which school?). Since I left school I... (what have you been doing?).

I also have experience of... (mention any other relevant experience you may have).

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

or use these phrases

I am writing to apply for the position of...

At present I am working as...

As you can see from my CV...

I have (two years') experience of...

I am good at +-ing...

I enclose my CV / an application form.

Please contact me at the above address if...

I look forward to hearing from you.

11. Work in pairs. Discuss these questions:

- What impression do you try to give in an application letter?

- Should an application letter be handwritten, typed, or laser-printed?

- How important is a well-presented CV or resume?

- Do you always tell the absolute truth in application letters?

- Point out five important features of a good letter of application.

- Work out three dos and three don'ts for writing a CV and exchange your ideas with your partner.

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