Job Application - Letters

Your job application or employment application requires a powerful self marketing approach to grab the attention of the reader.  An effective job application letter will position you ahead of the competition and get you that crucial interview.

In order to produce a winning job application letter that will land you your dream job, you need to read all  5 sections on letter writing. These are:-

• Resume Cover Letter (invaluable letter content) 

• Job Application Letter - Using Marketing Techniques*****a must read

• Sample Job Application Letters

• Letter Writing Guide (Business Letter Format and Reading Principles)

It is strongly recommend that you look at what is in The Resource Centre - includes free unique job search information aimed to assist you to get that job of  your choice.

What is a Job Application Letter

Most methods of contacting employers require you to respond either verbally or in writing.  Written communication includes both an application for employment letter specific to the recruitment method used, or a cover letter to accompany your resume for an advertised position. They are so important that they are an integral part of your job search strategy. 

Writing an effective and powerful job application (or employment application) is crucial to winning a job. Each type of job application will require you to sell yourself effectively to the employer in writing.

Go to this comprehensive section on how to find a job and recruitment methods used today.  Each recruitment method will require you to communicate verbally or in writing. Depending on the recruitment method, written job applications use slightly different letter writing techniques. Nevertheless the basic marketing content and format of a letter will remain the same. It is the approach that is different. They are all going to be self marketing letters.

There are several types of job applications. Here are some examples of the most commonly used ones:-

A resume cover letter.   (See Resume Cover Letter for valuable information.

A sample resume cover letter in response to an advertised position. 

This example demonstrates the process of writing a resume cover letter in response to an advertised position to ensure the employer's needs are addressed.

Job application letter - Prospecting or unsolicited letters for cold calling, networking and for employment agencies.

Cold calling letter to an employment agency

Basic cold calling letter to an employer - lower skills level

Cold calling letter to an employer - under graduate and post graduate

Career change letter

Career change sample letter

Follow up after an interview

Thank you Letter

Full range of examples are in Sample Job Applications

Resume letter.  Used primarily for career change or people returning to the workforce where a resume is not effective.  It sets out your job history briefly without dates and then responds to employer's needs - this is crucial (see below). You need to use all 5 sections of this section to write your resume letter. Note: it is not a resume cover letter. It is a combination of a resume and an application letter. It takes the place of a resume.

There are excellent samples of job application letters or resume cover letters found on  job search websites, however, most of these application sample letters are directed at the "professional applicant"  - especially for the high achiever or "would be" high achiever.

Therefore, some application samples provided on this site are directed at the middle of the road job vacancies and skill level, and show you the process used.

It is highly recommended that you read Application Letter - Using Marketing Techniques, which shows you how to use effective content in your application letter. This section is invaluable and contains examples of  opening and closing statement examples and shows you how to ensure your application  uses features and benefits.

As stated, what is common to all job applications is the need to market yourself.

When you are out in the market place looking for a job you are a ‘product’ or ‘saleable item’ and therefore you need to sell yourself in this manner.

It is easier to sell yourself if you have a professional background and harder if you are in ordinary white and blue collar occupations. However, no matter what level of job you are applying for you can still write  job applications using marketing techniques that catch the readers attention, as long as you address the employer's needs, and therefore their expectations. 

A good job application letter or employment letter, is useless if you do not have a resume that clearly backs up your claims in the letter. (exception career change letters).  See Resume Writing

FAQ

Q. Can I use one great job application or cover letter for all jobs?

A. You mean a "one fits all" letter?  Sorry - absolutely not.

Your letter must persuade the employer that you can satisfy his/her wants and needs, and you can't do this in a "one fits all" cover letter.

Address the employer's needs not your own

Employers spend thousands of dollars on an advertisement setting out their employment  criteria.  Do you think that they will be impressed with a job application that states how good the applicant is without addressing their advertised requirements? Yet many good applicants, including professionals, still won't budge from their "usual letter", which in fact is almost a one fits all application letter.

Amazingly some people just do not see the value in a resume cover letter. They think the resume will speak for itself.  It doesn't. 

• A poor cover letter will be put aside and the recruiter will not look at the resume.

• Employer's will not try and analyze your resume to see if you have the criteria they want. It is up to you to tell them.

• Your letter should concisely address their job criteria.

• Your claims must be backed up in the resume.

• It  provides the reader with an insight into your capabilities, communication style, your motivation and personality that is not found in the resume.

• Your cover letter should be designed to grab the readers attention and provide the employer with information as to how you meet their stated criteria.

• It should demonstrate you have done your research on the company.

The biggest problem about employment letters today is that people use sample letters without customising them.

Of course sample letters will give you some great ideas, however the job application cover letter must be personalised and address the employer's stated needs.

Further, a job application must reflect the applicant's level of skill and position in which they are applying for, as well as their own communication style. Your cover letter is an example of your written communication skills. If the cover letter is vastly different to the applicant's,own written communication style, or level of competency, the applicant may set themselves up to fail in the interview.

Anything you put in a application must be backed up in your resume. The exception being career change letters. A lot of skill is required to write a career change letter, so learn as much as possible about the process of letter writing.

As long as your capabilities are backed up in your resume, a good, short and precise and interesting application letter can put the jobseeker well ahead of the competition and will get you an interview. This is almost guaranteed if you follow the information in this job search section, providing you have most of the skills the employer requires and a good resume that is as strong as your cover letter. See Resume Writing

So, as you can see, there is no "one fits all" application letter.

Q. Ok, so where do I start?

A. The best advice is to follow the Letter Writing Guide first.

You need to start with the basics as suggested earlier. The Letter Writing Guide section covers the correct letter writing format and also valuable information about reading principles, which is very important.  A letter that is set out badly will make an unfavourable impression. There is much more to professional letter writing that you need to know. No matter how good you think you are at writing job applications or writing letters, just take a peak at this section.  Even senior professional managers make critical mistakes that probably cost them the job.

Then come back to this page to learn how to address employer's needs and then go to marketing techniques to learn how to sell yourself in your job applications. This is a valuable section readers appear to be overlooking. Use the ideas in Resume Cover letters for the most important aspects of a letter, the opening and closing statements. This section has examples of letter content you can use, and then customise  to your own experience, and to express your own communication style.

Powerful opening statements and marketing phrases can also be found at Amazing Cover Letters  You just need to address the employers needs, and this excellent software allows you, and encourages you, to do this. An all in one package that looks at occupations with a lot of competition and those with less.

There are 5 job application letter guides in this section you should read. All are different and invaluable in you job search.

Each of these sections cover every possible tool to write a cover letter that will get read and acted upon if your resume supports the strength of your cover letter.

If your resume is weak the best cover letter in the world will not get you a job.  if you are not getting interviews have your resume evaluated. Resume Evaluation

What if the advertisement asks me to state a salary? 

If an employer asks you to state this in your application you must do so. Do not say "salary negotiable" never give salary unless asked.

Salary Links

Amazing Cover Letters

Some good basic advice with regards to the topic of money and how you can increase your chances of getting paid the most a company is willing to offer.