Application for employment - sample and writing tips
With so many people qualified academically, there has been an increase in application for employment requests. The competition among job seekers is real. For anyone to increase their chances at getting a desired position therefore, it is crucial that they make sure they are among the very best. This means that you must understand the basics of writing a good application letter to increase your visibility among other competitors. This article will help you by pointing out useful tips and giving samples on which you can model your own application.
Source: UGC
The right employment application letter increases your chance of getting considered for a position that you want. There are many people who have been disqualified at initial stages, not because they lack the skills, but because they have no knowledge on writing a proper application letter. Check out the details that are a must in every employment application you make in the future. This article brings forth comprehensive details on how you can successfully apply for your dream job and get invited for the interviews.
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Employment application letter
Unless you are gaining employment through direct referrals, your application letter is one of the most crucial components when you are job hunting. You may be qualified academically and have a truck load of experience at the job you want to be considered for, but what introduces you to the team hiring is your application letter. Remember that this introduction needs to be impressive if you want to leave a lasting impression that will attract further interest. As such, you cannot afford to draft an incompetent application. Remember that the application letter needs to be useful to the potential employer. Capture info that he or she is looking for based on the job ad.
This means you need to spend some time decoding the advertisement before you write your application letter. The application letter, which is sometimes called the employment cover letter, is not your resume and thus should not be written as one. The essence of the application is to convince the employer of why you think you are best suited for the job. This may not always be an easy thing to do. Consider the following steps to get right.
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Steps for writing a good letter of employment
Source: UGC
- Prepare and organize your thoughts
First you must have in mind that the space to write the application letter is limited. This said, you need to arrange your thoughts well. Be careful not to recap your resume which will contain details of your skills and experience. On the contrary, highlight the most useful or relevant skills and experiences. If you are to convince the employer of your candidacy, you need to understand what they are looking for. Explain your qualifications and skills in such a way that the need of the employer will be met. With the ideas of what you want to write in mind, better still, written down; you can then proceed to the actual writing.
- Writing guide
This is a totally different write-up from a quick email to your friend or a thank you note to someone you appreciate. There are expectations from those who will receive your application. Meeting the bare minimum would mean better consideration of your case. You need to adhere to spacing, presentation and length guidelines if you want hiring managers to read your letter.
- Length
Make sure that your application is no more than a page.
- Font
Traditional fonts are recommended. This means you can use Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial fonts. Your recommended font size should be 10 to 12.
- Formatting and margins
When it comes to spacing, keep it at single spaced with a line space between paragraphs. Make use of one inch margins with a left alignment of texts. This, in fact, is the standard alignment for most, if not all official documents.
Segment content
With an idea of what is generally expected of you, your next move would be to know what to write content for each section.
- Heading
You should always begin with the heading. Have your employer’s contacts ie address, and your own. In case you are writing an email, then your contacts should come at the end after the signature.
- Salutation
This is the section where you put the polite greeting. In most cases it is written as: Dear Mr./Ms. Then followed by the person’s second name. In the case that you do not know the name of the person you are addressing the letter to, the following forms of salutations will come in handy.
- Dear Sir/ Madam
- To whom it may concern,
- Dear Hiring Manager
- Dear (Put the recruiting company’s name)
All the above examples are all correct ways to salute officially. It is however recommended to mention the name if you know it. It appears more personal.
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Body
Source: UGC
This is the letter's section that should ideally have three parts that are distinct. The first part which is the first paragraph should be where you mention the job you are applying for and where you came cross its ad.
The second paragraph or more, should be about the info you gathered when beginning the letter writing process. This is in fact the most crucial section as it answers the question that the potential employer asks. In this section, you need to share relevant experience and the other accomplishments that you have made throughout your career life.
The third and last section should be where you express your thanks to the employer. You can also supply your follow-up details. You can then finish with a polite close. Sign off as 'sincerely' or 'best of' then write your name.
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Employment application sample
Now that you understand the procedure of writing this type of letter, the following employment application letter sample will help put things in perspective, just in case you need further clarity. You can also follow it step by step and replace the details that apply to your situation. You can be sure that you will not go wrong with this kind of employment letter.
Example of hard copy sample
Source: UGC
Your two names
Street name
Posta/ physical address
Email address i.e. elizabethjohnson@emailaddress.com
Date eg, January 14, 2018
(Space between the two adresses)
Name of hiring manager
Human Resources Manager
Name of company
street name
postal address of company
Dear (name of the hiring manager if you know),
I was so excited when my former coworker, (mention the name), told me about your opening for an administrative assistant in your (location) offices. A long-time (Company name) customer and an experienced admin, I would love to help the company achieve its mission of making healthy produce as available as takeout.
I’ve worked for small companies for my entire career, and I relish the opportunity to wear many hats and work with the team to succeed. In my latest role as an administrative assistant at (mention company), I saved my employer thousands of dollars in temp workers by implementing a self-scheduling system for the customer service reps that cut down on canceled shifts. I also learned web design, time sheet coding, and perfected my Excel skills.
I’ve attached my resume for your consideration and hope to speak with you soon about your needs for the role.
Best Regards,
Handwritten Signature (for a hard copy letter)
Your name.
Example of Email application
Subject: Your two names – Position you are applying for ie Administrative Assistant Position
Name of hiring manager
Human Resources Manager
Name of company
street name
postal address of company
Dear (name of the hiring manager if you know),
I was so excited when my former coworker, (mention the name), told me about your opening for an administrative assistant in your (location) offices. A long-time (Company name) customer and an experienced admin, I would love to help the company achieve its mission of making healthy produce as available as takeout.
I’ve worked for small companies for my entire career, and I relish the opportunity to wear many hats and work with the team to succeed. In my latest role as an administrative assistant at (mention company), I saved my employer thousands of dollars in temp workers by implementing a self-scheduling system for the customer service reps that cut down on canceled shifts. I also learned web design, time sheet coding, and perfected my Excel skills.
I’ve attached my resume for your consideration and hope to speak with you soon about your needs for the role.
Sincerely,
(Your two names)
Street name
Postal address
email address
Note that you list your contact information in your signature, rather than in the body of the letter.
With the above simplified steps for application for employment, anyone can come up with an impressive cover letter that will capture the attention of the hiring team. Increase your chances of being considered by writing an excellent cover letter today.
Source: YEN.com.gh
