Job Application Writing

1. Job Application Writing Najam Sarfraz Bhatti M.A. TEFL, Pol. Science, LLB.

2. Sample Job Application Letter • John Donaldson8 Sue CircleSmithtown, CA 08067909-555-5555john.donaldson@emailexample.com • Date • George GilhooleyXYZ Company87 Delaware RoadHatfield, CA 08065 • Dear Mr. Gilhooley, • I am writing to apply for the programmer position advertised in the Times Union. As requested, I am enclosing a completed job application, my certification, my resume, and three references. • The opportunity presented in this listing is very interesting, and I believe that my strong technical experience and education will make me a very competitive candidate for this position. The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include: • I have successfully designed, developed, and supported live use applications • I strive for continued excellence • I provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers • With a BS degree in Computer Programming, I have a full understanding of the full lifecycle of a software development project. I also have experience in learning and excelling at new technologies as needed. • Please see my resume for additional information on my experience. • I can be reached anytime via email at john.donaldson@emailexample.com or my cell phone, 909-555-5555. • Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity. • Sincerely, • Signature (for hard copy letter) • John Donaldson

3. Sample Email Letter of Application • Subject Line of Email Message: Assistant Director Position - Your Name • Dear Contact Person: • I'm writing to express my interest in the Web Content Manager position listed on Monster.com. • I have experience building large, consumer-focused health-based content sites. While much of my experience has been in the business world, I understand the social value of the non-profit sector and my business experience will be an asset to your organization. • My responsibilities included the development and management of the site's editorial voice and style, the editorial calendar, and the daily content programming and production of the website. • I worked closely with healthcare professionals and medical editors to help them provide the best possible information to a consumer audience of patients. Also, I helped physicians learn to utilize their medical content to write user-friendly, readily comprehensible text. • Experience has taught me how to build strong relationships with all departments at an organization. I have the ability to work within a team as well as cross-team. I can work with web engineers to resolve technical issues and implement technical enhancements, work with the development department to implement design and functional enhancements, and monitor site statistics and conduct search engine optimization. • Thank you for your consideration. • Signature • First Name Last Name

4. Parts of the Application Letter • If you are applying for an advertised position, have the ad in front of you and refer to it frequently. Be sure to address all the job requirements in the letter. Match some of the keywords and skills from the advertisement or company Website with the skills in your resume and letter.

5. Return Information • It is now permissible to only include your name, E-mail address and cell phone number. Be sure your E-mail address is mature and professional. Ideally, it should contain parts of your name for ease of use.

6. Inside/Letter Address • It is very important that you address your letter carefully. After spending time making your letter perfect, you do not want it to be directed to the wrong person or get lost in the mail. • If there is a contact name on the ad, address your letter to that person. (Mr. A.B.C.) • If you are writing to a company for a job, the chances are that unless you have contacts on the inside you will not know the name of the person you need to use in the inside address. In this case you can address your letter to the manager of the specific department (Sales Manager, Personnel Manager, etc.). • You should also make sure that the recipient's name, department and address details on the envelope are the same as at the top of the letter.

7. Salutation • This is also known as the greeting. The person’s name should be followed by a colon (:) or left blank. Do not use a comma. (Commas are permissible for use in personal letters; not business letters.) • Dear Mr. ABC: If you know the name of the person to whom you are writing. • Dear Ms. ABC: If you are not sure of the marital status of a female recipient. • Dear Sir/Madam: If you have no idea as to the name of the recipient.

8. Body • The body of the letter contains four basic parts and should be three or four paragraphs long. These paragraphs should attract the employer’s attention; state your interest in the company and position; arouse the employer’s desire to interview you; and request that the employer take action in the form of an interview. (AIDA)

9. First Paragraph • Identify the purpose of the letter—why you are writing. • Be specific. Tell the reader how you learned about a job opening. • Tell the employer what job you want. • Examples: • In response to the advertised position in The Daily Dawn on July12, please consider my résumé in your search for an office assistant.

10. First Paragraph Examples • I was pleased to hear from Mr. Laiqthat you will soon have a vacancy for a Marketing Assistant. I am very interested in this position. With the skills that I possess, I know that I could be an asset to your company. • I am writing to apply for the Photographic Assistant position as advertised in the November 1 edition of The Daily Dawn. • Referrals and leads from friends and family members (networking) are the best way to learn about a job. Most employers enjoy getting referrals. They trust the recommendation of a valued employee or friend who states that you would be a good employee. • Examples: • Mr. AftabAlvi, a programmer in the systems programming department, suggested that I contact you regarding an opening you may soon have for a Marketing Trainee. • I am sending you my resume to you because of a referral from Sara Ehsan, an associate in your company.

11. Second Paragraph • Why should an employer be interested in hiring you? Briefly describe your professional and academic qualifications that are relevant to the position. Relate experiences that you have had, classes you have taken or skills you possess that satisfy the job requirements. If the job was advertised, refer to all of the required skills mentioned.

12. Second Paragraph Examples • As my resume indicates, I am active in theater in high school and had important roles in two plays. My school activities include being a member of both forensics and student government. With these experiences, I can offer you excellent communication and interpersonal skills. During the school year, I maintain a 3.0 average and work ten hours per week. My technical skills include familiarity with Windows, Microsoft Office applications and Google Docs. I use the Internet regularly and can keyboard more than 45 words per minute. • As a computer science major with a sincere interest in................. (elaborate your educational background) • Interacting with people has always been one of my strongest attributes. During my last job, I coordinated..........(state your work experience) • For my senior graduation project, I built a personal computer .............. (state your ability)

13. Third Paragraph • Emphasize what you can do for the company. Outline a relevant career goal. For example, if you are applying for sales positions, do not say that you are training to be an airline pilot. Expand on the most relevant points of your resume. • Example: • Because I am energetic, reliable, and resourceful, I would be an asset to your organization. I am willing to learn new things and be the best employee that I can be.

14. Fourth Paragraph • Request action. For example, indicate your desire for a personal interview and that you're able to meet with the employer at their convenience. Include your cell phone number and when it would be a good time to call. • Some advertisements ask you to include salary requirements. You can choose to ignore this. You can either wait until the interview to talk about money and mention a broad salary range.

15. Examples: • You can reach me on my cell phone any day after 4 p.m. E-mail is also a great way to contact me as I check it daily. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for your time and consideration. • I hope that my qualifications are of interest to you and that an interview might be arranged at your convenience. I can be reached at (0092) 333-0000000 or a message can be left on my cell phone. I look forward to meeting you.

16. Closing the letter • Finish your letter with an appropriate Complimentary Closing (Sincerely, or Sincerely yours,). • Leave enough room to sign the letter before keying your name. • Do not forget to sign it. • Remember to include an enclosure notation at the bottom.

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