Begin your letter by telling the reader where you saw the advertisement:
Practice, write & improve, letter of application: writing guide, 1. salutation.
Dear Sir or Madam
If you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, use this. The following is a list of letter salutation examples that are appropriate for letters of application.
Dear Sir or Madam
Begin by stating the job for which you are applying. Briefly mention how your skills and experience match the company and/or position; this will give the employer a preview of the rest of your letter.
I am writing to apply for the post of Fashion Shop Manager advertised in the ‘News Shopper’ of 14 February 2002.
In the following paragraphs, explain why you are interested in the job and why you make an excellent candidate for the position. Mention specific qualifications listed in the job posting and explain how you meet those qualifications.
Please see the example structure below:
(2nd paragraph) You might go and list your experience and relevant qualifications:
(briefly introduce yourself first) I am an ambitious and creative 25-year-old who have worked in the retail industry for a total of ten years, first as a sales assistant in a department store and for the last three years as a Section Head and Deputy Manager at Jones the Bootmaker.
(3rd paragraph) You might then go on to mention the particular abilities and skills that you have:
I believe I have all the skills, knowledge and expertise that you are looking for. I have lots of retail initiative, can schedule and prioritise tasks and can work to strict deadlines. I also work particularly well with people and would enjoy leading the team and working with clients and customers.
(4th paragraph) Say why you are particularly interested in this job:
I am applying for this position as I am looking to progress from junior to senior management. I have always been interested in the latest fashion trends and developments and I believe your organisation is a well-run quality fashion business. I would very much like to work for your company.
You might close the letter with the following formula.
I look forward to hearing from you and hope that you will be able to invite me for an interview.
Yours faithfully XYZ
“Yours sincerely” or “Yours faithfully”?
“Yours sincerely” is typically employed in English when the recipient is addressed by name (e.g. “Dear John”) and is known to the sender to some degree, whereas “Yours faithfully” is used when the recipient is not addressed by name (i.e., the recipient is addressed by a phrase such as “Dear Sir/Madam”)
TIP: Pay attention to style and register , but that is not the way to write a successful job application. In fact, the employer is more likely to forgive a number of grammar or spelling mistakes than to employ an applicant whose letter was too rude or too informal. In the exam, writing is assessed with this in mind: The ability to use the right style, whether you are writing a business letter or a holiday postcard, is one of the skills assessed by examiners. |
Letter of application sample 1, letter of application subject:.
You have read the following information from a British university, and have decided to apply for a course:
The university welcomes applications to all its courses from overseas students. Please write to the Admissions Officer giving details of the course you wish to apply for and why. Your letter should include an outline of your qualifications and any other relevant information.
Write your letter of application
I am writing to apply for your two-year degree in teaching English at the university level. At present, I am a teacher of English and of Computer Science in the primary school here, in Lutynia.
I am keen to improve my English as this is not only my hobby but also a strong need. I should add that I am already half-way towards achieving my goal. Ten years ago I was a university teacher of Computer Science. Up to now, I have specialized in both subjects. I graduated from Technical University of Wroclaw, Department of Foreign Languages and the Academy of Economics, Department of Computer Science with Master’s Degree.
I have a great deal of work experience that demonstrates my ability in languages. I have undertaken a number of translation projects for doctors, scientists, computer programmers and travel guides. I estimate that my English is at an advanced level and at present, I am preparing for the CAE exam.
I am particularly interested in completing my degree at your university as it is famous all over the world. If you wish Ms.J.Forde can give you a reference.
I hope you will give my application serious consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully (your name)
Letter of application subject:.
A restaurant in your region is to open shortly and the owner has placed the following advertisement in your local newspaper:
RESTAURANT STAFF NEEDED…
…For a busy restaurant located in the main tourist area of this region. We have a number of vacancies available, including: Junior Chef, Waiter/Waitress, Restaurant Manager. Hours of work: 6 – 12pm, Mondays to Saturdays.
Please send us a letter explaining which post you are interested in and why we should consider you for the job. Interviews will be held a week after the closing date.
I am writing with reference to your advertisement for the position of a Restaurant Manager, which was placed in The Guardian on 10 December.
My reason for being interested in this vacancy is that according to what is said by the executives of the companies I worked for (please find enclosed their letters of reference), I am particularly efficient at being involved in projects requiring a great deal of physical and mental energy and also creativity. I would be able to bring to bear these personal qualities of mine for the benefit of the restaurant.
I am sure that I would be successful in this post as I have now gained managerial experience having had work as a Senior Manager for the “Little Chef Restaurant” for 10 years. At present I work for the restaurant mentioned above, where my responsibilities comprise dealing with suppliers and corporate clients, recruiting employees and checking the financial statements of affiliated companies.
My academic background (a Master’s Degree in Tourism & Hospitality) would also prove valuable to you.
Please could you send me an application form and any other relevant details including those of salary, working hours and any additional benefits (such as private health care or social facilities).
I am able to attend an interview on any day from 11 a. m. Should you need any further information, do not hesitate to contact me on 222333222 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by email at [email protected].
Yours faithfully, name and surname
A tourist company which organises coach tours of your home town has placed the following advertisement in your local newspaper:
TOUR GUIDES REQUIRED
Are you an outgoing and sociable person, who has a good command of English and some knowledge of local history? Take-a-Tour is setting up a branch in your area and we are looking for tour guides to accompany up to fifty passengers a time on our coach tours. Your duties will include welcoming passengers aboard the coach, giving a commentary about the local sights, and taking small groups around the town on foot.
I am writing to reply to your advertisement for a tour guide in The Tokyo Mini Times on 13th January.
I have always been interested in working with tourists and this is one of the main reasons why I am applying for this job. I actually have some experience of guiding foreign people around the town as a volunteer. Therefore, the city council sometimes asks me to take people to some historical places and explain about the background. Once I organised a sightseeing tour that thirty people took part in. Every time I have a chance to do that, they appreciate my explanations. I think I will be a competent guide.
I have been living in this town since I was born. My ancestors came to live here two hundred years ago thus I know how this town has developed. I think I will manage to give a unique speech to the tourists.
I passed the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English last year, which I believe endorses my English ability. As far as I am concerned, this level is suitable for a tour guide.
I am available to start work on 15th February. I am also available to attend an interview in the afternoon on Monday to Thursday. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information.
I would be very grateful if you consider my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Letter of application task 1.
The university welcomes applications to all its courses from overseas students. Please write to the Admissions Officer giving details of the course you wish to apply for and why. Your letter should include an outline of your qualifications and any other relevant information.
Write your letter of application to the Admissions Officer.
(CAE 220-260 words – CPE 280-320 words)
RESTAURANT STAFF NEEDED… …For a busy restaurant located in the main tourist area of this region. We have a number of vacancies available, including: Junior Chef Waiter/Waitress Restaurant Manager Hours of work: 6 – 12pm, Mondays to Saturdays.
TOUR GUIDES REQUIRED Are you an outgoing and sociable person, who has a good command of English and some knowledge of local history? Take-a-Tour is setting up a branch in your area and we are looking for tour guides to accompany up to fifty passengers a time on our coach tours. Your duties will include welcoming passengers aboard the coach, giving a commentary about the local sights, and taking small groups around the town on foot.
Write the letter of application.
Letter of application: useful phrases & language.
I’m writing to apply for the post/position of…..as advertised in…….. I’m writing with reference I’m writing in response to your advertisement which I saw…. I’m writing in connection with your advertisement
I gained some experience while … I am currently working as … I have been working for … for the last four years. I worked part-time for three years as … At the moment| am employed by … My qualifications include … I have a diploma in … I graduated from Barcelona University last year with a degree in … Please find attached my CV As you can see from the attached CV …
I see myself systematic, meticulous in my approach to work….. I have a clear insight of……… I value time and not squander…… I tackle a problem…..
I would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience Please contact me with any queries you may have, I would be glad to attend an interview at any time convenient I look forward to hearing from you in due course….
Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:
How to prepare to write your essay , how to approach different essay types, how to structure your essay , how to revise your essay, how to find essay writing help , resources for teaching students how to write a college essay, additional resources (further reading).
Of all the materials in a college application, the essay provides the greatest opportunity for you to set yourself apart. Unlike the transcript or resume, the essay is creative and expressive; in it, you can show the admissions counselors who you are and what you can do (that is, how well you can write!). A good application essay should have a memorable main idea, a cohesive structure, and a strong introduction and conclusion. Although essay topics can vary by college, the most common prompts deal with personal experiences and aspirations for the future. This guide contains a diverse set of resources to help you orient yourself to the college application essay and, ultimately, to write the most competitive essay possible.
The college application essay is a requirement for admission to almost all institutions of higher learning. Though in some ways it resembles essays you've written in class or on standardized tests, in other ways it's a unique writing exercises with its own particular requirements. Use the resources below to help you understand how the essay should be structured and what kind of content to include.
"How Long Should College Application Essays Be?" (Learn.org)
This webpage guides you through some basic tips on writing the college essay—including essay length, sticking to the prompt, and maintaining an original tone.
"College Application Essay" (College Board)
This webpage from the College Board discusses the different types of application essays, what length you should aim for, and most importantly, why colleges value this aspect of the application so much.
"College Essays, College Applications" (College Board)
The College Board's website is a great resource for any student looking to apply to college. This webpage contains several links to helpful resources, including sample essays and genuine student interviews.
"Timeline for College Applications" (College Essay Guy)
This colorful, one-page guide from a college application specialist offers an illustrated timeline for high school students looking to apply for college.
Before putting your ideas down on paper, it's important to conceptualize your essay, to craft strategically your tone and style, and, crucially, to choose a topic that suits you and the school to which you're applying. The resources in this section include writing tips, lists of common mistakes you should avoid, and guides dedicated to the college application essay.
"3 Common College Essay Mistakes to Avoid" (CNBC)
This article from CNBC broadly outlines the most common mistakes students make when writing their college application essays. Although these mistakes may seem obvious, even the most experienced writers can fall into these common traps.
"7 Effective Application Tips" (Peterson's)
This article from Peterson's (a company providing academic materials for test prep, application help, and more) lists seven pieces of advice designed to make your writing pop.
"The Secret to Show, Don't Tell" ( The Write Practice Blog)
You've heard it before: show, don't tell. This is a great writing tip, but how do you pull it off? Here, the writing blog The Write Practice outlines how you can make your writing more descriptive and effective.
"Passive Voice" (University of North Carolina)
Avoiding passive construction is a subtle yet effective way to upgrade any piece of writing. Check out this webpage from a university writing center for some tips on recognizing and avoiding passive voice.
"Using Appropriate Words in an Academic Essay" (National University of Singapore)
There are many ways to upgrade your vocabulary. Often, words can be replaced with more impressive substitutes, phrases can be shortened or lengthened depending on context, and transitions can be used for a smoother flow. The link above expands on these strategies and offers several others.
"Bad College Essays: 10 Mistakes to Avoid" (PrepScholar)
This article from a well-known tutoring service and test prep program describes what to avoid when writing your essay. Essays that are too graphic, too personal, or too overconfident are all problematic, and this article explains why.
"5 Tricks for Choosing Your College Essay Topic" (CollegeXpress)
Lost on how to choose a topic? This webpage from CollegeXpress outlines five sources of inspiration you can mine for ideas as you're getting started.
"The College Admission Essay: Finding a Topic" (The Choice Blog)
This article from New York Times blog The Choice breaks down three essential questions to ask yourself when choosing a topic for your college essay.
"COLLEGE ESSAY GUIDE: Choosing a Prompt for the Common Application" (YouTube)
In this five-minute video, a Yale student discusses how to choose a college essay prompt and how to approach the essay writing process. His channel is filled with original videos on the college application process.
"Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises" ( CollegeVine Blog)
Approaching the Common App essay prompts can be difficult. This blog post explains several tactics you can use to narrow down your options, such as writing down a list of your greatest convictions.
"Using First Person in an Academic Essay: When Is It Okay?" (WritingCommons.org)
Most high school students are told to avoid using the first person point of view; this can be confusing when writing college essays, which typically ask what you think. This article breaks down when (and why) it's acceptable to write in the first person.
Although all college essays serve the same purpose - articulating why you should get into a college - they come in different kinds. While topics on the Common Application are relatively consistent from year to year, personal statements and so-called "supplemental essays" vary by institution. Each of these essays requires a slightly different approach. The resources in this section will prepare you to answer the various types of essay prompts you're likely to encounter.
CommonApp.org
The Common Application's official website is the best place to start getting acquainted with the service to which the majority of US colleges and universities now subscribe - a service which allows you to streamline your application process and minimize duplication of materials.
"What's App-enning" Blog (Common App)
The Common App runs a blog with a wealth of information on common application-related news, including periodic updates on common application essay prompts for each application cycle. You can practice brainstorming with old prompts, or even start preparing your application by looking at this year's prompts.
125 College Essay Examples (PrepScholar Blog)
Here, PrepScholar provides a variety of Common App essays that got their respective applicants into their desired schools. Along with the body text of the essays, the website provides analysis on what makes the essays so great.
A Few Essays That Worked (And a Few That Didn't) (NYTimes Blog)
This article analyzes unsuccessful essays, illuminating the ways in which they fell short. Although you should exercise caution and adjust your approach to your specific school, it's always good to pick up on general things to avoid.
What Is a Personal Statement? (PrepScholar Blog)
Although personal statements and Common App essays are similar, not all personal statement essays are administered through the Common App. This article from PrepScholar's blog will provide you with everything you need to know about writing a personal statement.
Examples of Successful Statements (Purdue OWL)
The Purdue OWL online writing lab collate links on this page to several successful personal statement. It can be useful to read successful statements and to consider how and why the statements made an impact on their readers.
Past Threads on Advice for Writing Your College Essay (Reddit Post)
Although not about the personal statement per se , this Reddit post has links to several past threads that may be of use to any prospective college applicant.
What 10 Things Should Your Personal Statement Include? (Which University UK)
This site outlines ten things to consider when writing a personal statement, including outlining what you will bring to the course, not what the course will bring to you.
How to Write Great Supplemental College Essays (IvyWise Newsletter)
Supplemental essays can often be challenging, asking a range of questions from the mundane to the oddly specific. This article from college application site IvyWise will break down example prompts to make them more approachable.
Write Your Supplemental Essays (College Essay Guy)
Looking for a comprehensive guide to supplemental essays? Look no further than this page provided by the "College Essay Guy," who breaks down how to write supplemental essays that ask different kinds of questions.
An Awesome Guide to the UChicago Supplement (Dyad)
Dyad, a college mentoring service, walks you through how to approach UChicago's supplemental essay question. Although the article is specific to UChicago, it contains general tips that are helpful to any college applicant.
Reading My Yale Supplement Essay (YouTube)
Josh Beasley is back in this short YouTube video, where he reads the supplemental essay that got him into Yale and extrapolates advice for current and prospective applicants.
A college application essay (like any academic essay) should have an introduction, a conclusion, and body paragraphs. Additionally, it should have overall coherence (that is, it should make a point) and cohesion (that is, it should flow well from paragraph to paragraph). We've collected the most relevant resources here to help you structure your college essay correctly and efficiently.
College Essays That Stand Out From the Crowd (NYTimes)
This NYTimes article includes links to several recent essays that caught the eyes of the admissions readers by taking risks. You can even listen to an essay being read aloud by a current Princeton student.
50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays (Gen / Kelly Tanabe)
If you have some time on your hands, this hefty PDF document contains 50 essays from successful Ivy League applicants. After reading these essays, consider what they have in common and how they might be a model for your own essay.
Make Your Application Essay Stand Out (CampusExplorer.com)
In this article from CampusExplorer, you'll find general tips on how to make your essay more appealing to the admissions readers. The writers include general writing tips as well as more targeted advice for the tone and audience of the application essay.
How to Write a College Application Essay that Stands Out (Boston University)
This short video from BU's own admissions department touches briefly on what impresses their admissions readers, including risk-taking, memorable stories, and honesty.
Essay Structure (Monash University)
This chart from Monash University visually demonstrates how your content should be organized in order to keep your argument or story on track.
How to Start a Personal Statement: The Killer Opening (Which University UK)
Any good introduction both forecasts what your essay will be about and catches the reader's attention. This page will give you some helpful advice on starting your essay with a bang.
How to Start a College Essay Perfectly (PrepScholar Blog)
This article from PrepScholar shows you how to "hook" your reader at the start of your application essay with colorful language, a vivid story, and an "insightful pivot" to your main point.
Let Me Introduce Myself (Stanford University)
This article from Stanford U's alumni page details the first-line openings of the essays for some current Stanford undergrads.
Five Ways to NOT Start Your College Application Essays (PowerScore)
In this article, you'll learn five techniques to avoid, as they typically land a college application essay in the "reject" pile; these include beginning with dictionary definitions or famous quotations.
Ending the Essay: Conclusions (Harvard University)
Harvard's writing center suggests bringing closure to your essay (that is, wrapping up your argument) while still expanding outward to broader applications or insights in your final paragraph.
Concluding Paragraph (Easybib)
Although you may have used Easybib to make a bibliography before, did you know they have many resources on how to write a good essay? Check out this page for succinct advice on what your conclusion should entail.
5 Ways to Powerfully End Your College Essay (College Greenlight)
This blog post instructs you to end with action (that is, a story or anecdote) rather than summary, giving you five ways to do this effectively, including addressing the college directly.
How to Write the Best Conclusion for a College Application Essay and Supplement (Koppelman Group)
The Koppelman Group, a college application consulting firm, warns you, above all, not to end "in conclusion" or "to conclude." They also provide targeted advice for the Common App and Supplement essays, respectively.
No essay is perfect in its first-draft form; college application essays in particular are limited by word counts that can be difficult to meet. Once you've communicated your ideas, you'll want to edit your essay in order to make sure it's the best it can be. You'll also need to cut or add words to make sure it's within the specifications set by the institution. The resources in this section include tips and tricks for revising your college application essay.
3 Ways to Increase Word Count (WikiHow)
Complete with illustrations, this WikiHow page outlines several ways you might go about substantively expanding your essay. These tips include clarifying points, reworking your introduction and conclusion, adding new viewpoints and examples, and connecting loose threads.
Admissions 101: What an Essay Word Limit Really Means (Veritas Prep)
In this blog post, Veritas Prep's college preparation tutors assure you that being a little over or under the limit is acceptable, recommending ways you can think about the word limit's purpose.
College Essay Word Limit - Going Under? (College Confidential)
In this College Confidential discussion forum, students discuss the possible ramifications of writing under the word limit for a college essay.
How to Increase Your Essay Word Count (WordCounter)
This article from WordCounter outlines different ways you might go about meeting word count, including addressing different viewpoints, adding examples, and clarifying statements.
Hitting the Target Word Count in Your College Admissions Essay (Dummies.com)
This article details how to hit the target word count. Scroll down to the middle of the article for advice on where you should cut words from to meet word count.
Some Tricks to Reduce Word Count (EastAsiaStudent.net)
This article recommends simplifying your style, deleting adverbs, deleting prepositions, and revisiting connectives and adjectives to reduce word count.
Advice on Whittling Your Admissions Essay (NYTimes)
In this New York Times article, Andrew Gelb discusses how to go about cutting down your admissions essay in order to meet the requisite word limit.
How to Shorten an Essay Without Ruining the Content (Quora)
This Quora post from a concerned student yielded useful community responses on how to effectively shorten an essay without losing the original message.
Feel like you've hit a wall revising your essay on your own? You're not alone, and there are plentiful resources on the web through which you can connect with fellow college applicants and/or professional tutors. The links in this section will take you to free services for improving your college application essay, as well as two of the top paid writing tutor services.
College Confidential Forums
College Confidential is a free, public forum in which you can post your essay and receive feedback from current college students, current college applicants, and even teachers or other experienced users.
/r/CollegeEssays (Reddit)
This subreddit is a great place to look for crowdsourced help on your essay, ask questions about college essays, or even find a private tutor.
Essayforum.com
Essayforum.com provides another platform for students to share their application essays. Although this link takes you to the site's forum for applicants to undergraduate degree programs, you can submit and review essays in other categories as well. Varsity Tutors
Varisty Tutors offers tutoring services from freelance tutors based on location. Prices and services vary, but their site is easy to use and there are many tutors available to choose from.
Princeton Review
Princeton Review, one of the largest providers of college preparation tutoring (ranging from standardized test preparation to essay help) offers online essay tutoring services with a free trial period.
Using in-class time to prepare your students to write college application essays is, of course, rewarding, but can also be challenging. If you're a teacher looking to incorporate the college essay into your curriculum but you're not sure where to start, take a look at the useful resources below.
College Essay Writing
This product includes material for more than one full lesson plan, including powerpoint presentations, assessments, and homework on the topic of college essays.
Narrative Writing Ideas and Prompts
Appealing to students 9th grade and up, this product includes lesson plans, handouts, and homework for developing narrative writing for the college essay process.
College Essay: Comprehensive 7-Session Workshop Series
This PDF includes entire courses, manuals, and handouts designed to teach students the ins and outs of the college essay process, either in an individual or group setting.
College Essay Revision Forms & Rubrics
These PDFs provide students with visual organizers and rubrics to assess their own writing and learn how to become better college essay writers.
Teaching the College Essay (Edutopia)
Teaching your students about writing the college essay can be incredibly intimidating -- as a teacher, how should you approach the process? This article from Edutopia outlines how to go about introducing the college essay to your students.
Essay Lesson Plan Ideas for College Applications (EssayHell)
If you're a teacher looking for a concrete lesson plan on college essays, this guide recommends using the first day to discuss the importance of the essay, the second day for brainstorming, and so on. Click on the link above to examine their full guide.
Help Your Students Write a Killer College Essay (EdWeek Blog)
This blog post goes over various techniques designed to help your students choose an appropriate topic and write their essay with passion.
The Biggest College Essay Mistakes & How to Fix Them (Talks With Teachers)
Looking to help your students avoid the minefield of mistakes in the college essay field? Check out this post from Talks With Teachers, a journal that shares "inspiring ideas for English teachers."
Curious to read more about college application essays, or to see fun and unusual examples of what students have written? The articles, blog posts, and books in this section are a good place to start surveying the field.
One Over-the-Top Admissions Essay (Huffington Post)
This piece from the Huffington Post talks about a humorous response to a Stanford supplemental essay topic, the so-called "letter to my future roommate."
College & University - Statistics and Facts (Statista.com)
In the process of writing your college essay, you may find yourself wondering who exactly goes to college, how many colleges there are in the United States, etc. This site gives the up-to-date statistics for various US demographics, both in aggregate and by university, as well as other information.
Who Made That College Application? (NYTimes)
This piece from the NYTimes outlines the history of the college essay from its origins in the 1800s, to the first "modern" college application, produced by Columbia University in 1919, to the present.
How They Got Into Harvard (Staff of the Harvard Crimson)
This highly-rated collection of successful Harvard application essays, available on Amazon, is both an entertaining read and an instructive resource for anyone looking for exemplary essays to use as models.
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Tips for writing an effective college essay.
College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay.
UPchieve connects you with knowledgeable and friendly college advisors—online, 24/7, and completely free. Get 1:1 help brainstorming topics, outlining your essay, revising a draft, or editing grammar.
Learn about the elements of a solid admissions essay.
Learn some of the most common mistakes made on college essays
Stuck on what to write your college essay about? Here are some exercises to help you get started.
Learn how formal your college essay should be and get tips on how to bring out your natural voice.
Hear an admissions expert discuss the appropriate level of depth necessary in your college essay.
Get the perspective of a current college student on how he approached the admissions essay.
Get the perspective of a current college student on how she approached the admissions essay.
Student story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback.
This content is licensed by Khan Academy and is available for free at www.khanacademy.org.
The good thing about this task is that you might be more familiar with it than some of its counterparts (like a complaint letter, or letter of advice), but we still need to go through how we write it for the IELTS exam.
Structure checklist, writing samples, what is the job application letter task.
Task 1 for the General paper requires you to produce a formal letter. One of these letter types is to write a job application letter. As usual, the word count is a minimum of 150. You can go over but be careful not to do so excessively. It’s useful to find a balance. Somewhat over may suggest your comfortability and fluency with English, but too far over may suggest a lack of focus to the task. As the task is to write a letter, apply the standard rules of letter writing. With all IELTS tasks, if they give you bullet points, they are instructing you to include these as part of your response.
The job application can vary between formal and semi-formal as seen below:
As you can see, the difference depends on the scenario given where your tone may differ slightly.
Purpose is so important. If you mistake the purpose, your whole letter is off-key and not relevant to the task, which means an undesirable score. And we don’t want that!
So how can we help ourselves in understanding the purpose? Let’s try applying these methods below.
Of course the task is fictional, and is purely a writing task to see how well you can write a letter of application. Whilst there is an element of creativity, it is much more about the skill of letter writing in the context of a job application.
Let’s use an example to go through purpose:
You have seen an advert in a local magazine for a job working at a catering company during the summer season.
The purpose of this letter is to appeal to the catering company with your relevant skills. As it is seasonal work, we can assume that they are not looking for permanent staff. This can be addressed in your letter. It was sourced from a local magazine so you will be writing to presumably the owner of the company. Your position as the sender of the letter, is to convince them you are right for the job.
This structure has some flexibility. If you wanted to merge for example your motivation and experience together, and use skills as another separate paragraph, this would be ok. The most important thing is to address the bullet points given and write it in the letter format.
All job applications would ask you to speak about your skills and experience, and why you are applying for the job. So we would call this ‘a given’, in that it is expected.
You decide to apply for the job.
Write a letter to the director of the company. In your letter:
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Rachel Cuff and I am a postgraduate student in Events Management from the University of Bristol. I came across your advertisement in N8 Communicator and would like to put myself forward for your summer season vacancy.
I have just completed the first year of my professional career, where I have specialised in the catering industry. I am an employee at Eden Caterers as a Catering Manager assistant. In my spare time, I work at numerous weekend events such as; Southbank Food Festival, Savour Festival and Vegan London.
During my time with Eden Caters I have helped to host numerous events, both for commercial, corporate and private events. During my first three months, I was appointed as waiting staff and bar staff. Soon after this, I was promoted to the role of Assistant Catering Manager.
I have experience in on-the-ground work, where I am accustomed to working with a team in a fast-paced environment. I also have experience in a managerial position where I have helped on a more operational level to oversee a company. With my extensive understanding of events from my recent studies, and my array of professional experience, I believe that I would be an ideal candidate for your summer season. I would like to help you create fantastic events and increase your success in the busy summer season.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Rachel Cuff.
During a recent train journey , you sat next to a businesswoman who owns a chain of hotels . You talked to her and she suggested that you should contact her about a possible job opening in one of her hotels.
Write a letter to this businesswoman. In your letter:
Dear Mrs Rhodes,
My name is Lisa and we met last week on the train from Manchester to London, on a late Sunday afternoon. Our seats were next to one another and we spoke for much of the journey back. You kindly offered me your business card when we were exchanging goodbye’s at London King’s Cross. I hope you will remember who I am, as you suggested contacting you regarding a job opening in one of your hotels. I am writing to you today to express my interest in this position.
Whilst we were talking, you mentioned your chain of hotels and your current expansion in opening a boutique hotel. You spoke about the new hotel that is due to open to the public within the next six months, where you are looking for a hotel manager. As I told you during our journey, I have eight years of experience in the hotel sector, four of which are in a managerial role. If you remember, my most recent position was overseas in France, managing a small boutique hotel. I am particularly interested in the boutique hotel model and am very interested in helping you develop your new hotel.
I am a suitable person for this position because I have developed my experience in management, branding and growth. I believe my skills and experience can help you develop your upcoming hotel, where we can set up a clear plan on how you want to further strategise your business. I would like to discuss this with you further face-to-face, and I am available anytime next week if you would like to speak.
You can call me through my contact information to set a date. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you very much.
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Learn how to write an application letter to make your resume more impactful, plus review an example of making a compelling case for your qualifications.
How is an application letter different from a cover letter? Some people use the terms "application letter" and "cover letter" interchangeably, but there are subtle differences between the two. An application letter serves as your formal introduction to a potential employer.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Perfect Application Letter. Let's learn how to write an application letter for a job with a step-by-step guide that'll show you how to craft every part of it. #1. Research the Company. Researching the company is the first step before you even start writing your application letter.
Writing an essay is a critical part of the application process. Use these tips to write an essay for college admission that could earn you an acceptance letter.
Working on a letter of application for a job? Learn how to write an effective job application letter with our examples and guidelines.
What this handout is about This handout will help you write and revise the personal statement required by many graduate programs, internships, and special academic programs. Before you start writing Because the application essay can have a critical effect upon … Read more
The letter of application is essentially a sales letter. In it, you are trying to sell your services and, in most cases, you will be competing with other applicants. Your immediate objective is to have your letter read by someone in the organization who has authority to screen job applicants; your ultimate goal is to obtain an interview.
How to write a college application essay can be one of the more confusing elements of the college application process. But we think it doesn't have to be. So we're building this post to offer a clear, step-by-step process you can use, followed by tips for how to strengthen your essay (also referred to as a "personal statement").
The job ad says you must include a letter of application. What is it? How do I write it? This guide will tell you all you must know about application letters.
Key Takeaway: Writing a college application essay is different from writing a standard paper or assignment. This part of your application requires thoughtful reflection, brainstorming, and careful polishing to stand out and make an impact on the reader. ... Making up facts, especially those that are verifiable, could cause you to lose out on a ...
Learn how to write a job application letter that showcases your skills and qualifications. Find examples, tips and templates for different formats.
A job application letter is sent or uploaded with a resume when applying for jobs. Here's how to write a job application letter, plus samples.
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College Application Letters College application cover letters support your college applications, college resume, and college application essay prompts. In combination with the other elements of your college applications, particularly your college entrance essay, college application letters help establish your "why." In short, a college application letter is a cover letter for your college ...
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This article provides information on how to write a letter of application and what it consists of. Although its content is mainly aimed at Cambridge exams, it can also be used for other purposes of learning English and writing a real letters of application.
College Application Essay Fundamentals The college application essay is a requirement for admission to almost all institutions of higher learning. Though in some ways it resembles essays you've written in class or on standardized tests, in other ways it's a unique writing exercises with its own particular requirements. Use the resources below to help you understand how the essay should be ...
Some colleges and universities require a supplemental cover letter for your essay. Learn how to effectively write this important part of your application.
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Specific Points about the Application Letter. Write a letter for each application, tailored for the specific situation. Even if the ad calls only for a résumé, send a letter anyway. The letter makes a first impression, and it can direct the reader to notice key points of the résumé. Use standard letter format, with internal addresses (spell ...
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