Application Letter

Below is an example of a letter of application, which is simple, brief, and straightforward:

Gentlemen:

Please consider this letter my application for a data encoder as advertised in the Classified Ads section of the Manila Today, dated February 5, 2011.

As it is difficult for me to know from the advertisement the exact qualifications you require of an applicant, i shall outline my qualifications very briefly:

I am a graduate of the Manila Information Technology Academy in Manila, Class 2010, where I have completed a two year course in data encoding. During college, I also attended several seminars sponsored by the academy which further enhanced my data encoding skills. I can now encode data at a rate of 125 words a minute with facility.

Enclosed is my resume for your reference.

Should you require an interview, I may be contacted anytime at telephone numbers, 655-2348, or at the address indicated above.

Thank you.

Very truly yours,

Your letter of application is your personal emissary - it represents you. You are "selling" yourself to a prospective employer by offering your services, qualifications, character, and personality in a form of a letter. It's ultimate purpose is to get you an interview. Your letter should be neat in appearance, faultless in expression, and convincing in tone, so it will accord a favorable reception. Otherwise, if your application fails to attract favorably the attention of the prospective employer, the interview that might have been yours is granted to another applicant.

Kinds of letters of application

The are two classes of letters of application: solicited and unsolicited letters. Solicited letters are in response to a want ads or advertisements.  An applicant who responds to an advertisement should keep in mind that many other applicants are applying for the same position. The letter that is most carefully and thoughtfully written usually makes the most favorable impression. Unsolicited letters are written by applicants who believe there maybe an opening in a company, or who have heared through someone that an employer is looking for a person to fill a particular position.

Blind advertisement

There are employers who do not reveal their identity, or the specific requirements of the position . This is called blind advertisements. Their objective is primarily to avoid interviewing and turning down countless applicants for a position. I highly recommend that your letters, in response to this form of advertisement, should be brief and not too informative. There are some unprincipled companies that use this method as a means of getting names and addresses of individuals out of employment who might be prospects for some questionable scheme. Such advertisement should be answered warily.

An example of a blind advertisement is given below, and the letter of application in response to it is given in the example above:

DATA ENCODER WANTED: Must possess excellent encoding skills. Write P.O. Box 1234, Makati City


Plan you application letter well. Your application letter should contain all the essential qualities necessary to create a favorable impression in the minds of your prospective employer, and in doing so you may well consider these tips:

1. Attract favorable attention by using a stationery of good quality, making sure that the typing, paragraphing, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and so on are correct; explaining how the vacancy became known to you; and indicating the exact purpose of your letter.

2. Create interest by stating and then analyzing the requirements of the position; and  showing conclusively wherein your education, training and experience meet these requirements specifically.

3. Convince the employer that you are the person for the position by supplementing the statement already made with the presentation of those personal qualifications that seem most desirable; manifesting genuine interest in his business, together with an expression of confidence in your ability to adapt your particular training to meet his requirements; suggesting, if it seems appropriate, your ultimate aim as well as your immediate objective; and reassuring the employer that you do not simply want work, but rather the opportunity to handle a given problem and solve it creditably.

4. Stimulating action by offering references that will vouch for your character, education and experience; requesting an interview, which is the true purpose of the letter; and supplying the employer with the information necessary for him in arranging for the interview.

Remember, your letter should immediately arouse the attention of your prospective employer. If your letter fails in this aspect, it will most likely fail in its purpose - to get you an interview. You can be sure that your letter will be observed and judged critically. Most employers judge the applicant by the degree of excellence of the letter in both expression and thought control.


Should you mention salary?

The question of salary should be avoided unless the employer asks you to state it, otherwise, use tact in handling the situation.

I would have responded to it in the following example:

Although I find it difficult to say what compensation I should deserve, I should consider an initial monthly salary of Php 15,000.00.

Do not be too humble or apologetic.