Writing an Effective Letter of Application

Writing an Effective Letter of Application

There are 3 basic parts to an effective letter of application. These parts are the opening paragraph, or introduction, the body, and the closing paragraph, or conclusion. A resume should be enclosed with every letter of application.

In the opening paragraph you should explain how you heard about the available position. You should also explain why the job interests you. The title of the available position should always be included in the opening paragraph as well.

In the body of the letter, your main purpose is to essentially sell yourself. This is where you should state your past employment experiences that are relevant to the available position. Also in the body, you should include any additional relevant experiences that make you more qualified for the position, such as a college degree or training workshops you may have attended. After listing your accomplishments and history, you should explain how these things will benefit the employer if they were to hire you.

The closing paragraph is used to attempt to set up an interview. In this paragraph you should request an interview with the employer. Also you should provide as many ways as possible to be contacted such as email, home phone, and cell phone numbers. Every letter of application should end with a statement such as “thank you for your time” or something similar.