Checklist

A busy employer has little time for long rambling correspondence. Avoid the temptation to include details in which the recipient is unlikely to be interested, no matter how important they may be to you. You should also avoid generalising, and instead be quite specific in the information provided. For example instead of saying ‘I have had several years of relevant experience in a well-known firm of engineers', state the number of years, state the experience and give the name of the firm.

When you have written your letter, read it carefully and ask yourself these questions:

1. Does it read like a good business letter?

2. Will the opening paragraph interest the employer enough to prompt the rest to be read?

3. Does it suggest that you are genuinely interested in the post and the kind of work to be done?

4. Is your letter neatly presented and logically structured?

If your answer to these questions is 'Yes', then you may safely send your letter.

Application using an introduction

Sometimes your application will result from an introduction by a friend or colleague. In this case such an introduction should be mentioned in the opening paragraph as a useful way of attracting attention

Dear Mr Barker,

Mrs Phyllis Naish, your Personnel Officer, has told me that you have a vacancy for a Marketing Assistant. I should like to be considered for this post.

As you will see from my enclosed Curriculum Vitae I have several A levels as well as secretarial qualifications gained during an intensive one-year course at Walthamstow College of Commerce.

I have been Shorthand Typist in the Marketing Department of Enterprise Cables Ltd for 2 years and have been very happy there gaining a lot of valuable experience. However the office is quite small and I now wish to widen my experience and hopefully improve my prospects.

My former headmistress has written the enclosed testimonial and has kindly agreed to give further details should they be needed. If you are interested in my application my present employer has agreed to provide further information.

I am able to attend an interview at any time and hope to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely

Application for post of Sales Manager

Dear Sir

Mention the post I was very interested to see your advertisement for a Sales and advertisement Manager in yesterday's Daily Telegraph and should like to

be considered for this post

Enclose CV and My full particulars are shown on my enclosed curriculum briefly discuss vitae, from which you will see that I have had 10 years' working experience experience in the sales departments two well-known

companies. My special duties at Oral Plastics Ltd include training of sales personnel, dealing with the company's foreign correspondence and organising market research and

Mention why you sales promotion programmes. I thoroughly enjoy my

are applying work and am very happy here but feel that the time has come when my experience in marketing has prepared me for the responsibility of full sales management.

Refer to referees Mr James Watkinson, my Managing Director, and Ms Harriet Webb, Sales Manager of my former company, have both consented to provide references for me: their details can be found on my curriculum vitae.

Suitable close I shall be pleased to provide any further information you may need and I may be given the opportunity of an interview.

Yours faithfully

Application for a teaching post

This letter of application is sent by a trainee teacher to the Chief Officer of one’s local authority enquiring about suitable teaching posts.

Dear Sir,

At the end of the present term I shall complete my one-year teacher training course at Garnett College of Education. For domestic reasons, I would like to obtain a post at a school or college in the area administered by your authority.

From my curriculum vitae which is attached you will see that I have 6 0 level and 2 A level passes, as well as advanced qualifications in many secretarial subjects. I have held secretarial positions in the London area for a total of 8 years, during which time I studied for my RSA Shorthand and Typewriting Teachers' Diplomas. Having enjoyed the opportunity to teach these subjects in evening classes at the Chingford Evening Institute for 2 years, I was prompted to take up a full-time Certificate in Education at Garnett.

I like young people and get on well with them, and I am looking forward helping them in the very practical way which teaching makes possible. If there is a suitable vacancy in your area, I hope you will consider me for it.

Yours faithfully

Application for post of Data Processing Trainee

In this letter the writer gives details of his or her education and qualifications in his or her letter instead of a separate curriculum vitae. This style is useful when the applicant does not have a lot of previous working experience to warrant a CV.

Dear Sir,

I would like to apply for the post of Management Trainee in your Data Processing Department advertised today in The Guardian.

I obtained A level passes in Mathematics, Physics and German at Marlborough College, Wiltshire. The College awarded me an open scholarship to Queens College, Cambridge, where I obtained a first in Mathematics and a second in Physics. After leaving University last year I accepted a temporary post with Firma Hollander & Schmidt in order to improve my German and gain some practical experience in their laboratories at Bremen. This work comes to an end in 6 weeks time.

My special interest for many years has been computer work and I should like to make it my career. I believe my qualifications in Mathematics and Physics would enable me to do so successfully.

I am unmarried and would be willing to undertake the training courses away from home to which you refer in your advertisement.

My former Housemaster at Marlborough, Mr T Gartside, has consented to act as my referee (telephone 0117 234575) as has Dr W White, Dean of Queens College, Cambridge (telephone 01246 453453). I hope that you will take up these references and grant me the opportunity of an interview.

Yours faithfully

Application Letter to Be Sent Without a Resume or CV

6 Carlswood Street

Redhill, Surrey

Tel: Redhill 62196

Mrs. Cynthia Dryden 17 September 2010

44 Randolph Square

London EC1 4BE

Dear Mrs. Dryden,

I have seen your advertisement for a personal assistant / secretary in the Guardian and would like to apply for the post.

I am 28 years old and was educated at Redhill Comprehensive School and the South Surrey College. I have an HND in Business Studies and have also passed the Pitman Examination (Stage III) in shorthand and typing. I studied French to “A” level and can speak it fluently.

For the last six years I have been working as the personal assistant to Mr Mares, the Finance Director of E.M.F. of Croydon. Unfortunately the company is moving its main offices to Bristol and I have therefore decided to look for a new position in the London area.

Before joining E.M.F. I worked for one year as the Personal Secretary to Mr Handley, Marketing Manager of Universal Toys in Reading. Both Mr Mares and Mr Handley are willing to give me references.

I am on holiday until 21 September but will be available for an interview on any day after that. I would be able to take up a new post on any date from 1 October.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Edith Roberts

A solicited application

A solicited letter is a letter of Application for an advertised job. Basic points covered in a solicited letter include:

• Attention getter. Position you seek.

• How you learned about it.

• Your qualification.

• How can you help in the growth of the company or the organization.

• Request for an interview.

Dear Ms. Mellon,

I am applying for the position of systems analyst advertised March 10 with the placement service. The position fits my qualification, experience, career interests and expertise.

According to the advertisement, the position requires experience in computer systems, financial applications software, and end-user consulting. I am a major in management information systems and have training on mainframes, minicomputers, and microcomputers. I also have experience with a number of software programs and applications. I have 5 years of practical experience as a programmer. During this job, I got exposure to complex computer programming and operations. Additionally, I worked in ABC company assisting in computing operations where I gained some practical knowledge. Enclosed is my resume that provides more details on my qualifications, experience and expertise.

My background and career goals perfectly match your job requirements. I am confident that I can perform the job effectively. Furthermore, I have read and heard about your company and have strong desire to work with this company with excellent reputation and working environment.

I request you to consider me for a personal interview to discuss my qualifications and the job opportunity. Please give me a call at 555-6344. The best times to reach me are before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to talking with you.

Sincerely,

Ray Prasad

An unsolicited application

An unsolicited application is the most difficult to write since there is no advertisement or introduction to tell you anything about the work or indeed whether there is a vacancy. In such a situation you must try to find out something about the company's activities and then show how your qualifications and experience could be used.

Dear Sir,

For the past 8 years I have been a Statistician in the Research Unit of Baron & Smallwood Ltd, Glasgow. I am now looking for a change of employment which would widen my experience and at the same time improve my prospects. It has occurred to me that a large and well known organisation such as yours might be able to use my services.

I am 31 years of age and in excellent health. At the University of London specialised in merchandising and advertising, and was awarded a PhD degree for my thesis on 'Statistical Investigation in Research'. I thoroughly enjoy working on investigations particularly where the work involves statistic.

Although I have had no experience in consumer research, I am familiar with the methods employed and fully understand their importance in the recording of buying habits and trends. I should like to feel that there is opportunity to use my services in this type of research and that you will me to attend an interview. I could then give you further information and bring testimonials.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours faithfully