A job application letter or you may also know this as a cover letter is a document that you often need to submit along with your resume.
While a resume describes your educational qualification and work experience relevant to the job you are applying for job application letter tells why you are interested in that particular job or position.
Most people often search for what is resume writing and how to write a resume. But to make the first lasting impression on the recruitment team you should equally focus on writing a crisp and effective application.
But how to write an effective application that impresses your recruiter? What to include in your job application? Is there a certain application format?
Let’s answer all these queries.
What is a job application letter?
As we discussed above, a job application letter also known as a cover letter expresses your interest in the job to your employer.
It answers all the ‘whys’
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Why you are interested in the job?
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Why you are qualified for the job?
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Why you should be shortlisted for the interview or the next round in the recruitment process?
When answering all the ‘whys’ you should emphasize your key qualifications, relevant skills, and work experience that makes you the right candidate for the role.
How to write a job application letter?
What kind of application letter will grab the attention of the employer – a monotonous letter that describes only your educational and professional qualifications or the letter that shows a glimpse of your personality as well?
If you have voted for the latter, you have guessed it right. That, however, doesn’t mean you can include a piece of your poetry or show your humorous side.
What to include in an application then without crossing the professional boundaries? Let’s see.
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When writing your job application make sure it is written like a formal business letter. Include your name, contact details, date, and contact information of your employer at the top.
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Make sure you add salutation at the start and your signature at the end of the job application.
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The body content of the letter should include your skills and work experience. Emphasize your skills and abilities that you think make the right candidate for the available job role.
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Edit and proofread the letter for grammatical and spelling mistakes before you send it to your employer.
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Keep the letter short possibly of a single page, as the hiring manager won’t have the time and interest to read a lengthy document.
How to format a job application letter?
Formatting is as much important as the content you include in a letter. No matter how impressive your content is without proper spacing, headings, and bullet points your hiring manager won’t understand what you are emphasizing.
So how to make your application look well-formatted? Here are the tips.
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Try to limit your application content to a single page.
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Maintain a single space between every paragraph and 1-inch with left text alignment.
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Use formal fonts such as Ariel, Calibri, or Times New Roman and keep the font size between 10 and 12 points.
The well-formatted letter will instantly grab the attention of your hiring manager and well-informed to the point content will help them understand all your skills, qualifications, qualities, and abilities improving your chances of getting your dream job or role.