How To Write A Job Application Letter (With Examples)

If you’ve ever asked for advice on the job application process, you’ve likely heard the phrase “sell yourself” a million times over. This means that you should highlight your skills and achievements in a way that will pique a hiring manager’s interest and make them pause over your application.

You might feel overwhelmed in the grand scheme of online applications, application/cover letters, letters of intent, and interviews. It’s a lot to balance, especially if you have no experience with any of the things listed.

Remember to take everything one step at a time and review some helpful tips for writing a polished and engaging job application letter:

• Tailor the application letter to each job. Your letter should address key points in the job description from the listing, as well as how you can apply your knowledge and experience to the position. You want to emphasize why you are the best candidate for this specific job.
• Don’t copy information straight from your resume. Your resume is meant to act as a formal record of your professional experience, education, and accomplishments. The job application letter is where you highlight a few particular details from your resume, and use them to demonstrate how your experience can apply to the job.
• Follow the business letter format. These letters have very strict formatting rules, to ensure that they appear as professional to hiring managers. A poorly formatted letter could prevent employers from taking your application seriously.
• Proofread. Hiring managers will definitely overlook letters riddled with proofreading mistakes. Read your letter several times over to fix any grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. You could ask someone else to look over it afterwards or run it through any number of online grammar check programs.
• Decide on printing and mailing your letter or sending it in an email. An application letter sent through email requires a subject line that details your purpose for writing— consider “[job title], [your name].” The placement of your contact information is also different depending on the medium. In a hard copy, this goes at the top of your letter, as a header. In an email, it goes below your signature.

Job application letter format

The following formatting information can be used as a guideline while drafting your own job application letter, with an example for both a printed/mailed letter and a letter sent through email.

1. Your contact information Name
   Address
   City, State Zip Code
   Phone Number
   Email Address Date
2. Employer contact information Name
   Title
   Company
   Address
   City, State Zip Code
3. Salutation Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,
4. First paragraph This is where you outline where you found the job posting and your interest in applying for the role. If you have a reference from someone currently working for the company, you could address that here as well. To end this paragraph, state why you believe you would be an ideal candidate for the job.
5. Middle paragraphs This section should be about one to three paragraphs, discussing your various qualifications for the job. This is where you really emphasize what you could bring to the company and how you might fit into the work environment. It might be necessary to do some additional research about the company, to lend more specificity to your letter. You can also provide some specific examples of projects you’ve worked on in the past or accomplishments that are especially relevant to the job description. This would help add concrete details that could open space for discussion during interviews
6. Final paragraphEnding a cover letter might be a challenge, as you try to wrap up all the details about why you’re the most well-qualified employee on the planet. Let that confidence carry over into your concluding paragraph. Mention to the hiring manager that you’re grateful for their consideration and taking the time to read your letter. End on a note about how you’d like to follow up, either for additional questions or setting up an interview.
7. Closing Sincerely/Best, Your signature
   Your name (printed)

Job application letter example – printed and mailed

Robin Gomez
37 Southwest Avenue
Gainesville, FL 12345
365-123-4567
robin.gomez@email.com

October 20, 2020

Ms. Martha Waters
Hiring Manager
Blue Swamp Publishing
27 Archer Street
Gainesville, FL 67890

Dear Ms. Waters,

My resume is attached in response to your advertisement for an editorial assistant. The job description aligns with my interest in editing short fiction, and I believe my experience and skills match what you’re looking for.

This past year, I interned with the Editing, Design and Production department at Gator University Press. Over the course of two semesters, I interacted with academic texts at various stages before publication. I’m comfortable proofreading and copyediting manuscripts, as well as adding typesetting codes in Microsoft Word. I have also previously worked on the staff of Writers Student Literary Magazine in Jacksonville, FL, as the Fiction and Website Editor, as well as the head of the Proofreading Team. I played a significant role in the publication of six issues of the magazine, across a two year period (including print and online editions).

My qualifications beyond this include experience in team-oriented settings and proficiency in creative and academic writing.

I would love the opportunity to speak with you about how I can further contribute to
Blue Swamp Publishing! Please feel free to contact me on my cell at 365-123-4567 if you have questions or to set up an interview.

Sincerely,

Robin Gomez

Job application letter example – emailed

• Expanding company recognition and designing unique brand details
• Managing media, press, and public relations issues for companies
• Developing company communication strategies

What’s the difference between a cover letter and a job application letter?

A cover letter normally is attached with a resume for a specific job opening, whereas a job application letter can be submitted independently. As already stated, a job application letter can also be known as a cover letter. Format wise, there are a lot of similarities.

However, a job application letter can also be more detailed than a cover a letter. Usually a cover letter acts a quick introduction to a resume when a candidate applies for a specific job opening.

Meanwhile, you can submit a job application letter to a company even if there are no job openings. In this case, you would provide more detail about yourself and your qualifications. Due to this, job application letters tend to be a little longer than the average cover letter.

Dos and don’ts for writing a job application letter

Now that we’ve gone through the basic formatting for a job application letter and a few examples of what one might look like, how can we condense all that information into digestible pieces?

Refer to these lists of “dos” and “don’ts” to help you through your drafting process:

Dos

• Explain what you can bring to the company. Consider: how is your experience relevant to what the hiring manager is looking for?
• Discuss your skills. Pick out a few skills listed in your resume and describe how you have utilized them in the workplace.
• Give specific examples to support your experience. Is there a major project you worked on at your last job? Did you accomplish something significant in your previous position? Including examples of these things in your letter will add new, specific content to your application and make you more interesting.
• Edit your letter thoroughly. Read your letter a couple times, pass it off to someone to look over, run it through an online grammar check. Make sure it’s free of any errors.

Dont’s

• Don’t focus on what the job can do for you. While it might seem nice to write that a job is your dream job or that you’ve always wanted to work with a company, it can read as vague flattery. Remember, this letter is about your qualifications.
• Don’t list your current or previous job description. Your education and work experience certainly have value, but don’t just list your degrees and places you’ve worked at. Explained what you learned from those experiences and how they’ve made you a strong employee.
• Don’t paste directly from your resume. A job application letter is meant to add to your value as a candidate, not just reiterate the same information repeatedly. Use your resume as a guide, but expand on especially relevant details.
• Don’t submit an unedited letter. Before an employer ever meets you, they see your application and your job application letter. You don’t want grammar errors and misspelled words to make a bad first impression, so make sure to edit your draft multiple times.

Armed with these tips, guidelines, and examples, you’ll be able to draft your job application letter more confidently and send them off to potential employers knowing that you’re one step closer to employment.

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