Application letters, or cover letters, are requested when applying for a job. Almost every job listing you see will require an application letter to be sent along with your resume.
The cover letter is a personal yet professional way to persuade recruiters to consider you as the best candidate. In the application letter, you’re expected to briefly talk about your experience and mention a few things from your resume but also explain why you’d be the best fit for the role or what you can bring to the company.
Below you can learn everything you need to know about application letters, including what to include in them, what format to follow, specific words to use, and more.
What Is A Job Application Letter?
If you’re looking to apply for a specific role in a company or business, it is very likely that you’ll be asked to write an application letter for that job.
A job application letter or cover letter as some people call it too is expected to be uploaded with your resume when applying for a job. In simple words, an application letter explains why you’re qualified for that role and what you can bring to the new team.
Your resume will show recruiters your previous work experience and education which will help them determine if you’re a good fit for the job, and the application letter will reinforce that information and convince them to consider you for the position.
You probably have one resume you sent to recruiters, therefore adding a simple application letter for a job will help them see you’re interested and invested in their specific proposal. In the application letter, you should talk briefly bout some of the information present in your resume to emphasize your skills and why you’re qualified for that role.
What’s great about application letters is that they give you a chance to expand your resume and “talk” directly to the recruiter. But, there are a few things that you should and shouldn’t include or write in your application letter.
Although they are a great way to present yourself as a great candidate, it is very easy to make a mistake and end up with the exact opposite result. In the following parts, we dive deep into what you should include in your application letter and how to easily write yours.
What To Include In An Application Letter For Jobs
There are many application letter formats for jobs you can find online, but before choosing one we consider fundamental talking about what you must include in yours.
In this part, we’ll focus on the format aspects of your application letter rather than the information, which you can find in the rest of this article.
Heading
The first thing a recruiter should read is your contact information at the top of the job application letter. This includes your name, address, email, and phone number.
You can also include the recruiter’s contact information if you have it. Include only what you have and what they display on their LinkedIn profile or database.
Salutation
A polite greeting is fundamental, and you can include a traditional “Dear Mr./Ms” and the recruiter’s last name or anything similar. Remember that application letters are your first encounter with recruiters, and no matter the type of job you’re applying to, keeping the letter respectful will always speak greatly of you.
Body
There are three sections in the body of your application letter for a job.
The first paragraph should be used to mention the position you’re interested in and where you found the job listing.
The second paragraph should be used to describe how you meet the company’s needs and what you can bring to the table. In this part, you can incorporate information about your experience and skills that appears in your resume.
The third paragraph will be your “goodbye” paragraph, in which you can thank the recruiter for their time and consideration. You can provide an email address or phone number where they can contact you for any news on your application process.
We recommend you include a polite close, like “Sincerely”, “Best”, or “Kind Regards” and your name.
Apart from what to include, it is essential to learn about the general guidelines of application letters. In the next paragraphs, we share key details about this we recommend you have in mind next time you write an application letter.
Best Application Letter Format For Job Guidelines
If you’re looking to write an application letter you should know that they require a bit of time, in comparison to writing an email. Just as you spent time perfecting your resume, you should dedicate time to assembling the best application letter for a job.
Plus, once you’ve done it, you’ve created your own application letter template you can use on multiple job listings.
To begin, let's talk about the length of your application letter should have. Typically, cover letters are no more than one page long, and contain up to four paragraphs.
When it comes to the format of your job application letter, it is recommended that is single-spaced with 1” margins. The text should be aligned to the left for a cohesive and professional look.
You’re probably wondering which font to use, and it is all about keeping it simple. Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman are excellent choices, and keeping the font size between 10 and 12 is recommended as well.
How To Write An Impactful Application Letter
Now onto the fun part, writing the best and most impactful application letter. In this part, we’ll break down key steps and information should include that you can letter utilize to create a sample application letter you can recycle.
1. Know The Company You’re Interested In Joining
This step is fundamental. Prior to start writing your application letter is important that you research the company/business that published the job listing and the position they’re looking to fill.
Learning more about the company will allow you to personalize your application letter, which is always great.
Look for details such as:
Size of the company
Name of the hiring manager and their title
Recent awards or accomplishments the company has received
Skills or certifications that are required for the role
2. Stick To A Professional Format & Guidelines
Although you’re writing a personalized cover letter, professionalism should always be present. Stick to a professional format and general guidelines, which we included above, to create the best application letter format for a job.
Address recruiters with respect and formality, such as “Mr./Mrs.” and finish your application letter with a polite closing like “Best, (your name)”, “Kind Regards”, and similar.
Pro tip: search for synonyms and alternatives to the traditional salutations to create a unique application letter that can be distinguished from the rest.
3. Mention The Role You’re Interested in & Why You Qualify
If there’s something we consider absolutely crucial when it comes to writing your application letter is mentioning the role you’re interested in and why you qualify.
Include the name of the company and where you saw the job listing as well. This will allow recruiters to seriously consider your application since you displayed a true interest in the position and their company.Here you can mention a few skills or brief information on your resume to show them why you’re qualified for the role.
4. Summarize Your Skills
You don’t need to name every single skill and education you have in your resume, thus they’re going to read it later. But, it is recommended that you do a summary of your skills, such as what you’re most qualified in, areas/industries you’ve worked in, and similar.
It will give recruiters an idea of what they’ll find when they read your resume. Plus, it is si always best to highlight certain things on both your resume and cover letter.
5. Include A Personal Statement Regarding Your Application
You can include a personal statement explaining why you want the job, and it could be about personal growth, your interest in the company chosen, the challenges and responsibilities the job requires, etc.
This part is highly advised and will allow recruiters to see the passion and interest you have to be part of their team.
6. Add A Professional Closing Statement
After all the previous steps we mentioned, it is time to close your application letter with a professional closing.
Thank the recruiter for their time and add your contact information so they can update you on your application process if needed. Address hiring managers and recruiters with “Mr.Mrs.” and finish your application letter with a polite word like the ones we mentioned (“Sincerely”, “All The Best”).
Tips For Writing An Online Application Letter Sample For A Job
We want you to nail your application process, which is why we gathered the best tips for writing an application letter for any job listing you want.
Use an online application letter format for jobs.
If this is your first time writing an application letter and you’re afraid it won’t come out as you expected, don’t worry, you can use a simple application letter template for jobs online.WPS Academy has free office suit tutorials and application letter formats for jobs you can download and use.Write ONE application letter only.
You might want to write multiple application letters to share your excitement and talk about your skills and qualifications, but, unless the job description asks for several application letters, we recommend yous tick with only one.
Plus, check out if there are certain requirements for the cover letter they ask for, such as sending it attached to your resume in an email, uploading it to their application system, etc.Don’t be afraid to advertise yourself.
Just as you’d sell a product to clients, pitch yourself as the best choice and investment a company can make.Use your skills and experience as strong points and how you can benefit a company or business.
What’s more, if you found the company is struggling with a specific area related to the job listing, feel free to include a brief solution you think will be best.This will show leadership and commitment, even before you’re part of the team.Use keywords found in the job listing.
This is an incredible tip that can help your application process a lot. Pay attention to the keywords used in the job listing you’re applying to and use some on your application letter.
This will make you a fit candidate that the company begins being interested in since you use similar or the same terms they use.
Simple Application Letter Templates You Can Use
WPS Academy has a wide catalog of free editable templates you can easily download and use for any situation you might need. Some of our favorites include:
You can follow the tutorial and easily customize the template on your computer or phone and create the best application letter for jobs of your life.
The Best Application Letter Sample For Jobs Final Words
In this article, we talked about how to write the best application letter template for jobs, including key information and guidelines you should know about.
It is essential to keep your application letter professional and polite, no matter what the job listing is. Apart from this, we recommend you carefully read the requirements of the application letter (if there are any) to follow them and make a great first impression.
The application letter will be your first encounter with recruiters and can benefit your application process if done correctly. And, with the tips we mentioned in the post, you’re guaranteed a successful application letter every time.
About WPS Academy
WPS Academy offers free office suite tutorials you can easily check out here. We strive to make quality tutorials you can use in your personal and professional life.
We have plenty of writer, spreadsheet, PDF, and presentation office tutorials you can follow and create job application letters, resumes, and more.
Here is our application letter page with many different tutorials so you can choose the best one for you.
