Lecture 37
- 2. Writing Guidelines for Job Application Letters Length: A letter of application should be no more than one page long. Format and Page Margins: A letter of application should be single-spaced with a space between each paragraph. Use about 1" margins and align your text to the left, which is the standard alignment for most documents. Font: Use a traditional font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. The font size should be between 10 and 12 points.
- 3. What to Include in Each Section of the Letter Heading: A letter of application should begin with both your and the employer's contact information (name, address, phone number, email) followed by the date. If this is an email rather than an actual letter, include your contact information at the end of the letter, after your signature.
- 4. Your information (for both written and email letters) should indicate: •Name: Add your full name. •Street address: State the address where you currently live. •Location: Also include your city, state, and zip code. •Phone number(s): Mention the number where you can most easily be reached. If you are reachable at a mobile number by day, and a home office phone number by evening, you can choose to list both numbers—label one "Mobile phone" and the other "Evening phone." •Email address: This is only needed for written cover letters; for email cover letters, the email itself serves as a record of your email address. Be sure to include a professional handle for your email contact information, preferably a variant of your name or initials. •Preferred method of contact: Indicate the quickest way to contact you from the available options you provide—be it a mobile phone number or email contact information.
- 5. Your recipient's information (only included in written cover letters) should include: Name: This should be the full name of the recipient—usually the department manager who is in charge of hiring. If needed, check the company website or LinkedIn to find out the department manager's name. When in doubt, call the company's main line and ask the receptionist. If you cannot determine the contact's name, use the name of the department in the contact information. Title: Add the job title of the recipient—for example, "Sales Manager." Company: State the recipient's company name. Address: Include the address of the recipient's company. Location: Add the city, state, and zip code of the recipient's company.
- 6. Salutation: This is your polite greeting. The most common salutation is "Dear Mr./Ms." followed by the person's last name. Find out more about appropriate cover letter salutations, including what to do if you don't know the person's name, or are unsure of a contact's gender.
- 7. Body of the letter: Think of this section as being three distinct parts. In the first paragraph, you'll want to mention the job you are applying for and where you saw the job listing. The next paragraph(s) are the most important part of your letter. Remember how you gathered all that information about what employers were seeking, and how you could meet their needs? This is where you'll share those relevant details on your experience and accomplishments. The third and last part of the body of the letter will be your thank you to the employer; you can also offer follow-up information.
- 8. Complimentary Close: Sign off your email with a polite close, such as "Best" or "Sincerely," followed by your name. Sincerely Sincerely yours Regards Best Best regards With best regards Kind regards Yours truly Most sincerely Respectfully Respectfully yours Thank you Thank you for your consideration Affectionately Best wishes Cheers Eagerly waiting for a response Fondly Warm regards Warmest regards Warmly Take care Take it easy Have a great day Have a nice day Love Smiles XOXO Yours Yours faithfully Abbreviations (Thx or any other abbreviated word isn't appropriate) Any emoticon (no smiley faces) Sent from my phone (if your phone automatically includes it, you can remove it in the settings)
- 9. Signature: End with your signature, handwritten, followed by your typed name. If this is an email, simply include your typed name, followed by your contact information.