How to Write an Application Letter (With Examples)

An application letter is a standalone document you submit to a potential employer to express

your interest in an open position. The job application letter explains who you are as a
professional and an individual. The letter should highlight your achievements and skills,
helping to get the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter responsible for reviewing
applications. When written well, this letter explains to the reader why they should ask you in
for an interview and highlights the key qualifications that make you a fit for the role.
How to write an application letter
When writing an application letter for a job, follow these steps to make sure you include
information about yourself and your professional experience that will appeal to a hiring
manager:

1. Review information about the company and position

It’s best to write a new application letter for each position you’re applying for, so you can
include pertinent details and show your interest in the particular open role. Spend some time
reviewing the company information, which you can likely find on the website, as well as the
position listing. Compare your qualifications and experience with the list of skills in that
posting. You may also want to think about specific experiences that have prepared you for the
role, such as leading a team or managing a major event.

2. Use a professional format

A job application letter should be more professional than a thank-you card or an email to a
coworker or friend. The alignment of the document should include single spacing, one-inch
margins and left alignment. It’s best to use a professional and traditional font, such as Times
New Roman, in a size from 10 to 12 points. Try to keep your job application letter to one page.
When a hiring manager reviews your job application letter, they will get their first impression
of you as a potential employee, so take time to format it professionally and keep it concise.

3. Create the heading

Use a formal business heading for your job application letter. The heading should include
your name and contact information, the date and the company name and address. If you
send your job application letter via email, you can eliminate your name and contact
information from the header and put it at the bottom of the email after the signature instead.
Example header:
Your name
Your physical address
Your phone number
Your email address

Date
Name of hiring manager or supervisor
Title of hiring manager or supervisor
Company name
Company physical address

4. Address the letter to the hiring manager

In your research, try to find the name of the person reviewing applications for the job.
Address your letter to this person with a common business greeting, such as “Dear Mr./Ms.”
and their last name. If you’re not sure of the name or gender of the individual reviewing your
application, you can use the generic “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”

5. Open the letter by describing your interest

In the first paragraph of your letter, mention the job title for which you’re applying and where
you saw the position posting. Include your interest in the role and briefly state the main
experience or qualification you have that makes you a good fit. This is the section that will
draw in the hiring manager as the reader of your application letter, so it is important to
appeal to that person quickly and succinctly.
Example: “I saw the posting for the Marketing Intern role on my university’s online job board
and I am very interested in the role. I am in my final year of earning my bachelor’s degree in
marketing with a minor in communications, so I feel my educational experience has prepared
me to work in a fast-paced marketing department like the one within your organization.”

6. Outline your experience and qualifications

The next few paragraphs of your letter should highlight your experience, qualifications and
skills, positioned in a way that aligns with the company’s goals and mission. For example, if
you are applying for a job with a non-profit organization that provides educational
opportunities to underserved community members, you could talk about your experience
with non-profit organizations or educational offerings. Since a job application letter should
stand on its own without a resume, it’s helpful to include details about your experience that
relate to the position to which you’re applying.

7. Include aspects of your personality

As you’re writing your job application letter, consider how you can incorporate aspects of
your personality. A friendly and engaging letter is likely to appeal to the reader, especially
when they can get an idea of how well you might fit with the team.
For example, in the situation mentioned above, explain in your letter you are good at
connecting with children or how you value community spirit.

8. Express appreciation
Before you sign off on your letter, express your appreciation to the hiring manager for
reviewing your letter and considering you for the position. The hiring manager is taking time
out of their day to read what you have written, so expressing your gratitude for that time
spent is a polite and professional way to close the document.
Example: “I appreciate the time you have taken to review my application letter. Since you
likely received a number of applications and letters for this open position, I am extremely
grateful for the time you have spent reading about me and what would make me a good fit for
this role.”

9. Close the letter

Many people use “Sincerely” or “Best” to close the letter, although any professional sign-off is
fine to include. The final line of the letter should be your full name. If you submit a hard copy
of the letter, include your signature above your typed name. When submitting an application
letter via email, you should include your contact information beneath your name, rather than
including it in the header.

Job application letter template

Consider the following template when planning your job application letter:

Your name
Your address
Your email address
Your phone number

Date

Name of hiring manager or supervisor

Title of hiring manager or supervisor
Company name
Company address

Salutation [Dear Mr./Ms.],

Outline where you saw the job posting and express your interest in working in this role.

Discuss some of your qualifications that would make you a good fit for the job.

Describe your past experience in a way that emphasizes your personality and skills, while also
showcasing how you align with the goals of the company.

Express your appreciation to the hiring manager for reviewing your letter. Include any follow-
up information, if applicable.

Closing [Sincerely, Best]

Your signature
Your name (printed)
Job application letter example
Lee Jimenez
483 Apple Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 555-8965
[email protected]

September 15, 2019

Sarah Jenkins
Recruiter
Rogers Consulting
901 Main Street
New York, NY 10001

Dear Ms. Jenkins,

I am reaching out to you regarding the posting for the human resources consultant position I
found on Indeed.com. I have a great interest in this position and would appreciate your
consideration as a candidate for the role.

In my previous experience, I worked in human resources departments to provide support

across several different industries. I have worked in my current role as a human resources
generalist for the past four years. Prior to this job, I worked as a human resources assistant for
two years, which shows my ability to advance in my career.

I have a strong passion for helping others, which is why I have found such fulfillment in
human resources, providing support to my fellow employees and assisting them in ways that
benefit them both personally and professionally. I also enjoy looking for solutions to common
HR problems, which I feel would be a great asset in the position with your company. Since
this consultant position works directly with multiple clients, assisting them in their human
resources needs, I believe my innovative nature and strong skill set will help me succeed.

I have strong communication skills, which are vital to success in the HR field. I also have a
bachelor’s degree in human resources from Arizona State University. Throughout my
education, I worked with skilled human resources professionals who have shared their
insights and experience with me. Some of my strongest skills include my ability to increase
employee retention through the improvement of company culture and to develop training
and education programs to ensure all employees have access to the information they need to
succeed and comply with legal requirements.
I appreciate your time in reviewing this letter and hope to hear from you in regard to the next
steps in the hiring process. If you have any questions or need any additional information,
please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Lee Jimenez
Sebetulnya apa sih surat aplikasi kerja itu? Itu adalah surat yang kamu ajukan kepada
perusahaan tujuan kerja kamu. Surat aplikasi kerja sendiri terdiri dari cover letter dan
resume.

Perbedaan cover letter dan resume. (Sumber: uploads.uptowork.net).

Lalu, apa yang kamu lakukan pertama kali saat membuat surat aplikasi kerja? Di awal
suratmu, masukkan informasi perusahaan. Pastikan kamu menuliskan nama dan jabatan
yang kamu inginkan, beserta nama perusahaan dan alamatnya. Hal ini penting untuk
menunjukkan bahwa kamu sudah melakukan riset tentang perusahaan yang kamu ingin
lamar tersebut. Hindari bentuk penulisan yang standar seperti Human Resources Manager of
the company karena akan terkesan copy-paste. Bila kamu sudah tahu nama manajer bagian
HRD (Human Resource Department), kamu bisa cantumkan. Manfaatkan media sosial seperti
Twitter atau Linkedin untuk mendapatkan informasi mengenai manager atau staf HRD-nya.
 Contoh application letter (Sumber: career.virginia.edu).

Selanjutnya kamu harus menulis kemampuan dan pengalaman kerja kamu, serta
kualifikasi diri pada paragraf kedua. Jelaskan juga mengapa menerima kamu akan menjadi
keuntungan bagi perusahaan. Di paragraf kedua, sebisa mungkin kamu harus mencerminkan
kompetensi dan pengalamanmu yang sesuai dengan persyaratan yang dibutuhkan untuk
pekerjaan tersebut.

Kemudian, di bagian terakhir dari application letter, kamu harus menjelaskan mengapa
kamu adalah orang yang tepat untuk posisi yang kamu inginkan. Selain itu, di sini kamu
juga membuka kesempatan bagi bagian HRD untuk menghubungi kamu mengenai proses
penerimaan kerja selanjutnya, yaitu wawancara. Selanjutnya, jangan lupa ucapkan terima
kasih dengan menambahkan kata “Best regards” atau “Sincerely yours” dilanjutkan dengan
tanda tangan dan nama jelas.