Cover letter

• An application letter, also known as a "cover letter," is sent with your

resume during the job application process. A letter adds more
personality to your application by providing more details about your
background and interest in the position, while a resume outlines your
professional skills and experience more.
What is a job application letter?
• 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.
• A job application letter can impress a potential employer and set you
apart from other applicants. In your letter, you may also want to show
your familiarity with the company to which you’re applying. You can
talk about how your professional goals and aspirations align with the
company’s goals. It’s important to use your job application letter to
showcase aspects of your personality.
Job application letter tips
• 1. Emphasize your skills and abilities
• An application letter is your opportunity to sell yourself as an
excellent candidate for the open position. Include specific examples of
situations in which you applied your experience, abilities and skills to
benefit the organization. It is also helpful to include data that
supports your claims.
• 2. Stay concise
• Although it may be tempting to include a lot of detailed information
about yourself, it is important to be concise. If a hiring manager
receives a letter that is multiple pages, they may not take the time to
read it. A brief letter is more manageable and appealing.
• 3. Proofread the letter
• Since this letter is serving as your first impression, you want to make
sure It is as positive as possible. Make sure your letter does not have
any grammatical or spelling errors to avoid a potentially negative first
impression.
• 4. Review the job listing keywords
• Most job postings will include certain skills and abilities that the hiring
manager and supervisor want applicants to possess. Including these
keywords in your application letter helps to show the person
reviewing it you would be a good fit in that specific role.
• 5. Send a letter for every position to which you apply
• Unless a job posting specifically states not to send an application
letter, it is smart to send one for each job to which you apply. This
letter offers the opportunity for a potential employer to learn more
about you and gives you the chance to set yourself apart from other
applicants.
How to format an application letter
• Example header:

• [Your name]
• [Your city and ZIP code]
• [Your phone number]
• [Your email address]

• [Date]

• [Name of hiring manager or supervisor]

• [Title of hiring manager or supervisor]
• [Company name]
• [Company physical address]
• 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. 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
specific interest in the role and company so the reader knows this is
not a generic application letter. 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
• Example: “I saw the posting for the marketing intern role on my
university’s online job board, and I am very interested. I’m drawn to
your company’s mission of innovation and putting the customer first. 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.”
• 3. 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 nonprofit organization that provides
educational opportunities to underserved community members, you
could talk about your experience with nonprofit 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.
• 4. Include aspects of your personality
• As you’re writing your job application letter, consider how you can
incorporate aspects of your personality while remaining professional.
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.
• 5. 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.”
• 6. 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.
• Sending a job application letter
• The format of your job application letter will depend on how you are sending it to
the hiring manager or supervisor. If you plan to email the application letter, the
formatting will differ from a printed, mailed letter. Your contact information should
be at the bottom of an email, beneath your typed full name.

• When emailing a job application letter, it is also important to consider what subject
line to use to make sure the hiring manager opens the email and reads your letter.
When scanning their inbox, the hiring manager will see the subject line you
included first, along with your name and email address. The decision to read or
delete an email ultimately depends on what subject line you choose, which means
it is your chance to make a first impression.
• The best subject lines are professional, polite, relevant and concise.
When sending a job application email, it is important to include the
title of the job into which you are inquiring or for which you are
applying. Making your subject line specific also helps the reader
categorize the email properly and respond accordingly. Review your
subject line to make sure it is free of any errors.
 Job application letter template

• [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)]