APPLICATION LETTER
·
What is meant by an Application Letter?
In
English, another name for an application letter is a cover letter, which means
cover letter. This document is usually submitted to the employer together with
a resume or cv.
Quoting
the Complete Guide to Writing Letters by Ali and Tanzali, an application letter
is an official application letter made by a job seeker to a business entity or
agency in order to obtain a job offer.
Thomas
Means argues in the book Business Communication, an application letter is a
message written by a job seeker to express interest in a job and request an
interview with the employer.
Based
on the explanation above, an application letter is an official application
letter written by a job seeker to be given to a company that is opening job
vacancies in order to be given an interview opportunity.
·
What is the Structure of an Application Letter?
The
application letter includes an official letter that must be written according
to its structure. The writing of the sentence must also use official or
standard language.
To
better understand, below is the structure of an application letter and examples
in English, as compiled from the book Business Communication by Thomas Means.
1. Letterhead
On the
letterhead, job applicants need to write the date of the letter, personal
address and contact, and company address. Example:
Jakarta,
22 July 2021
Chakra
Hadi
Jl.
Sukajadi No. 8 B, Yogyakarta
Phone
: +628-0000-0000, E-mail : cakrahadi@gmail.com
Mrs.
Biyana Hadikusuma
Human
Resources Manager
PT.
Gemilang Jaya Abadi
Jl.
Bird of Paradise No. 12 C
Jakarta
2. Greetings
Greetings
really need to be written in the application letter to show respect. If you
know the name of the HRD or personnel, then include the name. If not, use
Hiring Manager or similar. Example:
· Dear
Mr. Thomas Meas
· Dear
Hiring Manager
· Dear
Mr./Mrs./Ms. …
3. Opening
paragraph
In
opening the application letter, the applicant must attract the attention of the
reader so that the entire letter is read. Include the following information in
the opening paragraphs of the application letter:
· Indicate
that you wish to apply for a position.
· Mention
the position you want to apply for.
· Tell
how the applicant found out about the job opening.
· Identify
capabilities.
If the
job vacancy is found in an advertisement, an example of the opening paragraph
of the application letter is as follows:
Please
consider me as an applicant for the management trainee position you advertised in
the October 12 issue of the Daily Leader. My degree in management and my work
experience as an assistant store manager qualify me for this position.
4. Fill
The
body of the letter is what needs to be written after the opening paragraph. The
body of this letter must convince the employer that you are the right person
for the job. However, don't repeat the facts presented in your resume.
However,
break down those facts for the reader. Try to describe the nature or character,
experience, and other qualifications but still match the job on the page in
this content section.
When
responding to published job vacancies, explain how the qualifications you have
meet the required criteria. The following is an example of the contents of an
application letter that focuses on work experience requirements:
As a quality control inspector, I worked closely with the
plant manager to improve quality and reduce costs. During my year in this
position, my department was rated number 1 in quality, and costs were down 8%.
If you
don't have much experience, focus on other qualifications. For example,
education, activities similar to job vacancies, or a desire to learn about the
job. Examples as follows:
During my first year of college, I was awarded an
academic scholarship. While working toward my associate degree in business
administration, I was elected vice president of the school's Phi Beta Lambda
chapter. As vice president, I organized and hosted a fundraising event that
generated $8500 for leukemia research.
Applicants
must also describe any information in the resume that might raise questions or
cause a negative reaction.
For
example, applicants need a long time to complete their education, the reason
must be explained in the application letter. Consider the following examples:
While attending college, I worked full-time to support my
family and pay for my school expenses. I took three courses each semester and
completed my associate degree in three years.
5. Cover
The
closing paragraph should have a confident tone and call for an interview. Make
it easier for the company to contact for interviews by providing contact
applicants.
Avoid
overused phrases. Note the following closing paragraphs:
As my enclosed resume illustrates, my education and
experience qualify me for this position. May I have an interview with you to
discuss my qualifications for the job? You can reach me at 555-0177 between
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. any weekday.
If
writing to an out-of-town company, mention when the applicant will be in the
area for an interview. For example:
Will you meet with me to discuss my qualifications while
I am visiting San Antonio next week? On Monday, I will call your office to
schedule an appointment.
·
What is the Purpose of an Application Letter in English?
The application
letter will be better if it is written in English. This aims to show that the
job seeker at least has the ability to speak English, even if only in written
form.
Another
thing that makes an application letter in English important is because it
includes the applicant's way of selling himself to the company. In it, it is
important to mention the things that are requested or not.
Usually,
the content of an application letter in English is a personal identity complete
with information on the education, expertise, experience, and so on of a job
applicant.
According
to the Colorado State University website, the main purpose of the application
letter is for applicants to have the opportunity to interview. Therefore, a job
application letter must be written well enough to attract the attention and
interest of the person in authority to or grant the request.
Based
on the explanation above, the application letter in English aims to make the
company interested in inviting job applicants to the next stage of job
recruitment, such as an interview or written test.
·
Sample job application letter
