Job Application Letters Module Twenty Eight McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved Learning Objectives LO 28-1 Select job application letters for different situations LO 28-2 Contrast differences among job application letters LO 28-3 Compare similarities among job application letters LO 28-4 Examine methods for specific company targeting 28-2 Learning Objectives LO 28-5 Apply principles for T-letters LO 28-6 Apply principles for appropriate job application letter length LO 28-7 Apply principles for good job application letter tone LO 28-8 Apply principles for e-mail job application letters 28-3 Job Application Letters In your letter, focus on:  Major requirements of the job  Points that separate you from other applicants  Points that show your knowledge of the organization  Qualities that every employer values 28-4 Job Application Letters To make the letter professional: Use a standard font Address your letter to a specific person Don’t mention relatives’ names Omit unnecessary personal information In general, use a conservative style Edit and proofread carefully 28-5 Allocating Time in Writing a Job Application Letter 28-6 What kind of letter should I use?  Solicited letter  You know the company is hiring  You’ve seen an ad  you’ve been advised to apply by a professor or friend  You’ve read in a trade publication that the company is expanding 28-7 What kind of letter should I use?  Prospecting letter  You may want to work for an organization which has not announced that it has openings in your area  These help you tap into the “hidden job market.” 28-8 How are the two letters different? When you know the company is hiring, organize your letter in this way:  State that you are applying for the job  Develop major qualifications in detail  Develop other qualifications, even if the source didn’t ask for them  Ask for an interview 28-9 A Solicited Letter 28-10 How are the two letters different? When you don’t have any evidence that the company is hiring, organize your letter this way:  Catch the reader’s interest  Create a bridge between the attention-getter and your qualifications  Develop your strong points in detail  Ask for an interview 28-11 A Prospecting Letter 28-12 What parts of the two letters are the same? 28-13 What parts of the two letters are the same? 28-14 Targeting a Specific Company in Your Letter 28-15 Can I use T-letters?  Use a T-letter if the employer prefers it  To create a T-letter  Determine job duties and how you match them  Use bullet points to highlight duties and your skills  Use a solicited or unsolicited introduction  Ask for an interview 28-16 A Solicited T-letter  T-letters offer the advantage of skimming but with some of the narrative qualities of a letter 28-17 How long should my letter be?  A short letter throws away an opportunity to be persuasive; suggest that you have aren’t very interested in the job  If you need more than a page, use it  The extra space gives you room to be more specific about what you’ve done 28-18 The company wants an e-mail application What should I do?  Put the job number or title for which you’re applying in your subject line and in the first paragraph  Prepare your letter in a word-processing program with a spell-checker to make it easier to edit and proof the document 28-19 The company wants an e-mail application What should I do?  Don’t send anything in all capital letters  Don’t use smiley faces or other emoticons  Put your name and e-mail address at the end of the message 28-20 An E-Mail Application Letter 28-21 ...  Determine job duties and how you match them  Use bullet points to highlight duties and your skills  Use a solicited or unsolicited introduction  Ask for an interview 28-16 A Solicited T-letter