A job application can be a daunting experience. After sending out hundreds of applications, you finally get a response letting you know they’ve received your application. Then comes the anxiety of preparing a compelling letter to follow up on your application. Don’t worry – we’re here to help with some tips! In this article, we’ll tell you what words to use when writing your letter and how to make it more convincing.
The Basics
The basics of a job application letter are pretty straightforward. You want to introduce yourself, mention your qualifications, and express interest in the job. Your letter should not stray from this formula, and if it does, it’s probably not doing your letter any favors. Use these basic building blocks to craft your letter, and make sure to write the letter on company letterhead for extra credibility.
As for the words you should avoid, you don’t want to overuse specific pronouns – you, your, and you’re – or any contractions, like don’t want vs. don’t have. You also don’t want to use too many prepositions; instead, you can simply say “to”, “at”, or “in”. Another pet peeve is when people write “cheers” as a reply to “thank you” – unless you’re actually drinking during the day, you’ll never know what drink this person is actually referring to. So, make sure you know what cocktail they’re referring to when they say “cheers!”
The Purpose Of The Letter
The purpose of your letter is to persuade the reader that you are the best person for the job. You can start by speaking to the specific skills you have that the company is looking for. For example, if they’re looking for someone with experience running a restaurant, you can discuss your prior experience as a waiter or waitress. Be specific about how you’re going to go about improving their operation, and assure them that you’re the best person for the job because of your track record.
Also, make sure you’ve researched the company before you submit your application. You don’t want to apply for a job you know nothing about, but the company you’re applying to knows a lot about you. If you do your research, you’ll be able to prepare a compelling letter that stands out from the rest.
Who Am I
We’ve all been there. We’ve applied for a job, and then we get asked to submit our references. That’s when we realize that we don’t know who this “William” or “Jane” person is we’re sending our letter to. To make matters worse, our letter doesn’t even have a name on it!
For unknown persons, it can be very difficult to convince someone that you’re the best person for the job. One way to solve this problem is to include a bit more about yourself in your letter. You can include information about a charitable organization or community project you’re involved in, a sports team you’re part of, or a hobby you enjoy. Any little bit of extra information can help the person reading your letter believe that you’re the best fit for the job.
Keywords
When you’ve written the letter, take a few minutes to go through it and find any words or phrases you think may be useful to describe your qualifications. You can also use a thesaurus to find synonyms for these words. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a financial advisor, you might want to look up “advisor”, “financial”, and “investment” to find alternative words and phrases you can use to describe your qualifications. You can find a list of synonyms at thesaurus.com.
Closing
Your letter should end with something that convinces the person reading it that you are the best person for the job. This something can either be a question that prompts the reader to contact you for more information or a statement that you’re aware the reader will find compelling. One good way to end your letter is with a question of your own. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a social media strategist, you might want to end your letter with something like, “How can I help you to promote your business on social media?” This not only gives you extra information about the job but also shows that you’re thinking strategically about how you can use social media to benefit your application.
At the end of the day, writing a good letter is about using proper grammar and being concise with your language. Remember, your letter is only as good as you make it, so don’t be afraid to take a few minutes to perfect it. With these tips, you’ll be able to write a winning letter that convinces employers to give you a shot at a job you want. Good luck out there!