Tips/Advice for job application letters?

[Power King]

Basically, I'm making this thread to ask the good people of Big Footy if they can please share any tips, advice, what-to-do's and what-not-to-do's regarding job application letters (not resumes).

Your help would really be appreciated.

Over to you

 

[RustyHawk]

In another life I was the recruitment officer for a large food processing coy in the South East and had to deal with lots and lots of lovely letters of application

If the job says "apply to the HR Manager" I think its always good to take the time to ring the business and get the name of the HR Manager or whoever, ensure you get the correct spelling of their name, and address the letter to them.

So when they start reading through the stack of job applications they find letters addressed to the HR MAnager, HR Manager, HR MAnager and then yours Ms Smith etc, could be those 1% things that make your application stand out.

Secondly, put your contact details in including your mobile number. Dont be afraid to get it up the top and down the bottom. You would be suprised how many letters you think..yep this guy seems ok to then root around for the telephone number to contact the person. Remember, your selling yourself so get your contact numbers and email address out there.

Thirdly, dont compact the whole application letter into one big messy look. Leave plenty of space, put a border around the page. Maybe even consider using different quality or colored paper for the application letter. Again, in a stack of application letters your colored application may just be the standout one.

Fourth tailor the letter to the actual job application. Answer what they say are their key indicators. Need a degree or experience flipping burgers at McDonalds..tell em you have this experience.

Good luck.

 

[Selective Retention]

I always have trouble writing application letters. I get caught between including all the appropriate stuff and just dribbling shit.

Generally I use it as a reply to the job add.

Completing degree "x" with results "x" blah blah
Leadership/Team work.....play soccer for the uni team blah blah
Communication/Customer Service.....work part time at "x" blah blah
etc.

Then I just make sure the formatting is 100%, if you can't get that right you are up against it.

 

[Ricketts]

Yeah just make sure you address the required skills from the job ad, in your letter.

 

[Power King]

cheers for the responses so far guys

 

[tuckylives]

In another life I was the recruitment officer for a large food processing coy in the South East and had to deal with lots and lots of lovely letters of application

If the job says "apply to the HR Manager" I think its always good to take the time to ring the business and get the name of the HR Manager or whoever, ensure you get the correct spelling of their name, and address the letter to them.

So when they start reading through the stack of job applications they find letters addressed to the HR MAnager, HR Manager, HR MAnager and then yours Ms Smith etc, could be those 1% things that make your application stand out.

Secondly, put your contact details in including your mobile number. Dont be afraid to get it up the top and down the bottom. You would be suprised how many letters you think..yep this guy seems ok to then root around for the telephone number to contact the person. Remember, your selling yourself so get your contact numbers and email address out there.

Thirdly, dont compact the whole application letter into one big messy look. Leave plenty of space, put a border around the page. Maybe even consider using different quality or colored paper for the application letter. Again, in a stack of application letters your colored application may just be the standout one.

Fourth tailor the letter to the actual job application. Answer what they say are their key indicators. Need a degree or experience flipping burgers at McDonalds..tell em you have this experience.

Good luck.

I did all of the above when I applied for my current job and in my interviews, my boss made comment on each of the above things. I found out her name, put all my details on the application, got a number of people to read over my letter and asked for feedback as if they were the person receiving it and printed it all out on slightly stiffer paper to your standard A4 paper.

 

[RustyHawk]

I did all of the above when I applied for my current job and in my interviews, my boss made comment on each of the above things. I found out her name, put all my details on the application, got a number of people to read over my letter and asked for feedback as if they were the person receiving it and printed it all out on slightly stiffer paper to your standard A4 paper.

Excellent

Won't work everytime, you at least have to have the minimum skills they require. Secondly dont tell me age and sexism have been eliminated from job applications cos they havent but at least doing the above gives you a chance to stand out from the crowd and get that all important interview.

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

In another life I was the recruitment officer for a large food processing coy in the South East and had to deal with lots and lots of lovely letters of application

If the job says "apply to the HR Manager" I think its always good to take the time to ring the business and get the name of the HR Manager or whoever, ensure you get the correct spelling of their name, and address the letter to them.

So when they start reading through the stack of job applications they find letters addressed to the HR MAnager, HR Manager, HR MAnager and then yours Ms Smith etc, could be those 1% things that make your application stand out.

Secondly, put your contact details in including your mobile number. Dont be afraid to get it up the top and down the bottom. You would be suprised how many letters you think..yep this guy seems ok to then root around for the telephone number to contact the person. Remember, your selling yourself so get your contact numbers and email address out there.

Thirdly, dont compact the whole application letter into one big messy look. Leave plenty of space, put a border around the page. Maybe even consider using different quality or colored paper for the application letter. Again, in a stack of application letters your colored application may just be the standout one.

Fourth tailor the letter to the actual job application. Answer what they say are their key indicators. Need a degree or experience flipping burgers at McDonalds..tell em you have this experience.

Good luck.

Very good advice!

 

[PunyHumans!!!]

Just keep in simple and to the point, dont waffle on with meaningless crap. Just keep it related to the job you are applying for.

 

[PowerKat]

Make sure it's not too long and doesn't just repeat all your experience that is in your resume anyway. A couple of paragrahs at most. I cbf reading long application letters - will focus on the resume, especially when experience is important to the role.

Make sure there's no spelling or grammatical errors. Straight in the 'no' pile if you can't even be bothered getting someone to check everything is 'tidy'.

It's nice to close with something like "I look forward to hearing from you" or "I look forward to discussing my experience further with you" or similar. Here's a nice very brief one as an example:

This letter is an application for the above position advertised ....

I have carefully read the requirements listed for this position in your advertisement, and am quite confident that I can comply with them, my present position being with ...

My Resume sets out my personal, educational and employment history, and I sincerely trust that this application will gain me the opportunity of an interview.

 

[Bombers_Forever]

Most of my points have been raised but two additional points:

- Don't waffle. You don't need to tell them your life story.
- Get at least 2 other people to read it. You will be surprised how other people pick up things that don't make sense.