Application forms and letters

If you want to be even considered as a potential candidate for a certain job opening or vacancy, you have to be able to write a good and persuasive letter of application. Although we all use computers nowadays, sometimes it is still expected from you to send in a handwritten application as some managers, especially the ones of the ‘old school’ still believe that the handwriting is the reflection of someone’s personality.

Sometimes the company might want to fill in an application form (that is listed somewhere in the advertisement) but usually they would want you to write a letter of application. Below you can see an example of an appropriate letter of application which should neither be too short and nor too long but needs to include all the right and expected or even demanded information. It always has to be attractive for the reader (usually someone in the Human Resources department or even the manager or director, especially in small private companies). If you are not persuasive and your letter is full of grammatical mistakes, you will not be taken seriously and your application will be thrown away and usually not answered at all. You also have to be extra careful about the addresses and titles not to offend anybody.

Ø Sample of a Letter of Application

GoodCom Co.

Shevchenko st., 12 22nd October, 2009

33000 Rivne

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

With reference to your advertisement in the Express of the 19th of this month, I am writing to apply for the position of an engineer. I have all the right qualifications as I finished the college programme for mechanical engineers in Kyiv two years ago. In the meantime I have been working in Renome as the head of maintenance department. My mentor during my traineeship, Mr. Ilchuk, can be approached at any time to provide references for me. But as I would like to work closer to home and as I believe that the job you are offering will be more suitable for me I am applying for this position. I am polite and friendly and used to working with people. I am able to use the computer, especially Microsoft programmes and I am excellent with CAD. I can speak English fluently as I have passed the First Certificate Exam and also some German which will be useful when dealing with customers and suppliers from abroad.

I hope you will find me a suitable candidate and grant me an interview.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Victor Marchuk

Enclosures: CV, photocopies of my diploma, reference from Mr. Ilchuk

Activity 1. Write a letter of application.

CV

An application letter is usually accompanied by a CV or a resume (your own biography). Never make things up (you can’t say that you can speak a language fluently unless you really do) as most data that you state can be verified and, I can assure you, that it usually is.

 

 

Ø Look at this example:

Name Ivan Marko

Present address Shevchenko st. 12, Rivne

Telephone number 096 896 111

E-mail address ivan.marko@gmail.com

Marital status Single

Education and qualifications

1998-2002 Secondary technical school – machine

engineering, Rivne

2002-2005 College for Mechanical engineering in Lutsk

Diploma of a mechanical engineer

Work experience

Different summer jobs in my secondary school years

Other information While working I attended various evening courses for English and German. My interests include different sports, socialising and travelling.

References Mr. J. Zmazek, Assistant manager, Pivovarna Laško