Set yourself apart with your Letter of Application

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Set yourself apart with your Letter of Application

• Christopher Merkner w/ Deb Ray Raycomm.com

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Why write (make better) a Letter of Application?

• Demonstration of homework!
• Demonstration of writing editing skills
• Communicates tone of resume candidate

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Application Letters Nuts n Bolts

• One page long
• Highlight relevant expected (necessary)
  information..but keep results-driven
• Keep brief, but be thorough
• Request an interview here
• Clear Structure
• Forecast statement
• Three-part body paragraphs
• Conclusion w/ contact information

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What information should you include?

• The Introduction
• State your reason for writing (topic and purpose)
• Identify the position and/or area of employment
• Identify source of position (how you discovered)
• State an interest in the company
• Forecast statement match your skills/experience/i
  nterests with their needs

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Introduction Example

• I am writing to apply for the Marketing manager
  position posted on your website. I first heard
  of this position posting from your current
  manager of Marketing, Diana Keating. Diana
  encouraged me to contact you because she has
  known my work in previous business settings and
  said that my experience in several management
  positions, as well as my graduate education in
  Advertising and Finance, make me a strong
  candidate in meeting the leadership needs of the
  Marketing department.

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What information should you include?

• The Body of the Letter
• Use your forecast statement to guide your body
  paragraphsyour forecast should connect with your
  topic sentences!
• FORECAST my experience in several management
  positions, as well as my graduate education in
  Advertising and Finance, make me a strong
  candidate in meeting the leadership needs of the
  Marketing department.
• BODY 1 TOPIC SENTENCE I have served as a
  department manager in three different companies
  in the past twenty-three years.
• BODY 2 TOPIC SENTENCE In May 2002, I earned my
  Masters in Advertising and Finance from the
  University of Alabama.
• Probably best to have two body paragraphs in a
  letter of application, but there are some cases
  where three would work

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Body Paragraph Example

• I have served as a department manager in each of
  the three different companies Ive worked in over
  the last twenty-five years. Perhaps the most
  outstanding management experience Ive had came
  most recently, during my ten years with Nextel
  Communications. While manager of Sales for
  Nextel, my team increased productivity and sales
  revenue for our Chicago branch by a widely
  discussed 450. The Wall Street Journal
  highlighted our performance with a flattering
  article that characterized our performance as
  frightening and menacing for the hundreds of
  other firms struggling to find revenue of any
  type. I expect that my proven success as a
  manager with Nextel will meet your leadership
  needs and enhance your companys reputation in
  the broader communications community.

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What a fine looking follow-through!

• Take another look at the end of this example
  paragraph
• I expect that my proven success as a manager
  with Nextel will meet your leadership needs and
  enhance your companys reputation in the broader
  communications community.
• This is called your follow-through sentence,
  where you are explicitly stating how you see
  yourself applying the previously mentioned
  skills/experience/interest (from the detail
  sentences) to the needs of the job
• The nature of the follow-through is a sort-of
  call to actiona tell us what we (reader)
  should do with your detailsand it also calls you
  into action by demanding that you picture
  yourself in this position!
• (If you cant picture it, why are you applying?)

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What information should you include?

• The Conclusion
• Restate your competence (repackage your
  forecasting statement)
• Request an interview, or describe your
  availability for an interview
• Include your contact information, providing best
  times and numbers/emails

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Conclusion Example

• My experience in management and my graduate
  education in Advertising and Finance will
  certainly allow me to meet the leadership and
  community needs of the Marketing manager
  position. I am enclosing my resume with this
  letter, and if you would like any additional or
  supporting materials, I would be glad to provide
  them as well. I would also be glad to provide
  you with the names of my references. Feel free
  to call me during the day at 333-333-3333. I
  look forward to talking with you about the Market
  Manager position.